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Kayla Nicole shares cryptic message about choosing ‘joy’ as ex Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s engagement breaks internet
The Kansas City Chiefs star dated Nicole on and off from 2017 to 2022 before moving on with Swift one year later.
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Kayla Nicole shares cryptic message about choosing ‘joy’ amid ex Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s engagement
By
Vanessa Serna
Published Aug. 27, 2025, 9:29 a.m. ET
Kayla Nicole is choosing “joy” amid news that her famous ex-boyfriend, Travis Kelce, is engaged to Taylor Swift.
The media personality took to her Instagram Stories Tuesday to reshare a video of actress Tracee Ellis Ross “shar[ing] a power reminder on experiencing joy.”
“I work at it,” the “Black-ish” star said in the clip. “I think joy is different from happiness. I feel like happiness is something you can get at 7-Eleven, and joy is something that you earn and work for and takes practice.”
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10 Kayla Nicole is choosing “joy” amid ex Travis Kelce’s engagement to Taylor Swift. FilmMagic
10 The 33-year-old reshared a video of actress Tracee Ellis Ross discussing the power of “experiencing joy” via her Instagram Stories on Tuesday. Getty Images
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“I feel like joy has legs. I feel like joy has feet. I feel like joy has roots. I feel like joy creates space and allows room for more than just a good day,” Ross, 52, continued.
“I think joy is an attitude. I think joy is a perspective and I think joy is a lens through which I live and look at my life.”
Nicole, 33, also reflected on her own journey with joy, writing, “Read about this concept years ago in a book called ‘Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough,'” referring to the Kay Warren self-help book.
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“I aspire,” she continued. “So so good.”
10 In the clip, Ross shared how she views joy differently from happiness. Off The Cuff/Kayla Nicole/Instagram
10 Nicole then reflected on her own experience with joy. Kayla Nicole/Instagram
The influencer’s inspirational reflection came hours after Kelce and Swift, both 35, announced that they were taking their relationship to the next level after two years of dating.
“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married
The romantic snaps showed the Kansas City Chiefs star and the Grammy winner loved-up in a garden with the latter flaunting her new massive diamond ring.
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10 “Read about this concept years ago in a book called ‘Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough,'” she wrote. Kayla Nicole/Instagram
10 “I aspire,” the media personality added. “So so good.” Kayla Nicole/Instagram
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Kelce and Swift started dating one year after he officially pulled the plug on his relationship with Nicole.
The NFL star and the “I Am Athlete Daily” host dated on and off from 2017 to 2022.
In the past, Nicole has been candid about the heartbreak from a past relationship. However, she has shied away from mentioning Kelce by name.
10 Nicole reshared the video shortly after Kelce and Swift announced their engagement. Instagram/ Taylor Swift
10 “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married
On her “The Pre-Game” podcast in April, she refueled rumors that the athlete cheated on her while discussing the “heartbreak” and “insecurities” of the aftermath of infidelity with an unnamed partner.
The following month, she called out critics telling her to “get over” Kelce, saying on the “Second Wind Podcast” that sharing her experience was her “super power.”
Nicole also hinted on her “Pre-Game” podcast in May that the Super Bowl champ’s romance with Swift made her “look good.”
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10 Nicole and the Kansas City Chiefs star dated from 2017 to 2022. NHLI via Getty Images
10 The podcast host has since been open about the heartbreak she’s experienced from a past relationship. NBAE via Getty Images
Though she didn’t mention the A-list duo by name, she shared there should be “no problem” admitting their ex’s “new girl might be popping, might be s–t, might be really hot.”
“It’s so much worse if the guy that you loved and you dated for so long and you’re so heartbroken over goes and dates a dud,” the sports journalist joked.
During the same episode, she got candid about experiencing “life-changing” therapy after dealing with heartbreak from a past relationship.