Kayla Nicole, the former longtime girlfriend of NFL star Travis Kelce, sparked widespread online discussion with her recent Halloween costume. Her choice of attire was seen by many fans as a subtle commentary. They believe it relates to Kelce’s current engagement to global pop icon Taylor Swift.
Nicole shared photos on Instagram of herself dressed as singer Toni Braxton from the 2000 music video for “He Wasn’t Man Enough for Me.” The costume included a replica of the video’s signature sultry dress. Moreover, she recreated specific scenes.
The selection gained significance due to the song’s pointed lyrics. These include lines such as, “Did you know about us back then? Do you know I dumped your husband, girlfriend?” and “Do you know he begged to stay with me? He wasn’t man enough for me.”
KAYLA NICOLE AS TONI BRAXTON FOR HALLOWEEN !
IM CRYING 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/ousZTZstQL
— 𝚜𝚞𝚜𝚞𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚜 ᥫ᭡. (@supremescourt) October 31, 2025
While Nicole did not mention Kelce or Swift directly, fans and commentators were quick to connect the dots. The post quickly went viral, amassing over 107,000 likes and thousands of comments debating the intended message.
Nicole and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end had a well-documented, on-again, off-again relationship from 2017 until their final split in 2022. Months after their breakup, Kelce began his highly publicised relationship with Taylor Swift. The couple announced their engagement earlier this year.
The Halloween post arrives in the wake of Swift’s latest album release, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Some listeners have interpreted certain lyrics on the album as potential responses to the public narrative surrounding Kelce’s past relationship.
Read: Kayla Nicole Responds to Tyreek Hill’s Popeyes Take & NFL Fashion
The incident highlights how the personal lives of these public figures continue to intersect in the court of public opinion. Social media posts and artistic releases are being dissected for hidden meaning.