Kayla Nicole Says She Asked ‘Special Forces’ Not To Mention Ex Travis Kelce — And Was “Completely Stunned” When They Did

Kayla Nicole has officially become one of the few celebrities to ever pass the Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test selection course. The model was “not so” surprised that she came out on top since she told herself going into selection that making it to the end was her “only option.” While she considered handing in her armband each day she was there, she came out a stronger person in the end due to the grueling process — some of which forced her to face her past.

When Nicole met with the directing staff in the mirror room during the premiere episode, they shocked her by bringing up an article about her ex-boyfriend Travis Kelce and his girlfriend Taylor Swift — even though she and her manager made sure with production that there was “not going to be any mention” of her previous relationship.

“I was completely floored,” Nicole told DECIDER over a Zoom interview. “But I think that the overall purpose of that whole conversation was really to allow me to open up emotionally, but also to tap into my strength. And that’s what this entire process has really taught me, that my mind is so much stronger than I could ever have imagined.”

During her chat with the DS, Nicole said the constant “comparison” to Swift was “exhausting,” explaining that she had even begun questioning her “overall value as a person.” Now having completed the Special Forces course, the influencer couldn’t be more “proud” of herself.

 “Just as a woman in the public eye in general, a lot of my success is attributed to who I’m in close proximity with,” she said. “And in this situation, nobody can take this success story from me. I did this. It was my grit, it was my grind. And I’m really proud of that.”

Check out our full interview with Nicole below.  

DECIDER: I was so rooting for you this season and I’m not at all surprised that you made it to the end. How did it feel to know that you were one of only two recruits to pass?

KAYLA NICOLE: Girl, I kid you not, when they took off the blindfold and it was just me and Brody sitting in the room, I was in shock. I definitely thought, especially Cam [Newton], I definitely thought that Golden [Tate] was going to make it to the end. But was I surprised that I made it to the end? Not so much. That was my goal. I told myself that that was the only option. There was no going home. I wasn’t going to be talking to my family or friends until the end of this process and I did that. 

What was the first thing you did after you finished filming? 

So we go back to our hotel rooms, I turn on the shower – like a piping hot shower. And I called my family to tell everyone I’m safe. I made it through selection. And then what’s so interesting, I literally sat on that bed for probably 15 minutes – because I ended up looking at my call logue – 15 minutes rocking back and forth, just like self-soothing. And once I kind of snapped out of that, because obviously the water was running, I had to have this pep talk, like, “Girl, you’re safe. It’s over. Like, get in the shower.” I ordered a burger and a beer. And I slept for, like, 20 hours.

You bravely opened up very early on in the season about the impact social media trolls have had on you in light of your ex’s new relationship. Would you say your experience on Special Forces has helped you overcome some of those feelings of self-doubt?

Oh, my gosh, absolutely. I’m really, truly thankful for this experience. It obviously was filmed almost like a year ago now. So the person that I was then is very different from the person that I am now, thankfully. We’re growing and we’re learning. But I’m so proud of this success in my life, you know, making it through selection because I think a lot of times, just as a woman in the public eye in general, a lot of my success is attributed to who I’m in close proximity with. And in this situation, nobody can take this success story from me. I did this. It was my grit, it was my grind. And I’m really proud of that. 

When I talked to Billy Billingham, he said you were a classic example of someone coming out of their one-on-one with the DS and putting the drama behind and absolutely crushing it. Do you think it was your talk with them that got your head back in the game?

I think so. It’s so interesting because the DS – I was a gymnast growing up from the age of 5 to 16 – and they remind me so much of my gymnastics coach, which is someone who’s tough as nails. You kind of are like, “Wow, you’re really mean.” But deep down, they’re just trying to break you down to build you up. I left my interrogation meeting with them feeling like, “OK, they might be yelling in my face every day, but it’s because they really want to see me win and they really want me to tap into a side of myself that I never have before.” So I’m thankful for the DS, for sure. They’re really great guys, especially after the whole process, you learn that they’re just, like, really chill people. 

While we’re talking about the mirror room, how shocked were you when they pulled up that article? What was your internal reaction at that moment?

Completely stunned! Especially because, you know, before you go into things like this, I know a little better now. And my manager and I, we talk to production and we’re like, “There’s not going to be any mention of things.” So when that was on the screen, I was completely floored. Like, my mouth was literally like this. So [I was] a little shocked. But I think that the overall purpose of that whole conversation was really to allow me to open up emotionally, but also to tap into my strength. And that’s what this entire process has really taught me, that my mind is so much stronger than I could ever have imagined. 

When you were forced to physically fight the red man toward the end, you really went off on them. Was it cathartic to let that out?

It was so cathartic, so much to the point that after we did that, I physically threw up. Now, I think that it’s a combination of just exhaustion, your blood rate is up really high. You’re really emotional and it’s a really physical activity. But it was so cathartic for me. They told us to envision someone that was either threatening you or a family member. So I put myself in the position of thinking that this person was going to attack my sisters. That’s where I took myself mentally and the DS do a really good job of creating these simulations that allow you to tap into this almost animalistic side of yourself that I truly never knew existed. Also, like, don’t ever need to tap into that again, you know what I mean? Like, I now know that it’s there. Fight or flight. Kayla’s gonna flight. You know what I mean? Like, [I] don’t need to do that again for sure. 

My favorite part of every season is when the winners are announced and the DS can let down the tough-guy act and just be normal people. How did it feel to see them so proud of you guys at the end?

I honestly wish I could go back because I literally remember them announcing like, “OK, you and Brody have passed. And I remember just standing there. I was just emotionless because I just couldn’t believe the past 24 hours that we had. I was just staring at them and they’re like “Kayla! Not even number eight anymore. It’s like, “Hey, you’re good. You passed!” So I do wish I can go back to that moment and maybe, like, I don’t know, high five them a little bit more. But shout out to the DS. They are the most amazing people. Obviously they have literally served our country. They’re not living in a simulation. They did this for real life. I have so much respect for them, so much love for them, and I’m really just thankful to have met them. 

I just got off phone with DS Q and he said you just seemed so mentally drained by the end.

I can’t wait to see the episode because from what I remember, I was disoriented and like a shell of myself at that point. It was insane. 

What’s the biggest lesson you learned about yourself during this process?

I think I learned a lot of things. The main thing probably being that physical limitations aren’t really the obstacle in this experience, it’s the limitations that we put on our minds. And I think that that can also be applied in real life too. Your mind is going to take you so much farther than you could have ever imagined. And when I went into this experience, I was thinking, like, the physical tasks might be a little bit of a challenge. I’m pretty fit. But the mental tasks were a lot of times a lot harder and you have to tap into a side of yourself that you really probably have never tapped into before. But the end result is deeply gratifying because you really find out who you are like at the core of your being. And I’m so thankful for that because it’s a tough chicken there. 

Was there ever a moment where you came close to handing in your armband?

Every day. Every day I was like, “What do you have to prove? Why are you doing this? Leave! ” But I also made a promise to myself. I made a promise to my mom, my sisters, that I was not going to be talking to them until the end of this process. And if you hear from me, it’s because I’ve gotten injured or something and they’re sending me home. But you will not hear from me. That was my goal and I stuck to it. And I’m so happy that I did. Truly.

I love the bonds the recruits formed. Are you still in touch with any of them today?

Yeah, we’re all still in touch. We actually have a group chat. We talk almost every week when the show airs. We’re trying to figure out a new hang out, you know, maybe like a recruit trip to Cabo, something a little more luxe than what we were doing. But we are all still in touch. 

Do you see yourself doing any other competition shows in the future? If so, which ones? 

Someone just gave me the great idea to now say Dancing with the Stars. So we’re going to put that energy out there. No more hardcore physical competition stuff. The Challenge? No. I don’t want to do anything that’s going to be physically exhausting like this. I want to get glammed up and wear sparkles. So Dancing with the Stars, please.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity

You can stream Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test Season 3 on Hulu.

The post Kayla Nicole Says She Asked ‘Special Forces’ Not To Mention Ex Travis Kelce — And Was “Completely Stunned” When They Did appeared first on Decider.