Whereas the web spins its narratives about her, Kayla Nicole has been busy writing her personal.
The 33-year-old TV persona and sports activities journalist lately sat down with theGrio to debate her evolution from former on-camera host to multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, podcaster, and wellness advocate, and the way she’s been increasing and producing buzz all by her rising psychological well being platform Tribe Therapē and podcast “The Pre-Sport With Kayla Nicole.”
“This 12 months for me in the end has actually simply been about persevering with to domesticate group,” she stated.
“That’s all the time been the purpose with my model Tribe Therapē, whether or not it’s within the wellness house, whether or not it’s within the podcasting house with ‘The Pre-Sport,’” she continued. “My focus has actually simply been cultivating group and creating protected areas for girls like me to really feel seen and understood, revered, [and providing] locations that they will go to be taught extra about themselves.”
Nicole started her profession as a sports activities journalist and on-air host overlaying main leagues and purple carpets for shops like ESPN and BET, incomes a repute for her charisma and fast wit. However her identify additionally grew to become a fixture in popular culture headlines after her relationship and really public breakup with NFL star Travis Kelce.
Within the years since, the media persona has steadily redefined her narrative. What began as a collection of pandemic-era health challenges shared on-line has advanced right into a full-fledged way of life model centered on wellness, group, and psychological well being.
Now, her viewers, primarily girls between 20 and 45, has grown alongside her. By way of her podcast, which launched within the spring, Nicole has constructed what she calls “an extension of my group chat,” tackling heartbreak, grief, progress, and intercourse with honesty and humor.
“It truly is… an outlet the place it’s like I really feel like I’m simply speaking to my homegirls,” she stated. “It’s as informative as it’s enjoyable. A mix of laughter and life classes.”
In the meantime, Tribe Therapē has turn into a way of life hub for girls who need to be ok with themselves in and out.
“I wished to actually redefine what wellness appears to be like like,” she stated. “Within the panorama of social media, it’s all about aesthetic and waist trainers and ‘dropping 10 in 10 days’. However for me, though I’m in the very best form of my life, if I’m mentally not in a superb place, it actually does me no good.”
That’s why Nicole says she approaches all of it with earnest intention and never simply development chasing, however fixing for an actual want.
“Remedy will not be low-cost. Remedy oftentimes will not be free,” she stated. “And so I actually love the concept Tribe Therapē could be a psychological well being useful resource for all girls. It’s simply accessible. It’s at present free.”
Tribe Therapē gives free, accessible wellness content material and psychological well being assets for girls who might not have entry to remedy. Nicole’s work additionally hinges on group care.
“In my darkest of occasions … it’s onerous for me to succeed in out to household and mates,” she stated. “However I’ve realized that it’s the group that may assist me in these darkish moments. Therapeutic is only a lot much less heavy if you don’t need to do it alone.”
Her perspective is rooted in empathy and, sadly, earned expertise. By way of all of it, Nicole hopes that when individuals have a look at her, they bear in mind she is “an individual.”
“I simply hope individuals keep in mind that half about me for certain,” she added.
Reflecting on her journey from school to now, she thinks again to the ladies she as soon as hoped to emulate — solely to comprehend that her personal lane didn’t have a blueprint.
“I was like, oh, I wish to be Oprah. I wish to be the subsequent Oprah,” she stated. “There’s by no means going to be one other Oprah. And I believe we do ourselves a disservice as girls pondering that we have now to be the subsequent of one thing, when in actuality, it’s good to simply be you and personal you and stand in your authenticity, your energy, your uniqueness.”
