Nicole Anderson and Jahmyr Gibbs
Nicole Anderson and Jahmyr Gibbs. Credit : Courtesy of Nicole Anderson (2)
Nicole Anderson may be dating Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, but she doesn't call herself a "WAG"
Speaking with PEOPLE exclusively, the model and influencer shares how her platform on social media grew and how she's trying to keep it somewhat separate from her relationship
"We're so lucky to be able to get to like live this life," she says of the community she has built in the NFL
Since Nicole Anderson started posting on social media around the age of 14, she has had a clear vision in mind.
"I've known since I was younger that social media isn't a long-term career for most," she tells PEOPLE exclusively.
Her early videos were fairly simple: everyday lifestyle clips, "get ready with me" routines and the like, sharing with viewers what felt fun in the moment, as she puts it.
Now, however, the influencer and model, who is dating running back for the Detroit Lions Jahmyr Gibbs, says that her football-related content has only expanded her audience and her career opportunities.
Nicole AndersonNicole Anderson
Nicole Anderson. Courtesy of Nicole Anderson
She's partnered with New Era Cap as one of their NFL women ambassadors, alongside fellow NFL significant others, Daiyaana Muhammad, Mya Danielle, Chariah Gordon and Cameron Rose Newell, where she proudly reps the Lions in all their game day merch.
But, despite the popularity of her game day videos and football life content, Anderson, 24, is careful to emphasize that she is more than just someone's girlfriend.
"When I do make my videos, I don't say like, 'Get ready with me like for my boyfriend's game,'" she explains. "I don't try and use his name as a 'Follow me.'"
In fact, she reveals that, despite performing on national television each weekend, Gibbs is actually much shyer than many might expect.
Anderson has been able to carve out her own space in both the online world and the real world, joking that she'll often get comments from girls who tell her 'I like you more than Jah,'" she laughs.
While she wouldn't necessarily be mad if someone were to call her a "WAG," Anderson makes it clear that there are many other sides to her.
Nicole AndersonNicole Anderson
Nicole Anderson. Courtesy of Nicole Anderson
Outside of her football life, Anderson has built a foundation for herself as a licensed realtor in both Illinois and Michigan — something she pursued intentionally – knowing that digital fame has its unpredictabilities.
"I didn't really want it to be something where I didn't just enjoy making videos," she explains. "I post because I actually enjoy doing it. So that's why I also have my real estate license."
It's lucrative, Anderson says of the business, especially for her life, dating someone who plays in the NFL, as it allows for more flexibility in the event that Gibbs' career takes them to a new city.
Not that she's necessarily pinned down to one city, as the model just signed with Industry Models in New York, Miami and Los Angeles.
"The last shoot I got word of it the day of a football game and I had to fly out the next morning," she says. "And then the shoot was the next day."
The chaos is fun for Anderson, who says she loves "being busy"
When she is grounded out in the Midwest, Anderson leans on her group of girls within the Lions.
"I got like super lucky with the group of girls that I'm surrounded with and same with the guys," she says. "We have a lot of great guys, family men, great leaders on the team — outside of football, just great people in general."
Nicole Anderson and Jahmyr GibbsNicole Anderson and Jahmyr Gibbs
Nicole Anderson and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Other teams, she hints, might not have as much luck in that regard.
"I've had friends on other teams who tell me some wild stories," she says. "We'll just text and be like, 'Who wants to come over tonight and have a girls' night?'"
For the most part, the girls have fun, despite some of the downsides that can come with the NFL life.
"I definitely hear like some people complaining, but I just look at it as like, we're so lucky to be able to get to like live this life," she says. "Football's not forever. We make the best of what we're given."