It’s a match made on Instagram! Last month, Austin Ekeler hit the headlines with his significant off-field move. He married his long-time girlfriend, now wife – Melanie Wilking.

Ekeler is the veteran running back for the Washington Commanders. As RB Brian Robinson believes, Ekeler “is a great leader, a great competitor, a great veteran….and a great addition to the team,” the 29-year-old will be working to help, guide, and support his team, and new QB, Jayden Daniels in the 2024 season. However, before the season begins, former Western Colorado is enjoying his offseason with his wife, Melanie.

Who is Melanie Wilking?

Austin Ekeler met TikTok dancer Melanie Wilking in 2021, and they’ve become a beloved couple known for their social media presence and mutual career support. Melanie, who dances with her sister, Miranda, faced challenges when her older sister joined a management company and church led by Robert Shinn, which Melanie later left due to discomfort with his control. The sisters (known as Wilking’s sisters) rose to fame because of thier dancing videos on TikTok, amassing over 3 million followers. Now, Ekeler’s wife primarily makes dance content on her own or with other dancers, and uploads the same on the joint-Instagram handle with her sister.

Ekeler and Melanie’s relationship began when he messaged her on Instagram. They started sharing their relationship online in 2021. And after dating for over 2 years, on August 24, 2023, the NFL star proposed to Wilking in a surprise beach proposal at Laguna Beach, Calif. Both of their families were also present at this occasion, and an emotional Melanie recalled it as, “definitely the best surprise ever.” The couple then took their relationship one step further, and got married on May 25, 2024, in Las Vegas, with 138 guests.

Interestingly, they have managed a long distance relationship between California, Las Vegas, and Virginia. However, now they have planned to live together in Virginia during the NFL season and in Las Vegas during the off-season. They are excited to start this new chapter of their lives together, and are often seen dancing and exercising together.

Recently, in Up & Adams Show, after praising Jayden Daniels, Ekeler also talked about his wedding as well as Melanie’s “Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult.”

Wilking’s family on the Netflix Documentary!

Melanie’s family discussed their experience of feeling like they lost Miranda to a cult in the Netflix documentary “Dancing for the Devil,” released in May 2024. They explained how Miranda cut off contact, even missing her grandfather’s funeral because she needed permission from someone she considered closer to God.

In February 2022, the family expressed their worries on Instagram live, believing Miranda was in a cult controlling her interactions. However, Miranda denied these claims in a statement to The Cut in May 2024, saying she was not being held against her will and felt free to leave the church if she wanted. Although Miranda attended Melanie’s wedding in May 2024, Melanie mentioned in the documentary that the interactions with Miranda still feels superficial and seem more focused on Miranda’s social media content than genuine connection.

In the Up & Adams Show, Austin Ekeler mentioned that he is proud of Melanie and her family who approached this incident carefully.