Daiyaana Muhammad, fiancée of Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, has built a big life. A model, registered nurse, educator, Pilates instructor, and mother, she has learned to navigate a world that blends professional sports with personal ambition, and she says it takes a “strong woman” to handle the realities behind the glamour.
Bills OL Dion Dawkins’ Fiancee Shares Emotional Challenges Behind Being in the NFL Spotlight
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Muhammad explained that the women in NFL circles share challenges that few outside the lifestyle can grasp. She described the lifestyle as “unique,” a world where public perception overshadows the realities of everyday life. She explained that many people “don’t look at us as regular people,” even though the demands placed on women in their position are immense, and it takes a strong individual to be in the role.
“We have to manage our fans, you know, we have to manage our community, we have to manage other women, we have to manage not being around our men for a lot of time… we have to manage our men’s mental health and then still have a strong face for our kids,” she said.
“You have to have your own sense of self, your own confidence,” she said. “You can’t not know yourself being in these environments. You have to just be comfortable in your own skin.”
When she and Dion Dawkins do manage to carve out time for themselves, they gravitate toward unconventional hobbies, including drifting cars, skiing and other activities.
Originally from Los Angeles, Muhammad launched her modeling career at 18, the same period she discovered a deepening passion for nursing. After earning her nursing degree, she moved to Atlanta, where she worked at Emory University. It was during her years in Atlanta that she met Dawkins, though the couple has kept the specifics of their first encounter private.
When their relationship grew more serious, Muhammad relocated to Buffalo to be with Dawkins and continued her nursing career in the city’s NICU. During this time, she welcomed her first child and simultaneously completed a master’s degree. She then began teaching nursing students at Chamberlain University, all before returning to modeling full-time.
Her modeling career has since flourished. Muhammad has appeared on the cover of L’Eclair Magazine, been featured in Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, and walked runways during major fashion weeks in cities including Tokyo and New York.
Meanwhile, Dawkins will be readying himself to play in Week 15 against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
