Alix Earle isn’t letting a breakup slow her down-not even close. Just days after news surfaced that she and Houston Texans wide receiver Braxton Berrios had ended their two-year relationship, the 24-year-old was spotted out in Miami, flashing a smile and looking confident as ever at NYLON House.
Earle, fresh off a runner-up finish on Dancing With The Stars with pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy, stepped out in a white mini dress that turned heads. While she hasn’t addressed the split publicly, those close to her have offered some insight. According to a source, the long-distance dynamic had become a strain, especially with both juggling demanding schedules on opposite coasts.
Earle is based in Los Angeles now, gearing up for the DWTS tour, while Berrios, 30, is deep into the NFL season in Houston. The two even spent Thanksgiving apart-a telling sign that their paths were starting to diverge.
“She’s happy in LA,” the source said. “Braxton doesn’t have much downtime with football.”
That time crunch was evident throughout the fall. Berrios, who signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Texans in March after two seasons with the Dolphins, wasn’t able to attend any of Earle’s live performances on Dancing With The Stars.
Earlier in the year, Earle had opened up on her blog about the challenges of maintaining a long-distance relationship. The couple had been trying to make it work after Berrios left Miami following the end of his stint with the Dolphins, while Earle continued spending time in the city.
Still, there were moments where they made it work. In October, during the Texans’ bye week, Earle threw a surprise birthday party for Berrios-a lavish affair that clearly meant a lot to him.
He shared several photos from the celebration on social media, writing: “I hope everybody gets to feel as loved as I felt this weekend. There’s nothing better than being surrounded by the people you love that traveled across the country to be there for you.
Alix, I don’t know how you pulled this surprise off but I’m so thankful you did. What a way to start 30!”
Their relationship had drawn attention from the start, not just because of Earle’s massive social media following, but also due to rumors that their romance overlapped with Berrios’ previous relationship with Sophia Culpo. Both Earle and Berrios denied that there was any crossover, but the speculation followed them early on.
Now, as Earle enjoys a night out in Miami, Berrios is focused on the field, preparing for a high-stakes matchup in Kansas City. The Texans, riding a four-game win streak, are set to face the Chiefs on Sunday night-a big test for a team that’s been gaining momentum. The Chiefs, meanwhile, are looking to bounce back after a Thanksgiving loss to the Cowboys, and with the playoff picture tightening, neither team can afford a misstep.
Breakups are never easy, especially under the spotlight. But both Earle and Berrios appear to be leaning into what’s next-she with her tour and rising TV profile, and he with a Texans team that’s very much in the postseason hunt.