02/10/2024
Continuing a series of posts inspired by the pop culture influence of Taylor Swift with the NFL, I want to talk about some of the wives and girlfriends of 49ers players. And considering this individual’s career, while we may live in Taylor’s world, she can’t say she once staked a claim over the entire Universe.
I’m talking about 2012 Miss Universe - and fiancée of 49ers OPOY Christian McCaffrey - Olivia Culpo.
Born in Rhode Island in May 8, 1992, Culpo was raised with a musical background, with both of her parents being musicians, and her being proficient in cello growing up. As a result, she played for a number of orchestras in her home state.
She entered, and won, her first beauty pageant in 2011 - which just so happened to be the Miss Rhode Island pageant, for the right to represent her state at that year’s Miss USA pageant. She ultimately won Miss USA on July 6, 2012, and won the 61st Miss Universe title in Las Vegas on December 19, 2012. Since then, she has made her way as a social media influencer, beauty product spokesperson, fashion model, and actress.
She started a relationship with the then-Carolina Panthers RB in 2019, after she apparently vowed never to date another professional athlete as a result of several failed relationships with athletes. The two met and followed each other on Instagram in early 2019. After being seen on a summer outing in Mexico that summer, their courtship was made “red carpet official” at the NFL Honors that year - 2 days before the 49ers’ ill-fated Super Bowl LIV.
She has been CMC’s ride-or-die ever since, especially after McCaffrey was traded to San Francisco in 2022. It wasn’t long after that, in April of last year, that the couple got engaged. She has been seen as a vocal supporter of her fiancé and the 49ers, even going so far as to offer buying a Super Bowl suite in Las Vegas for McCaffrey’s family.