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Dancer Melanie Wilking is making headlines for her appearance in Netflix's latest documentary series Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult. But sports fans may better know her as NFL star Austin Ekeler's longtime girlfriend who recently became his wife.
Melanie Wilking first gained fame alongside her sister Miranda due to their dance videos on TikTok. She made headlines in 2022 when she accused Robert Shinn's 7M management company and Shekinah Church of being a cult and exploiting her sister Miranda Wilking, now Miranda Derrick.
While the latter denied the allegations and claimed to have cut off contact with her family out of her own volition, it seems the two have since mended their relationship as Miranda attended her sister's wedding.
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According to a May article by US magazine, Melanie began dating Ekeler in 2021 after the athlete slid into her DMs on Instagram. After years of dating, the two finally tied the knot only a few days back, on May 25, 2024.
Melanie Wilking and Austin Ekeler finally get hitched after dating for three years
Details about the relationship between Austin Ekeler and Melanie Wilking are scant. However, media outlets report that the couple first began dating in 2021. In August 2023, they surprised fans by announcing their engagement.
A joint Instagram post by the two revealed that the proposal took place in Laguna Beach, California. Ekeler got down on one knee and surprised Melanie by asking her to be his wife beside the ocean. Melanie joyfully shared the news by sharing pictures of the moment on August 27, 2023, and wrote:
“Soooo this happened!!! Can’t wait to marry my best friend. The last photo gets me every time."
Melanie and Austin were honored with a special celebration in the months leading up to their wedding. Melanie took to Instagram on February 19, 2024, to thank her parents for hosting a beautiful engagement shower. Featuring cakes, flowers, food, and drinks, she wrote in the caption:
"What an amazing evening. I cannot thank my parents enough for the beautiful shower they hosted for Austin and I. Living so far from family is hard, so it was great seeing everyone and having them meet the man who makes me feel so special."
On March 18, 2024, Austin Ekeler signed a two-year contract with the Washington Commanders after leaving the Los Angeles Chargers. NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero tweeted on March 12 that the deal was allegedly worth up to $11.43 million.
This move prompted the couple to search for a new home near Washington, D.C. A month after the deal was signed, Melanie made an Instagram post revealing that the couple was moving to the area and looking for furniture.
Melanie then celebrated her upcoming nuptials with a bachelorette party in Las Vegas in April 2024. She stayed with her friends in the Blush suite at the Palms Casino Resort and recorded a dance video during their stay. Posting it to Instagram, she wrote in the caption:
"When the bridal party are dancers. My bachelorette weekend was so incredibly fun! I got to be with my besties..."
Read more: Is Shekinah Church from Netflix's Dancing for the Devil still active? Explained
A month later, Austin and Melanie finally tied the knot just before the start of the NFL season. On May 25, 2024, a romantic wedding ceremony was held at the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa. As per a May 27 article by PEOPLE magazine, the couple chose Las Vegas as their "home base," and the dress code for guests was all-black. This was done to complement the all-white florals and black-and-white decor.
Sharing pictures of the joyous occasion on Instagram, Melanie simply announced:
"Mr. & Mrs. Ekeler."
Miranda Derrick was also in attendance, sharing on her own social media post that she had a great time at her sister's wedding. While the two seem friendlier now, their relationship is explored in Netflix's latest docuseries, Dancing for the Devil.
Melanie Wilking can be seen in the new documentary series Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult, which is currently streaming on Netflix.
