Who Is Austin Ekeler's Wife? All About Melanie Wilking and Her Relationship with the NFL Star

Austin Ekeler and his woman person been joined for complete a year.

The Washington Commanders moving backmost and Wilking first met erstwhile Ekeler reached retired to Wilking connected Instagram. Two years aft going Instagram official, Ekeler projected successful August 2023.

They later sewage joined connected May 25, 2024, surrounded by their family and friends.

While a mostly of their narration has been agelong region arsenic they’ve traveled betwixt California, Las Vegas and — aft Ekeler signed pinch nan Commanders successful March 2024 — Virginia, they told PEOPLE successful May 2024 they were looking guardant to settling down successful 1 spot and starting a caller section of their lives together arsenic a joined couple.

"Marriage to maine intends a partner who will ever beryllium location for you done heavy and thin. It’s getting to spell done life pinch your champion friend correct by your side, creating experiences and a family together," Wilking said.

Ekeler added, "It intends being pinch a everlastingly partner to turn and research nan escapade of life together."

Wilking was by Ekeler's broadside aft he was carted disconnected nan section pinch a limb wounded successful September 2025.

So who is Austin Ekeler’s wife? Here’s everything to cognize astir Melanie Wilking and her narration pinch nan athlete.

She first gained fame dancing pinch her sister Miranda Derrick connected TikTok

Melanie is simply a dancer alongside her older sister, Miranda. The 2 moved to Los Angeles to prosecute their dream of becoming master dancers and grew their level online connected TikTok arsenic nan Wilking Sisters, amassing complete 3 cardinal followers.

However, successful 2021, Melanie and Miranda had a rift successful their narration erstwhile Miranda signed pinch 7M Films, a guidance institution tally by Robert Shinn, who is besides nan leader of nan Shekinah Church. Melanie besides joined nan institution and church, but she near aft she felt uncomfortable pinch nan power Shinn had complete nan dancers he oversaw.

Now, Melanie chiefly makes creation contented connected her ain aliases pinch her different dancers, occasionally posting pinch her sister connected their associated account.

Wilking’s family was nan taxable of nan Netflix documentary Dancing for nan Devil

Melanie’s family shared their communicative of allegedly losing their girl and sister to what they believed was a cult successful nan May 2024 Netflix documentary Dancing for nan Devil. In nan film, they elaborate really Miranda collapsed interaction pinch her family, refusing to be her grandfather’s ceremonial because she needed support from "someone person to God,” their father, Dean, shared successful nan documentary.

In February 2022, Melanie’s family went connected Instagram Live to stock their concerns complete Miranda’s well-being, suspecting that she was successful a cult that was controlling her interactions pinch her family.

Miranda refuted nan statement, telling The Cut successful a May 2024 statement, "I americium not held against my will and I've ne'er been a hostage. I spell to religion and I person religion successful God. If 1 time I wish to prosecute my religion elsewhere, I will and consciousness wholly free to do that.”

Though they are now somewhat reunited — Miranda attended Melanie’s wedding successful May 2024 — Melanie said successful nan documentary that nan family’s interactions pinch Miranda consciousness “superficial” and were utilized much for Miranda’s societal media contented than connection.

She met Ekeler connected Instagram

Ekeler and Wilking first met erstwhile nan shot subordinate messaged her connected Instagram. The 2 began posting each different connected their Instagrams successful 2021, pinch Wilking wishing Ekeler a happy day successful 1 of her first posts pinch him successful May 2021.

A fewer months later, Wilking posted a video of Ekeler posing for illustration her connected Instagram, wherever he showed disconnected immoderate of his ain creation moves.

They exchanged rings successful August 2023

After making love for complete 2 years, Ekeler popped nan mobility to Wilking connected Aug. 24, 2023, successful Laguna Beach, Calif. He amazed Wilking pinch some of their families coming connected nan formation successful a romanticist proposal.

"It was decidedly nan champion astonishment ever," she told PEOPLE of nan typical day.

Though they whitethorn person been estranged astatine nan time, Miranda commented her congratulations connected Melanie’s post announcing their engagement, writing, “Congratulations you guys💖🎉” successful nan comments.

Wilking and Ekeler sewage joined successful May 2024

Less than a twelvemonth aft getting engaged, Wilking and Ekeler sewage joined successful a saccharine ceremonial pinch 138 of their loved ones astatine nan Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa. The mates told PEOPLE they chose Vegas arsenic their destination since it was their “home base” and it provided a nosy picnic for their family and friends visiting from crossed nan country.

"Living acold distant from our families is not ever easy, truthful having everyone successful 1 spot was really each we wanted," Wilking said.

The brace enjoyed their first creation to Parmalee’s “Take My Name,” arsenic Wilking stunned successful a strapless Rivini by Rita Vinieris dress. The remainder of nan guests were successful each black, thing Wilking said she saw a video of online and “fell successful emotion pinch nan concept.”

Overall, nan time was perfect, Wilking said.

"It was everything we person ever wanted and more,” she said. “To person each of our family members recreation to Las Vegas to observe our emotion is thing I could person only dreamed about. We are truthful thankful."

They scheme to unrecorded successful some Virginia and Las Vegas

For nan entirety of their relationship, Wilking and Ekeler traveled backmost and distant betwixt Vegas and California — and now Virginia — to spot each other. But now that they’re married, they told PEOPLE they planned connected putting an extremity to nan agelong distance.

"This will yet beryllium nan section wherever we are doing it each together. Of people we will some person to recreation successful nan future, but we will now telephone nan aforesaid spot location — Virginia during nan play and Vegas during nan off-season," Wilking said.