For the fitness entrepreneur and six-time magazine model Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Katie Austin This year's SI Swimsuit Miami Swim Week show wasn't just another glamorous appearance under the spotlight. It marked a significant personal milestone, as the wellness influencer proudly walked the iconic runway while pregnant with her first child.
Although some online critics questioned why she chose to participate this year, The KA App founder says not participating was never an option. In an exclusive interview with The Blast, Katie Austin discussed navigating pregnancy in the public eye, redefining self-confidence, and why motherhood doesn't mean giving up on your dreams.
Katie Austin says walking the Sports Illustrated runway while pregnant was "a really brave thing to do." Image courtesy of Emily Sidney.
Austin, who has walked in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit show six times, admitted that this year's runway experience was very different from previous appearances. "This was my sixth year at Sports Illustrated, and this year was both special and completely different," Austin told The Blast. "I was incredibly excited to walk the runway, but in the moments leading up to it, I definitely felt my personality change.".
The fitness entrepreneur explained that while she'd always felt confident in her body, pregnancy brought with it unexpected emotions. "I've always felt very comfortable in my body, and I still do, but mentally, everything has changed," she explained. "For the last five years, walking the runway, I felt very confident in my body, but this year it looked completely different. There's definitely been a mental shift.".
Despite these insecurities, Austin said the experience ultimately proved to be one of the most inspiring moments of her career. "Absolutely," she said when asked if it gave her a new sense of self-confidence. "I don't want to say it was easy, because it wasn't. I felt incredibly brave doing it.".
Why Austin Decided to "Skip a Year" from SI Swimsuit Issue
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Austin also shared the deeply personal reason why she refused to miss this year's Sports Illustrated swimsuit show while pregnant. Before her pregnancy, the model admitted she was worried about how motherhood would affect her career and whether parenthood would force her to step away from her professional life.
«"It was a really important moment for me because before I got pregnant, I was always worried about how my career would go and whether motherhood would put my dreams on hold," Austin shared.
Walking the runway while pregnant was proof that both could coexist. "Walking the runway was proof that I could continue doing what I love, seize opportunities, and follow my dreams after becoming a mother," she said.
The post resonated strongly with her online audience, though not everyone agreed with her decision. "The response was incredible. I got so many messages from women saying, 'Thank you for doing this,'" Austin said. "Of course, there were comments about how I could skip a year, but that's exactly why I didn't want to. I wanted to show that you can do both.".
The moment clearly resonated online, and Austin said the fashion show video literally blew up on social media. "The video went viral, garnering over 20 million views across platforms, which is really cool," she added.
Katie Austin opens up about her body image struggles during pregnancy.
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Austin, who created an entire brand dedicated to helping women feel strong and confident, admitted that pregnancy completely changed her relationship with her body. "I didn't fully understand body image issues during pregnancy until it happened to me," she admitted. "From the outside, I thought, 'You're carrying a human being, give yourself a break.' But when you're experiencing it yourself, it's completely different.".
For Austin, one of the biggest surprises was how quickly everything changed. "The body changes so quickly, and I wasn't prepared for how quickly it all happened," she explained. "I was used to knowing my body well, planning my workouts, and feeling confident. Pregnancy challenged all of that in a way I didn't expect.".
Looking back, Austin says she has one regret: not learning to be kind to herself sooner. "Pregnancy is a much more difficult adjustment than people realize," she said. "You're carrying a human being, and it's important to be kind to yourself.".
She also spoke candidly about one of the lesser-discussed issues of pregnancy: mental health in the first trimester. "Everyone talks about postpartum, but no one warned me that hormonal changes early in pregnancy can make you feel depressed or emotionally overwhelmed," Austin admitted.
Pregnancy changed Austin's attitude toward fitness.
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As a former Division I athlete and fitness professional, Austin said pregnancy forced her to completely rethink her definition of strength. "I really had to redefine strength during pregnancy," she explained. "Being a Division I athlete and fitness professional, I had to rethink what a successful workout looks like.".
Instead of comparing her workouts to her pre-pregnancy routine, Austin said she learned to listen to her body. "Once I stopped comparing my workouts to my pre-pregnancy routine and started listening to my body every day, it took a huge amount of pressure off me," she said.
The purpose of my fitness routine has also changed. "Before, I might have focused on maintaining my fitness or working out to achieve a specific goal," Austin explained. "Now I work out to feel good, be myself, prepare for labor, and support my postpartum recovery.".
These changes are also impacting her business. Austin said that content about pregnancy and postpartum health will likely become a much more important focus for The KA App in the future. "I'm currently completing my childbirth certification," she shared. "But now that I'm going through pregnancy myself, the topic of pregnancy and postpartum health will become even more important because I can relate to it firsthand.".
Katie Austin is already thinking about the example she will set for her daughter.
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As Austin prepares for the birth of her baby girl with her husband, she admitted to feeling both excited and nervous about the prospect of motherhood. "I'm so excited, but at the same time, I'm still scared," Austin admitted. "People constantly ask if I'm ready, and honestly, is it possible to be completely ready?"«
Still, she's looking forward to figuring things out together as first-time parents. "This little girl—he's a 50% and I'm a 50%—and I think it'll be a special experience learning everything together as parents," she said.
Austin says she will always prioritize self-confidence over appearance when raising her daughter. "I want her confidence to come from who she is, not what she looks like," Austin shared. "I hope she strives to be kind, smart, funny, loyal, and driven.".
While they don't have matching workout clothes planned yet, Austin admitted she's already come up with a few adorable fashion looks. "I've definitely been thinking about matching beach and vacation outfits," she joked.
Read also: «Katie Austin's healthy recipes prove you can eat well and still love food.