For fitness entrepreneur and six-time Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Katie Austin, this year’s SI Swimsuit Miami Swim Week runway wasn’t just another glamorous walk under the spotlight. It marked a major personal milestone, as the wellness influencer proudly stepped onto the iconic runway while pregnant with her first child.
While some online critics questioned why she chose to participate this year, the founder of The KA App says sitting it out was never an option. In an exclusive conversation with The Blast, Katie Austin opened up about navigating pregnancy in the public eye, redefining confidence, and why motherhood doesn’t mean putting dreams on pause.
Austin, who has now modeled for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit six times, admitted this year’s runway experience felt vastly different from previous appearances. “This was my sixth year in Sports Illustrated, and this year was both extra special and extra different,” Austin told The Blast. “I was really excited leading up to the runway walk, but in the moments before, I definitely felt an identity shift.”
The fitness entrepreneur explained that while she has always felt confident in her body, pregnancy introduced emotions she wasn’t expecting. “I’ve always felt very comfortable in my body, and I still am, but it was just different mentally,” she explained. “Walking down that runway for the last five years, I felt so confident in my body, and this year my body looked so different. There was definitely a mental shift.”
Despite those insecurities, Austin said the experience ultimately became one of the most empowering moments of her career. “Absolutely,” she said when asked if the experience felt empowering in a new way. “I don’t want to sit here and say it was easy, because it wasn’t. I felt really brave doing it.”
Why Austin Refused To ‘Skip A Year’ Of SI Swimsuit
Austin also revealed there was a deeply personal reason she refused to skip this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway while expecting. Before becoming pregnant, the model admitted she worried about what motherhood might mean for her career and whether becoming a parent would force her to step back professionally.
“It was a powerful moment for me because before I got pregnant, I always worried about what my career would look like and whether motherhood would put my dreams on pause,” Austin shared.
Walking the runway while pregnant became proof to herself that both things could exist at once. “Walking that runway was proof to myself that I can still do what I love, still pursue opportunities, and still follow my dreams while entering motherhood,” she said.
That message resonated strongly with her online audience, though not everyone agreed with her decision. “The response has been incredible. I’ve received so many messages from women saying, ‘Thank you for doing this,’” Austin said. “Of course, there were some comments saying I could have skipped a year, but that’s exactly why I didn’t want to skip it. I wanted to show that you can do both.”
The moment clearly struck a chord online, with Austin revealing the runway video exploded across social media. “The video ended up going viral with more than 20 million views across platforms, which has been really exciting to see,” she added.
Katie Austin Gets Real About Pregnancy Body Image Struggles
As someone who built an entire brand around helping women feel strong and confident, Austin admitted pregnancy introduced a completely new relationship with her body. “I didn’t fully understand body image struggles during pregnancy until it happened to me,” she confessed. “As an outsider, I would think, ‘You’re growing a human, give yourself a break.’ But when you’re the one experiencing it, it’s different.”
One of the biggest surprises for Austin was just how quickly everything changed. “Your body changes so quickly, and I wasn’t prepared for how fast everything would happen,” she explained. “I’m used to knowing my body so well, planning my workouts, and feeling in control. Pregnancy challenged that in a way I didn’t expect.”
Looking back, Austin says there’s one thing she wishes she had embraced sooner: grace. “Pregnancy is a much bigger adjustment than people realize,” she said. “You’re growing a human, and it’s important to go easy on yourself.”
She also got candid about one lesser-discussed challenge of pregnancy: mental health during the first trimester. “Everyone talks about postpartum, but nobody warned me that you can feel depressed or emotionally overwhelmed early in pregnancy because of the hormonal changes,” Austin revealed.
Pregnancy Changed Austin’s Relationship With Fitness
As a former Division I athlete and fitness professional, Austin said pregnancy forced her to completely rethink what strength looks like. “I’ve really had to redefine strength during pregnancy,” she explained. “Coming from being a Division I athlete and fitness professional, I had to rethink what a successful workout looks like.”
Instead of comparing herself to her pre-pregnancy routine, Austin said she’s 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 so much pressure off,” she said.
The purpose behind fitness has changed, too. “Before, I might have been focused on maintaining my physique or training toward a specific goal,” Austin explained. “Now, I’m working out to feel good, feel like myself, prepare for labor, and support my postpartum recovery.”
That shift is also changing her business. Austin revealed prenatal and postpartum wellness content will likely become a much larger focus for The KA App moving forward. “I’m actually finishing my prenatal certification right now,” she shared. “But now that I’m experiencing pregnancy myself, prenatal and postnatal wellness will become an even bigger focus because I can relate to it firsthand.”
Katie Austin Is Already Thinking About The Example She’ll Set For Her Daughter
As Austin prepares to welcome a baby girl with her husband, she admitted she feels both excitement and nerves about stepping into motherhood. “I’m so excited, but I’m also still scared,” Austin admitted. “People keep asking if I’m ready, and honestly, are you ever fully ready?”
Still, she’s looking forward to figuring things out together as first-time parents. “This little girl is 50% him and 50% me, and I think it’s going to be such a special experience learning together as parents,” she said.
When it comes to raising her daughter, Austin says confidence, not appearance, will always be the priority. “I want her confidence to come from who she is, not what she looks like,” Austin shared. “I hope she focuses on being kind, smart, funny, loyal, and passionate.”
And while matching workout outfits may not be on the agenda just yet, Austin admitted she’s already thought about some adorable fashion moments. “I’ve definitely thought about matching beach outfits and vacation outfits,” she joked.
