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Camille Kostek has appeared in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit a whopping five times, but this year’s issue sizzles for a reason.
The former Patriots cheerleader traveled to St. Croix, a destination close to home, for her photoshoot.
Her mother is from the Virgin Islands and she was named after her aunt Camille who still lives there. The 30-year-old was photographed on board a boat in what was a challenge for the star, but she insisted it was worth the effort.
Longtime love of Rob Gronkowski made her SI swimsuit debut in 2018 as part of the outlet’s first open casting call. She was a co-winner of the competition that year alongside Haley Kalil. She appeared on the cover in 2019. She was recently hired to host “Dancing with Myself,” a dance competition series co-created by Shakira.
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Most recently, the star joined Rowdy Energy as the company’s chief wellness officer for its new line of calorie-burning products, Power Burn. The company claims the energy drink can burn up to 150 calories per can.
Kostek spoke to Fox News Digital about SI’s 2022 edition, how she stays in shape and how she gives herself confidence on days when she doesn’t feel like a swimsuit model.
Fox News: You are in this year’s SI swimsuit issue. Congratulations! What does it mean to you to be part of the brand at this point in your life?
Camille Kostek: This is the fifth year in the edition. I’m just as excited this year as I was the first year when I got the call. This is a dream job that I’ve been working towards for more than 10 years. Living out that dream in my reality is something that never fails to amaze me. I’m a big advocate of self-acceptance because I struggled growing up in the modeling industry and it helped me accept my body for who it is. I’ve always been attracted to SI Swimsuit because I knew they would accept me for who I am.
Fox News: How was your shoot in St. Croix?
Kostek: This place was so special to me because I grew up there as I have family living there. The water was beautiful and the energy on set was electric. That was the first time I shot on a boat. There were times when the wind picked up, the water got rocky and it got difficult to shoot standing up on a sail, but I was up for the challenge. And let me tell you, it was worth it because the shots were amazing and like nothing I’ve ever done.
Fox News: They were photographed with Katrina Scott and Kamie Crawford. How is your relationship with these ladies?
Kostek: Kamie is a rookie this year and we had met a few weeks earlier at the Super Bowl where we hosted a radio show together on Sirius XM. We quickly found that we had a background in hosting. We clicked immediately and became friends. So when we saw each other in the Virgin Islands it was nothing but happy smiles and excitement as she had just wrapped up her rookie shoot in St. Croix.
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Katrina is someone I met through last year’s issue, and she’s another person I quickly became attracted to. I’m a fan of her work from afar. … It’s just as contagious in person as it is online. Seeing her on her shoot in the Virgin Islands, it was such a lovely moment to hear her excitement about shooting for the magazine this year, especially during her pregnancy.
Fox News: The styling for your shoot should feel “sexy and wearable”. How proud were you of yourself rocking these tracks?
Kostek: I felt like “me”. I always feel on top of the world on the set of my shoots with SI Swimsuit because the team is constantly encouraging and exaggerating while you’re shooting.
Fox News: You look amazing. What does your typical training routine look like?
Kostek: I like to constantly change my training and find new training methods. I do everything from boxing to yoga, pilates and dance cardio to free weights and HIT training. My favorite workout that can be done anywhere has been resistance band training and full body weights. It is important to stretch before any workout. It’s the first thing I do in the morning after waking up and the last thing I do at night before bed.
When I’m away on business, I use the hotel’s gym. I walk on an incline and work with free weights. It’s my favorite type of fast workout. For me it’s all about low-impact and effective training to lead a healthy and active lifestyle that I can maintain no matter where in the world I am.
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Fox News: If we searched your fridge, what would we find?
Kostek: I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on gluten free bread. I love pineapple and watermelon. I always keep organic hummus and organic veggies in the fridge and live for no-bake recipes that I can take with me on the go. I love a fresh chickpea salad.
Fox News: You dance “never not”. How can we incorporate dancing into our fitness routine?
Kostek: Everything starts with good music. I love playing an upbeat playlist of happy hits as I get ready in the morning. It’s so easy to move my body and feel good. I usually start my days early but somehow always end up late because I get lost in my dance and forget the time. Finding a great dance cardio or barre class is always a great way to get your body moving, and often you’ll get so lost in the music that your workout will be over before you know it.
Fox News: What’s a workout routine you’ve loved lately and why?
Kostek: I have a number of moves that I enjoy doing with my resistance bands. These have been my favorites for years because you can throw them in your bag when you travel and take them with you wherever you go. They can be used for a full body workout, from working your inner thighs and glutes to your arms and abs, toning your triceps and biceps while creating resistance in a gentle way.
Fox News: What advice would you give to someone who needs a confidence boost?
Kostek: This sounds so much easier said than done, but never compare yourself to anyone. You are your biggest competition. Let go of all limiting fears, worries and self-doubt because once you do that you will feel so free and joyful and be able to be present and excited in the moment.
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Fox News: On days when you’re not feeling good, what makes you feel sexy?
Kostek: For me, sexy is self-care, which ultimately leads to self-confidence. I like to go to a farmer’s market or grocery store and buy clean, healthy food. I enjoy cooking for myself, spending time in a derivative sauna, salt bath and taking time to meditate.
Fox News: What can we do in our daily life to motivate ourselves to exercise so we can start a healthy lifestyle?
Kostek: Just getting outside and going for a walk, whether with a friend or while listening to a podcast, is such an easy way to exercise. Or find courses in person or online that align with your goals and align with your passions. It’s so easy these days to access a workout online or on social media to find people who love fitness, doing live workouts or posting quick workout videos that are easy to integrate into your life.
Also, attending an exercise class or gym in your neighborhood is a great way to meet people and can lead to finding a new exercise partner to motivate you. When you get your body moving, you look and feel better. You start wanting to show yourself off as the best version of yourself, not to anyone but yourself.
Fox News: What about Rowdy Energy made you want to work with them?
Kostek: When I was introduced to the rowdy team [I knew] it fit perfectly. I knew I wanted to be fully involved in all aspects, including creative direction, event support, campaign creation, future performances and more. Rowdy agreed and I became her Chief Wellness Officer. I am very conscious of the products I work with.
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When I work with a brand, I support the brand 100%, enjoy the product, and it’s a product that fits into my lifestyle and schedule. Power Burn has a nice slim can design, is refreshing, tastes amazing and makes me feel good. … Consumers want to know exactly what they are consuming – they want to know and understand what ingredients they are consuming. They are looking for healthier options and better alternatives to the products they love. Rowdy Energy offers exactly that.
Fox News: Most energy drinks get a bad rap for being overloaded with not-so-good ingredients. What would you say to critics who might be cautious about enjoying a new energy drink like Power Burn?
Kostek: The brand uses no artificial flavors or sugar. [Its] Caffeine is derived from green tea paired with the nootropic L-Theanine, giving consumers a powerful boost without the unwanted and irritable crash.