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BABY ON BOARD

Pregnant Bikini Model Says Her Belly Is the ‘Best Accessory’

The seasoned model is preparing for her sixth appearance at the Sports Illustrated Swim Week show.

Muskaan ArshadBreaking News Intern

PublishedMay 27, 2026, 1:02 PM EDT

UpdatedMay 27, 2026, 1:02 PM EDT

Updated May 27, 2026, 1:02 PM EDTPublished May 27, 2026, 1:02 PM EDT

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Swimsuit model Katie Austin has found a new way to stand out on the runway.

“I feel like my baby girl is going to be my best accessory I’ve ever had on the runway,” Austin said in an interview with People published Wednesday.

The 32-year-old catwalk veteran is preparing for her sixth year on the iconic Sports Illustrated Swim Week runway show. This time, she’s taking on the challenge six months pregnant.

“I’ll be practicing my walk because I can nail a walk when I’m not pregnant, but I’m not sure how the belly is going to waddle,” she said.

She admits 2026’s pre-show routine will be different than usual, as she’ll have to find a new way to “calm the jitters.”

“This year is different because I cannot take my annual tequila shot before the runway, so I’ll be missing that,” she told People. “But it’ll be good because I love the girls this year. I think this is our best group of girls yet. Their energy will help as well, and they’re such a great team.”

The seasoned swimsuit model and Pilates coach has been open about the challenges she faced during her first trimester and how she adapted to the changes her body underwent.

“There was all-day long sickness. I didn’t love the foods I usually love. Didn’t love coffee, didn’t feel like working out,” she said.

Still, she added, “finding those 10 to 15 minutes just to try to feel like myself was really beneficial.”

Austin, who played Division I lacrosse in college, says she’s always been a “type A” person who aims for perfection in her day-to-day regimens, but she’s had to learn to be kinder to herself. She has some advice for herself if she could go back to the earlier stages of her pregnancy.

“Number one, it’s temporary; you’re going to get out of it,” she said. “And number two, if you think that a good workout is going to be the same as it was before you got pregnant, you are seriously mistaken, and you’re going to set yourself up for failure.”

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As she approaches her third trimester, she’s prioritizing feeling good in her body over sticking to perfect workout routines or diets, and she wants to redefine “what strength is” for herself.

“The last decade, I’ve been kind of pushing my body, and even in the days I don’t feel like working out,” she said. “Now, I have to have a lot of grace for myself.”

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Muskaan ArshadBreaking News Intern

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