Camille Kostek has appeared in the pages of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit five times now, including one year where she even scored the coveted cover spot. But accomplishing those career milestones wasn't an easy journey after the model had set her sights on the goal when she was a teenager.
"My why is when I looked at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit magazine when I was 15 years old," she told Nick Viall while appearing on The Viall Files podcast. "When I see these women on the pages, it did something for me like oh, they're raw and they're real. It was the first time that I saw hips and thighs in a magazine. That I saw freckles. I didn't see all the Photoshop and everything has to be just so and just right and high and tight. It was real to me and that spoke to me at such a young age."
While she had identified these aspirations for herself as a teenager, Kostek, 30, explained that breaking into the modeling and entertainment industry was a difficult thing to do as she was underestimated and unrepresented at the start.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Camille Kostek (@camillekostek)
"I really had to pave my own path," she said. "I didn't get signed before I was in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ... I landed the cover with no agent. And then that's when it started. You get that one big yes and then people are like, 'Who are you, what's your name and what do you do?'"
Even when she previously tried to get into broadcast journalism for sports, she recalled people seeing "a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes and be like, 'What does she know about sports?'"
Ultimately, her ability to make her dreams come true came down to her believing in herself, explaining that that's most important "in an industry where you literally have to show up in person and appear as you are." And although she's always carried herself with a lot of confidence, Kostek also admitted to having hard days.
"Self-doubt would creep in and low self esteem moments and things, especially since it's an industry driven by your body image and the way that you look and present yourself," she said, noting that she doesn't fit the traditional standard of being a model. "I have not and will never be that tall, Amazon woman."
Appearing in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and becoming such an ingrained part of the brand has helped Kostek build her career and her self-confidence to a certain extent.
"To be that woman among the [magazine's] pages that someone can relate to and be like, 'I feel comfortable in a swimsuit now, I can buy a bikini or I can wear that bikini on the beach or I feel this certain way.' Just being able to see an image and feel like you could be celebrated is a win for me," she said.
She also shared that a lot of work has gone into her ability to tap into a true sense of self-love, although it can sometimes be misinterpreted by onlookers.
"I think it's a compliment when people are like, 'You're so obsessed with yourself.' F***ing thank you, thank God. You know how long that took? You know how long that took? Self-love is a journey for a reason, a journey for a reason because it never stops," she said. "If you don't have critics, you're not doing it right. You’re not speaking up, you're not doing anything. I invite it."
Kostek isn't alone in the spotlight as she is often seen alongside her boyfriend Rob Gronkowski, who recently retired from the NFL. The model acknowledged that "it's hard being in a public relationship" and that the couple works together to keep themselves grounded.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Camille Kostek (@camillekostek)
"We do reiki healing, we do yoga together, we meditate, we pray," she explained. "It doesn't matter the status of myself and Rob and the celebrity world. We're two human beings trying to figure it out and enjoy this life that we have."
Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.
Camille Kostek has appeared in the pages of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit five times now, including one year where she even scored the coveted cover spot. But accomplishing those career milestones wasn't an easy journey after the model had set her sights on the goal when she was a teenager.
Kate Somerville exfoliant rarely gets marked down, so grab it ASAP.
“Both of their deaths really changed me forever,” the journalist says of losing his dad and brother.
On Thursday, the My Body author appeared on stage with Tory Burch at the 10th Annual Forbes Power Women's Summit, where she discussed gender equality. She explained, "I always say that sexism is bad for everyone, including men. I think toxic masculinity is a huge issue and we feel the ramifications of that, but also, men live with that as well. As somebody who has a son, I think about that a lot. It's, for me, very important to expand that conversation to men."
The "Red Table Talk" host, 50, has been open about living with alopecia.
Shereé Whitfield finally delivered what the people wanted: SHE by Shereé! Gibson Johns interviews the original "Real Housewives of Atlanta" cast member about returning once again for Season 14, how her experience this season compared to her past stints on the show, which former Housewives she might want to see come back to the show next season, her thoughts on getting seated next to Andy Cohen at the reunion and more. They also talk extensively about her releasing SHE by Shereé into the world after 14 seasons, the critiques of her launch concerning price and similarities to clothing on SHEIN, the mental rollercoaster of trying to get the brand off the ground and more.
Milana Vayntrub revisited her abortion story during an appearance on Rachel Bilson's podcast Broad Ideas. The actress, who was introduced to many as AT&T saleswoman "Lily Adams" in the media company's advertisements, joined Bilson and her co-host Olivia Allen to talk through both her career and her personal life. When discussing her activism and thoughts about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Vayntrub spoke openly about getting an abortion at the age of 22.
"Whether someone is a size 16 or 26, they should be able to wear whatever they want and have access to it," says the plus-size model and designer.
In an interview with Yahoo Life, Joe Jonas opened up about his self-care routine, his journey with mental health and his unconventional pre-show ritual which includes getting slapped in the face.
Score under-the-radar markdowns on a mega-popular mattress protector and fan-favorite air purifier.
"I was overwhelmed and I felt like I was saying ‘yes’ to everything," says Jenner.
Enjoy major savings on a Fire TV stick, 65-inch Fire TV, a mega-popular tablet and more.
Our Host Will Taylor is searching for spacious and light-filled 1-bedroom apartments with Juliya, who is making the move from Washington D.C. to New York City.
Anderson Cooper opens up about grieving the loss of his dad, brother while raising his own family
"I was very big and I was getting bigger in the pandemic," he said.
Don't miss this deal on the fan-favorite model with GPS.
One user called it "the best buy of the decade." Grab this deal before all units are swept away.
Over 10,000 fans give these Apple alternatives five stars — and comfort ranks high on the list of reasons why.
Loved by over 14,000 reviewers, Baebody Eye Gel targets dark under-eye circles, puffiness and wrinkles.
When he’s not cooking at his restaurant, "MasterChef" judge Aarón Sánchez craves NYC delights like pastrami sandwiches and white fish salad on a bagel.