Camille Kostek

Camille Veronica Kostek (born February 19, 1992) is an American model, actress, and businesswoman.[5][6] She first gained recognition for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and came to international prominence after landing a solo cover with the magazine in 2019.[7][8]

Camille Kostek
Kostek in September 2017
Born
Camille Veronica Kostek

(1992-02-19) February 19, 1992
Killingworth, Connecticut, U.S.
Alma materEastern Connecticut State University
Occupation
  • Model
  • Actress
  • Businesswoman
Years active2011–present
Partner(s)Rob Gronkowski (2015–present)
Modeling information
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Hair colorBlonde
Eye colorBlue-green
Agency

Early life and education

Kostek was born in Killingworth, Connecticut on February 19, 1992 to Alan Kostek, a general contractor, and Christina (née Decosta), a gym manager.[9] She is the eldest of four siblings, and is of Polish, Irish and Jamaican descent.[9] She started taking ballet lessons when she was three years old, and continued her training at Broadway Dance Center in New York City while competing nationally.[9] At Haddam-Killingworth High School she was a cheerleader,[10] lacrosse varsity captain,[11] and host of her high school's broadcasting program HKTV.[12] She majored in Communications with a minor in Business at Eastern Connecticut State University. She played lacrosse for Eastern before committing full time as a member of its dance squad and as anchor of its network show TV22.[13][14] Kostek also worked as a barre instructor.[15][16]

Career

Beginnings

Professional cheerleading

Kostek started her professional cheerleading career at age 19 with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League.[17]

External image
Kostek's Patriots Cheerleaders Gallery

In 2013, while a junior at university, Kostek made it to the roster of the National Football League's (NFL) New England Patriots Cheerleaders.[18][19] She landed the cover of its annual Swimsuit Calendar which was shot in Saint Lucia in 2014.[20] She also joined the NFL Tour in China as Patriots ambassador where she performed routines and taught youth cheer clinics.[21][22] In addition, Kostek has featured in advertising campaigns for Patriot Place,[23] and served as spokesperson for the cheer team in various television shows and public engagements.[24][25]

In her last game before retirement, she performed at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Arizona for Super Bowl XLIX where the Patriots beat the Seattle Seahawks on February 1, 2015.[26]

Hosting

Kostek started as co-host of programs in ABC, CBS, and Fox affiliate channels in New England, as well as a co-anchor in WPRI-TV's The Rhode Show in 2015.[27][28][29] She was a reporter for NESN's show Dirty Water TV from 2016 to 2017 covering travel as well as sports events including NASCAR.[30][31] Since 2018, she has hosted and corresponded for South by Southwest, the Super Bowl and Levitate Music Festival, as well as lifestyle, red carpet and sports events for Maxim and Sports Illustrated, among others.[32][33] She has also co-hosted radio shows on SiriusXM.[34][35]

Right out of college, Kostek was offered a job on ESPN's Saturday Night Football, but turned it down for the opportunity to travel while modeling.[9][36]

Modeling

Kostek's first modeling job was for a series of television commercials for boutique Ciao Bella in 2013 which aired on MTV, E! News, VH1, and ABC Family.[18][37][38] She then joined her first modeling agency in Boston in 2015,[39] and subsequently became brand ambassador and model for Benrus, Equinox Fitness, and Dune Jewelry.[26][40] Her early work consisted of print and television advertisements for brands like Nissan, New Balance, and Rebag to name a few.[41][42][43][44][45][46][47] She also graced the covers of luxury lifestyle magazines like Ocean Drive[48] and BELLA[49] among others.

Kostek in July 2017

Since then, Kostek has done national and international campaigns and ambassadorships for various clothing and cosmetic brands including L'Oréal, Victoria's Secret, and Clarins.[50][51][52][53][54] She also did ad campaigns for fashion line Kittenish, and walked the runway for its Spring/Summer 2019 collection at New York Fashion Week.[55][56] Kostek also models for Reebok,[57] and headlined the brand's PureMove Bra and Amazon storefront campaigns among others.[58][59]

External media
Images
Kostek's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Cover in 2019
Video
SI Swimsuit 2019: Cover Reveal

Kostek initially found difficulty securing modeling representation as agencies kept telling her she was not tall enough at 5'8", or thin enough at dress size 4/6.[60][39][61] She eventually submitted a video of her experience to the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue which was conducting an open casting call at the time.[62] She was scouted, and walked the runway for the SI Swimsuit Fashion Show during Miami Beach Swim Week in July 2017.[63] The following month, she was photographed by Yu Tsai in Belize for her first photoshoot with the magazine for the 2018 issue.[64][65][66] Kostek was chosen from 5,000 open casting call candidates and won the inaugural Sports Illustrated Swim Search in March 2018.[6] She walked the runway for Miami Beach Swim Week for the second time in July 2018,[67] and closed the show the following year.[68] The first model announced for the 2019 issue, she did her shoot in South Australia with photographer Josie Clough, and landed a solo cover in her official year as a rookie.[69][6]

Kostek has been called an "American Bombshell" and sex symbol for her blonde hair, blue eyes and curves.[70][71] Connecticut Magazine named her in their "40 under 40" list of influential people of 2018,[72][73] and she was included in Maxim's Hot 100 list of Sexiest Women in the World in 2019.[74]

Acting

Kostek made her film debut with a cameo appearance in STX Entertainment's 2018 comedy I Feel Pretty starring Amy Schumer.[26] This was followed with a supporting role in 20th Century Studio's science fiction film Free Guy (2020) with Ryan Reynolds.[75]

Other ventures

In 2018, Kostek released a jewelry line called the Voyager Collection in collaboration with Dune Jewelry.[76][77] The following year, she and the company released her namesake collection which she designed.[78] She has also released clothing and accessory inspired by her trademarked phrase, "Never Not Dancing".[79][80]

Kostek started touring universities and colleges in the U.S. in 2019 for her "Own It Tour" where she conducts talks on self-acceptance and body image.[81][82][83][84]

Charity

Since 2018, Kostek has supported California Strong which helps families with tragedies in the state.[85][86] Kostek and her partner donated more than 20,000 personal protective equipments to hospitals and fire departments during the COVID-19 pandemic.[87][88] She has also read for Save With Stories benefiting Save the Children and No Kid Hungry foundations.[89]

Personal life

Since 2015,[90] Kostek has been in a relationship with American football player Rob Gronkowski.[8]

A classically trained dancer, Kostek often posts videos of herself on social media spontaneously dancing in places outside a dance studio.[91] Her catchphrase, "Never Not Dancing,"[80] caught on and inspired others to do the same.[92]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2018 I Feel Pretty Hostess Cameo[26]
2020 Free Guy Beauty [75]

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2018 Sports Illustrated Swim Search Self / Winner [93]
2019 NHL Awards Self / Presenter [94]
Ridiculousness Self
2020 Fashionably Yours Sam TV movie
Kirby Jenner Self Episode: "A Jennerous Gift"
NHL Pause: Post to Post Self / Host [95]

Music videos
Year Title Artist
2014 "A Little More You" Jack Fiskio[96]
2019 "So Close" NOTD and Felix Jaehn feat. Captain Cuts and Georgia Ku[97][98]
2020 "I'll Wait" Kygo[99]

References
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