Swimsuit

We Totally Get Why Katie Austin Was Named Co-Rookie of the Year After Looking at These Photos From Montenegro

The fitness influencer was discovered through the Swim Search open casting call.

Ananya Panchal

Katie Austin photographed by James Macari in Montenegro. 

Fitness influencer Katie Austin was discovered through, and co-won, the Swim Search open casting call in 2021 and has been featured in the magazine every year since. The 29-year-old, who recently got engaged to her longtime boyfriend, now fiancé, Lane Armstrong, has built her platform around encouraging followers to live a healthy and active lifestyle that is sustainable and full of balance. The Austin AF podcast host regularly shares tips and tricks along with workout videos and nutritious recipes with her Instagram and TikTok followers and on her subscription-based app.

The former USC Division I lacrosse player developed her love for health, wellness and activity from her mom, 1990s fitness icon Denise Austin. The Virginia native, who made her SI Swimsuit debut in Atlantic City with Yu Tsai, was named co-Rookie of the Year in 2022 alongside fellow Swim Searcher Christen Harper. She was photographed by James Macari in Montenegro last year and traveled to the Dominican Republic for this year’s issue.

“That’s the coolest part about it, truly. Especially like me and [Christen], we won together. She is my actual best friend,” Austin gushed about how the SI Swimsuit family and casting call process isn’t hyper-competitive. “I want the best for her, and I want the best for everyone else. We support each other so much because we all are so unique. It’s so genuine.”

Below are six of our favorite photos from Austin’s photoshoot in Montenegro last year.

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. When she is not writing or doom-scrolling on social media, Panchal can be found playing sudoku, rewatching One Tree Hill or trying new restaurants. She's also a coffee and chocolate (separately) enthusiast. Panchal has a bachelor’s in communications and journalism from Boston University.

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