From growing up alongside fitness icon Denise Austin to building a digital-first empire, Katie Austin opens up about carving out her own identity, embracing balance over burnout, and why strength, both mental and physical, is her ultimate goal.
Wellness today looks nothing like it did a generation ago, and Katie Austin is proof of that evolution. As the daughter of legendary trainer Denise Austin, she grew up immersed in fitness culture, but has since reimagined it for a new era; one driven by digital platforms, mental health awareness, and a more compassionate approach to movement and nutrition.
As a former Division 1 athlete and a familiar face in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, Austin is building a wellness brand that prioritises feeling good over looking perfect. Here, she share she’s stepping out of her mother’s shadow, redefining resilience, and embracing a softer, more intentional chapter of wellness
GLAMOUR: Fitness runs in your DNA. How have you carved out your own wellness identity beyond being Denise Austin’s daughter?
Katie Austin: My mom is an absolute icon and I’ve loved learning from her as my mentor. It’s been amazing to learn from someone who’s such a legend in the fitness industry, although I understand it can be big shoes to fill. I think we’re similar in so many ways which is such a blessing to me, and at the same time we’re so different. First off, we’re completely different because of the time period we grew up in. I personally cannot do any of the VHS‘s and DVDs and sell out millions on QVC like she did. It's just a different time. My wellness identity really lives online through my own app and platform, which is different from the way people used to consume workout videos. At the same time, the overall message is still the same: women should feel their best in their bodies.
I think the biggest difference in my approach is that I focus a lot on mental health. I want the girls and women who follow me to come for the workouts, but also understand that movement can be for your mind. That’s really important to me. It’s about more than losing weight. It’s about being physically strong, and that goes hand in hand with being mentally strong as well. Nutrition is also a much bigger part of my career and my life now, and my approach is more lifestyle-focused.
I don’t see myself as this intimidating trainer that people feel nervous to work out with. Instead,
I want to feel like the best friend in your life who also works out and inspires you to move your body for the right reasons, not because you hate your body. That same philosophy extends to food and nutrition. I want people to fall in love with eating healthy and not see it as something they dread.
GLAMOUR: As a former Division 1 athlete, how did competitive sport shape your mindset around resilience?
Katie: The biggest thing about being a D1 athlete, and what it taught me, is not only resilience, but also how to be a teammate and a leader. I think the first lesson about resilience as an athlete is that you still have to show up every single day. It’s about consistency and small habits. You don’t have the option to wake up and say, “Maybe not today, I don’t want to go to practice.” You’d be benched. Of course, I don’t push myself in the same ways I used to, but it taught me the mental strength to stay consistent even on off days. Even if you’re only giving 15%, even if you can’t get to 50%, that’s still better than nothing. Just showing up for yourself means a lot.
GLAMOUR: You’ve graced Sports Illustrated Swimsuit five times. How do you maintain confidence in an industry that often scrutinises women’s bodies?
Katie: First and foremost, they don’t scrutinise women’s bodies, they empower them. If you’ve seen anything about the brand, they’re extremely inclusive and very diverse in the body types they feature. If anything, they’ve made me feel stronger about my body and what it’s capable of, especially for someone like me who isn’t a signed model in any sense. They’ve made me feel like my body is capable and can do anything, and I think that’s really important. I want to show that strong is sexy, and that you can have an athletic body type and still be a swimsuit model. Now more than ever, being in Sports Illustrated in a swimsuit shows that there are pregnant women, women who have had babies, and people who have just given birth, and now I’m pregnant myself. It’s been even more empowering because they truly are a come-as-you-are brand.
GLAMOUR: Your digital cooking show “Come On In” merges food and lifestyle. How does nourishment factor into your wellness philosophy?
Katie: “Come On In,” my digital cooking show, has been a dream of mine ever since I was little. I feel like cooking shows bring up such nostalgic vibes. I grew up watching Rachael Ray and the Cooking Channel, so I wanted to give my audience more than just workout videos and show them that your day-to-day goes beyond movement. It’s also about how you feel about yourself and what you put into your body. As an athlete, I’ve always understood that food is fuel—but it’s also joy and a huge part of life. Making sure you love what you eat is really important. Yes, there can be healthy meals that feel plain, but I want my followers to look forward to their meals just like they would look forward to creamy pasta or pizza. I like to call my meals “healthified” because it’s about taking your favorite foods and making them healthier. My philosophy is about adding nutrients in, not removing things. I don’t believe in diet culture. I believe you can make healthy meals delicious and make them a sustainable part of your lifestyle.
GLAMOUR: With millions following your workouts, how do you ensure your content promotes strength rather than aesthetic pressure?
Katie: I’m always conscious of my wording, and I focus a lot on how a workout makes someone feel. If you look at any of my content, you’ll notice that I use words like energizing and confident a lot. I want people to know that, of course, if you want to see results from working out and eating healthy, that can absolutely happen. But at the end of the day, it’s really about how you feel on the inside. I also come back to the importance of mental health in the fitness space. I talk a lot about how working out and movement are beneficial for your mental health.
GLAMOUR: What daily ritual anchors you when your schedule includes hosting major events and running your app?
Katie: The obvious answer would be moving my body every day, but to be fully honest, I don’t actually move my body every single day. I would love to, but sometimes life definitely gets in the way. A daily ritual I do practice is being intentional about the purpose behind everything I do. I’ve become really intentional with my work and the community I’m building. I’ve also been very thoughtful about the events I host and the different programs on the app. I feel like I’ve reached a point in my life where I have a clear sense of daily purpose. I constantly ask myself, “What is this for, and who is this for?” At this point, everything in my life needs to have purpose and intention.
GLAMOUR: Social media often glorifies “no days off.” What’s your relationship with rest?
Katie: Any fitness professional will tell you how important rest days are, and they’re almost just as important as training days. Rest is a key part of any fitness routine, and I don’t think we, as a society, glorify the “no days off” mentality as much anymore. I remember in my early 20s when the “no days off” mindset and hustle culture were extremely glorified. As I’ve gotten older, I think people have started to understand how that can lead to burnout, affect our hormones, and even cause plateaus in a fitness journey if we don’t allow our bodies to rest. I definitely encourage rest days. I’ve found that slowing down to speed up is really important, whether that’s in fitness or in my career as well.
GLAMOUR: How has co-creating alongside your mother influenced your understanding of legacy and longevity?
Katie: My mom is the queen of legacy and longevity, in my opinion. She has been in the fitness industry now for 43 years and is still going strong. The best thing that she has taught me is that if you practice what you preach, you will go a long way. Nothing is fake about what she preaches. She does exactly what she says by working out for 30 minutes a day, nourishing her body, and having a positive attitude. The girl is the most energized, confident, positive woman I know. And this is something that feels really cliché and obvious, but she’s always taught me to be myself and not waver. She has always believed in me, and I think when you stay true to yourself, your beliefs and your methods, that’s the key to longevity. You will go so far if you stay true to who you are and are passionate about what you do. When you have passion behind you, no matter what you do, you’ll find success.
GLAMOUR: What advice would you give women intimidated by fitness spaces?
Katie: I’m obsessed with my cheesy quotes, and one I love is that every great athlete started somewhere. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t need to do an hour-long workout, and you don’t need to walk into a Pilates studio and try a reformer for the first time in front of other people if that makes you feel embarrassed. You can start small. You can start with just 10 minutes a day and build from there. Fitness is about progress, not perfection. I know we’ve heard that line so many times, but it’s so true. It’s about getting one percent better every day. The second part of this, for me, is that you can actually love what you do. We only have one life, so why not enjoy the way you move your body? Finding something you truly enjoy will help you stay consistent.
GLAMOUR: What does wellness mean to you in this current chapter of your life?
Katie: Wellness has completely changed for me. In the last few months, I announced that I’m pregnant, and I feel like I’m showing up as a more gentle version of myself. I feel softer, and I’m giving myself a lot more grace. With my hardcore training background, I’ve always felt very in control of my wellness and fitness. But being pregnant, I feel a lot less in control of my body, my plans, and even my day-to-day routine. Pushing myself and showing up each day definitely looks different now. At the same time, I’ve realized that my wellness matters more than ever. If I can do the things that make me feel good, it not only helps me but also the baby I’m carrying.
Wellness is a really important part of my life right now, but in a completely different way. I’m focusing on things like working more on my pelvic floor, going to an alignment doctor, and making sure I’m hydrating much more. I’m also prioritizing staying active within my community and spending time with my social groups and friends. I think connection is a big part of wellness. Even when I feel tired or don’t want to go out, I try to push myself to engage with my community. Those interactions are really helpful for my mental health.
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