Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Katrina Scott says past miscarriages robbed her of ‘blissful joy’

For the first time ever, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is featuring a visibly pregnant model in its pages.

And for Katrina Scott, the honor is particularly poignant given that her current pregnancy came after two miscarriages.

The 38-year-old fitness trainer and co-founder of Tone It Up is already a mother to three-year-old Isabelle, but in trying for baby number two, she and her husband, Brian Scott, lost two much-wanted pregnancies.

Speaking to Fox News, Katrina admitted that she didn’t want to get ‘too attached’ during the early days of her pregnancy out of fear she’d lose this one, too.

‘It does rob you of that blissful joy. You’re just cautiously making your way through every week,’ she said.

Katrina was named Rookie of the Year in 2021, and has returned to the magazine this year with a markedly different figure

Katrina, who was named Rookie of the Year in 2021, glows as she shows off her bump in this year’s issue.

‘I think pregnancy after loss is so different,’ she admitted. ‘The first experience was very blissful. We told everyone right away.

‘During our first pregnancy, we had a gender reveal party, we told our parents and all of our friends. We did that with the second and third pregnancies. But the second and third pregnancies didn’t go to full term,’ she said. 

During her current pregnancy, she said she and her husband waited longer to tell people — and it took her to about 15 to 17 weeks in to start taking pictures of her belly. 

‘On my phone, I have so many reminders of past pregnancies that we lost. And I think I was avoiding all of that,’ she said.

‘I was excited, but I also kept telling myself, “If this works out, that’s really great. If it doesn’t, we’ll try again.” You don’t want to get too attached. You don’t want to get too excited.’

The 38-year-old fitness trainer and co-founder of Tone It Up is pregnant with her second child

Katrina has opened up about suffering from two miscarriages before her current pregnancy  

Now 35 weeks along, she said she finally bought a crib — and says she is feeling ‘overjoyed’ but ‘cautious.’

‘I think we all need something to hold onto,’ she said. ‘A lot of times you become very numb with your pregnancy because you don’t want to get too attached. But journaling and speaking to her made me feel really connected. As scared as I was, it was also just as important to talk about it with my friends and family when I needed to.’

Katrina also acklowledged the ‘privilege’ that she and her husband were able to afford fertility treatments, noting that IVF is ‘not accessible to all people.’

‘I’ve realized how blessed we were that we could do that,’ she said.

As for her plans for her post-baby body, Katrina insisted she won’t put pressure on herself. 

‘I knew that as the co-founder of a fitness brand, there would be eyes on me. I knew people would expect me to bounce back right away post-baby, be in shape, and go, “Do this like I did,”‘ she said. 

Now 35 weeks along, she said she finally bought a crib – and says she is feeling ‘overjoyed’ but ‘cautious.’ 

Katrina also acklowledged the ‘privilege’ that she and her husband were able to afford fertility treatments, noting that IVF is ‘not accessible to all people’ 

‘But I wanted to take things at my own pace,’ she said, adding that she even got rid of all of her old jeans so she wouldn’t feel pressured to fit in them again.

‘I really wanted to change the narrative. I wanted to think about moving forward and finding a new strength with my new body without looking back and trying to fit into an old pair of jeans,’ she said.

Katrina also addressed that pressure in celebrating her SI Swim shoot last week.

‘As women, we have been told, shown, and expected to hide (then “bounce back” from) our pregnant bodies, when, in fact, our beautiful bumps embody the miracle of what it means to be Selfless, Vulnerable, and Strong,’ Katrina wrote on Instagram.

‘Sports Illustrated Swimsuit has a storied history of firsts… of breaking boundaries, building and restoring confidence, and speaking directly to all women in an empowering and inclusive voice. Today is such a special moment that I’m honored to be a part of,’ she said.

‘In this issue, I hope to represent all the women out there that are creating life, feeling all the feels, and embracing change as they look to the future, especially those having difficult fertility journeys. I am with you, and you are never alone. 

In July of 2021, Katrina walked the runway for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit show during Miami Swim Week while undergoing IVF

Katrina is pictured with her husband, Brian Scott. The pair are expecting baby number two

‘Our bodies and minds are capable of extraordinary things, and as for me, I’m all about gracefully bouncing forward,’ she concluded.

Katrina was shot by photographer Derek Kettela, with hair by Riad Azar and makeup by Jodie Boland.

In July of 2021, Katrina walked the runway for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit show during Miami Swim Week while undergoing IVF.

Just weeks before, she had undergone a surgical hysteroscopy procedure and hormone treatments.

When the magazine called to ask her to participate, she was hesitant, telling Today: ‘I didn’t feel ready — [the] amount of swelling and hormones, the amount of things that were happening [with my body], but I said, “I’m going to agree to this even though this is such a crazy time in my body.”‘

‘I really think that the more that women encourage and empower and give permission to each to be exactly who they are,’ she said

Katrina is already mom to a three-year-old daughter, Isabelle

‘Our bodies and minds are capable of extraordinary things, and as for me, I’m all about gracefully bouncing forward,’ she said

She later posted images from the event on Instagram.

‘I hope to represent all the moms… you are remarkable and so strong,’ she wrote at the time.

‘I hope to represent the women yearning to grow their family… who may have experienced loss (my 3 angels), and all my IVF warriors who are holding onto every month praying for their family.’

‘I really think that the more that women encourage and empower and give permission to each to be exactly who they are, the more we want to be around those people,’ she added to Today. ‘At one point I was just holding my heart, because I couldn’t even handle how joyful I was.’