The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue has picked two winners for its annual Swim Search this year: fitness instructor Katie Austin and model Christen Harper.
Katie and Christen, both 28, already posed with their fellow Swim Search finalists for the 2021 issue, but their win means that next year they will be the first two Rookies in the 2022 issue.
Editor MJ Day congratulated the two women on Instagram, singing praises of their ‘professionalism and potential represent the ethos of the SI Swimsuit brand.’
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue has picked two winners for its annual Swim Search this year, including Christen Harper (pictured)
Christen, 28, celebrated being one of the winners on Instagram today, posing photos of herself modeling bikinis
Fitness instructor Katie Austin, 28, is the second winner of this year’s Swim Search (pictured)
The pair were selected from 14 finalists and will be the first two Rookies in the 2022 issue
The announcement was made on social media this week
‘They have fully embraced the brand’s mission to support one another and the Swim Search community with respect and enthusiasm all while aspiring to be something greater than themselves,’ Day wrote.
Katie and Christen were announced as two of 15 finalists in the Swim Search back in April — though almost immediately, the final group was winnowed to 13 when two finalists were cut.
The remaining 13 took part in a photoshoot in Atlantic City, New Jersey in May, and in July they walked in the ports Illustrated Swimsuit runway show during Paraiso Miami Beach in Miami.
Finally, on Thursday, the magazine announced Katie and Christen as the two finalists who came out on top.
Christen is pictured walking in the 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Runway Show during Paraiso Miami Beach
Editor MJ Day congratulated the two women on Instagram, singing praises of their ‘professionalism and potential represent the ethos of the SI Swimsuit brand’
‘I am so incredibly honored to be named the first rookie of @si_swimsuit 2022 with my inspiring bff @katieaustin!!!!’ Christen wrote on Instagram, where she has 352,000 followers
Christen (pictured with fellow finalist Kristen Louelle) went to Atlantic City for a photoshoot in May
Christen (far right, with model Jasmine Sanders far left) said winning is ‘so surreal and such an incredible honor’
‘This magazine is what gave me confidence as a young girl, not only walk through life but to follow my dreams and pursue a career as a model,’ she said
Los Angeles-based Christen is a model, actress, and WAG — she’s the girlfriend of Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who wrote on Instagram that he was ‘so proud’ of her accomplishment.
In becoming part of the SI Swim family, she joins the ranks of fellow WAGs Camille Kostek and Olivia Culpo, who date Rob Gronkowski and Christian McCaffrey, respectively.
‘I am so incredibly honored to be named the first rookie of @si_swimsuit 2022 with my inspiring bff @katieaustin!!!!’ Christen wrote on Instagram, where she has 352,000 followers.
‘This is so surreal and such an incredible honor to be a part of this @si_swimsuit family. This magazine is what gave me confidence as a young girl, not only walk through life but to follow my dreams and pursue a career as a model.
‘These pages are more than just models in bikinis,’ she went on, ‘They are women with stories who inspire people to go after their dreams and be the best version of themselves. I feel so incredibly honored to continue my journey with SI and be included as a ROOKIE in next years issue!!’
Los Angeles-based Christen is a model, actress, and WAG — she’s the girlfriend of Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff
He wrote on Instagram that he was ‘so proud’ of her accomplishment. Christen joins the ranks of fellow WAGs Camille Kostek and Olivia Culpo
Christen added that she was ‘ so endlessly thankful for my @si_swimsearch sisters who I laughed and cried with for pretty much an entire year, love you guys to pieces’
‘It took a long time to fully love my body for all that it is, but I am standing here today happier and more confident than ever,’ she said in an audition tape.
Seeing other Sports Illustrated models ‘gave me confidence, they made me believe in myself and taught me how to love myself-every curve, roll, stretch mark included’
Christen added that she was ‘so endlessly thankful for my @si_swimsearch sisters who I laughed and cried with for pretty much an entire year, love you guys to pieces.’
While she’s obviously stunning, Christen previously revealed that she has struggled with insecurity about her body.
‘It took a long time to fully love my body for all that it is, but I am standing here today happier and more confident than ever,’ she said in an audition tape.
Seeing other Sports Illustrated models ‘gave me confidence, they made me believe in myself and taught me how to love myself-every curve, roll, stretch mark included.’
‘SI made me believe that I was more than enough and I didn’t have to shrink myself down to fit into industry standards that weren’t right for my body,’ she added.
‘I want to inspire other women to feel the same way and to treat their body the way they would a best friend…love her, respect her and ultimately believe in her.’
Katie, meanwhile, also celebrated her win on Instagram, writing: ‘I cannot believe this is real life!!!!’
‘I am OVER THE MOON and words can’t express this feeling!! It’s truly a life-changing moment. It’s what you dream of, and worked hard for, for YEARS,’ she wrote
Katie is a fitness instructor with her own app, the Katie Austin app, which has over 160 workouts for users
She is also behind the Austin AF podcast and has 329,000 Instagram followers
Katie is based in in Los Angeles and h as followed in the footsteps of her fitness instructor mother, Denise Austin
Katie, meanwhile, also celebrated her win on Instagram.
‘I cannot believe this is real life!!!!’ she wrote. ‘I am absolutely honored to be named the first rookie of 2022 for @si_swimsuit with my love @christenharper.
‘I am OVER THE MOON and words can’t express this feeling!! It’s truly a life-changing moment. It’s what you dream of, and worked hard for, for YEARS.
‘This represents so much more than photos in a magazine — I can’t wait to build a community with @si_swimsuit . This is just the beginning! �� I am so very thankful and grateful,’ she wrote.
Katie is a fitness instructor with her own app, the Katie Austin app, which has over 160 workouts for users.
She is also behind the Austin AF podcast and has 329,000 Instagram followers.
Katie is based in in Los Angeles and h as followed in the footsteps of her fitness instructor mother, Denise Austin.
She previously said that taking part in the Swim Search was ‘the most motivating and humbling opportunity I’ve ever done!!!’
Woohoo! Based in Los Angeles, she told Instagram followers this week that this is ‘the most motivating and humbling opportunity I’ve ever done!!!’
Ever the athlete, Katie was one of many finalists to cite US Women’s Soccer star Alex Morgan as a favorite cover
‘SI Swimsuit represents body inclusivity and their vision has changed my outlook on how females can and should be portrayed in the media,’ she said
Katie admitted that she was ‘ the most insecure teenager,’ and wishes she could tell her 15-year-old self that she ‘can achieve anything with confidence and believing in yourself’
She previously said that taking part in the Swim Search was ‘the most motivating and humbling opportunity I’ve ever done!!!’
Ever the athlete, Katie was one of many finalists to cite US Women’s Soccer star Alex Morgan as a favorite cover.
‘I love seeing female athletes and women of different body types featured in the magazine!’ she told People. ‘SI Swimsuit represents body inclusivity and their vision has changed my outlook on how females can and should be portrayed in the media.’
Katie admitted that she was ‘ the most insecure teenager,’ and wishes she could tell her 15-year-old self that she ‘can achieve anything with confidence and believing in yourself.’
Last year’s Swim Search also had two winners: 29-year-old Georgetown Law graduate Tanaye White and 57-year-old model and mother Kathy Jacobs.