About
Camille Kostek is the bright-smiled model and TV personality fans spot dancing down red carpets, rallying contestants on Wipeout, and splashing across the pages of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. The Connecticut native first grabbed headlines as the magazine’s “rookie-on-the-cover” in 2019, and she’s stayed in the SI rotation ever since—most recently posing among the snowy peaks of Switzerland for the 2025 issue. Away from the camera, Kostek champions her #NeverNotDancing mantra, a reminder to celebrate the wins and laugh off the wipeouts. Today she toggles between modeling shoots, sideline hosting for the obstacle-course game show, and brand collaborations that align with her love of fitness, wellness, and feel-good fun.
Before Fame
Long before swimsuit spreads, Kostek was a small-town kid pirouetting through ballet classes in Killingworth, Connecticut. She started lessons at three, trained at New York’s Broadway Dance Center, and balanced dance with varsity lacrosse and cheerleading at Haddam-Killingworth High School. A natural in front of a crowd, she anchored the school’s morning broadcast and carried that curiosity to Eastern Connecticut State University, majoring in communications with a business minor. College lacrosse gave way to the dance squad, and a summer barre-instructor certification sharpened her fitness chops. After graduation she earned a coveted spot on the New England Patriots cheer team, performing at Super XLIX and traveling on USO tours. The sideline experience lit a fire: she wanted more time on camera. When she left cheerleading in 2015, Kostek drove to New York City for open calls, stacked freelance hosting gigs, and kept auditioning until a breakthrough casting with Sports Illustrated changed everything in 2018.
Trivia
- First rookie cover star: Kostek was the first SI rookie to land the cover since Tyra Banks, sharing the honor with fellow models Olivia Culpo and Kate Bock in 2019.
- Hollywood cameo: She plays “Bombshell” in Ryan Reynolds’s comedy Free Guy (2021), delivering a wink-and-you’ll-catch-it nod to her modeling persona.
- Signature phrase: Her #NeverNotDancing hashtag began as a behind-the-scenes riff to calm runway nerves and now tags thousands of fan videos.
- Philanthropy with a twist: In 2023 she and longtime partner Rob Gronkowski launched Voomerang, a sweepstakes platform that turns fandom into charity dollars.
- Trading-floor rookie: On Sept. 11, 2024, the pair rang phones for BGC Charity Day in New York, raising funds for the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund.
- Wellness wonk: She swears by daily barre, ocean swims “even when it’s freezing,” and gratitude journaling before bed.
- Hidden talent: Kostek can recite the alphabet backward in under eight seconds—a trick she first unveiled during a Wipeout lunch break.
Family Life
Camille Veronica Kostek was born on February 19, 1992, to contractor Alan Kostek and gym manager Christina (Decosta) Kostek. She is the oldest of four, crediting siblings Julia, Thomas, and Adam for keeping her grounded (“they’ll roast my runway walk in a heartbeat”). Heritage-wise she blends Polish, Irish, and Jamaican roots, a mix she jokes gives her both “the freckles and the rhythm.”
Since 2015 she has shared life with retired NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski. The two connected while she was on the Patriots cheer squad and have navigated cross-country moves, Super Bowl parades, and even a brief split—only to come back stronger each time. They split time between Tampa and Foxborough, dote on a French bulldog named Ralphie, and host impromptu dance contests in the kitchen (Camille usually wins).
Associated With
- Rob Gronkowski: Her partner in life, philanthropy, and the occasional TikTok dance challenge.
- John Cena & Nicole Byer: The larger-than-life duo who headline Wipeout while Kostek roams the course, mic in hand, cheering on soaked contestants.
- Sports Illustrated Swimsuit crew: Recent shoots have paired her with rising stars like Olivia Dunne, Ellie Thumann, and Xandra Pohl; the group even threw the first pitch at a 2025 New York Mets game.
- Ryan Reynolds: She shared a scene with the actor in Free Guy, adding “movie set rookie” to her résumé.
- Voomerang partners & charities: Through their digital sweepstakes, Kostek collaborates with nonprofits ranging from youth dance programs to military family funds, turning social buzz into real-world impact.
