Wednesday, August 21, 2019

ECO ANGEL: Kate Upton


KATE UPTON  Strong 4 Me

ECO ANGEL 

Actress, supermodel and new mom Kate Upton is our new Eco Angel for August 2019. 

This month Kate's creating an online community with her fitness program Strong4Me around self motivation and encouraging others to join the conversation and share their stories with the new campaign #ShareStrong. 

Kate grew up in Michigan with her mother and father, Shelley and Jeff Upton. When Kate was seven the Upton family moved to Florida and she pursued her passion for horse riding as a young equestrian. 

Kate: "I loved horses since I was little. My sister and I... we took lessons and then started going into competitions and we got better and better and kept moving up to the next level." 

Upton was signed with Elite Model Management during a casting call in Miami in 2008. When Kate moved to New York and joined IMG Models, she became the face of Guess appearing in the company's sexy ad campaigns from 2010 to 2011. 


Kate Upton GUESS (2011) 


Kate's big break came when the 19-year-old model first appeared in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit edition in 2011, with the magazine naming her Rookie of the Year. She has graced the iconic cover of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit issue four times. Featuring on the cover and inside the magazine with stunning pictorials in 2012, 2013, 2014 (flip-side cover) and again in 2017. 

Kate's cover of the 2017 SI Swimsuit Issue included three special collector's covers, with the issue focusing on body diversity. 

Kate: "The brand represents to me confident, beautiful, sexy women. For Sports Illustrated to be just as passionate as I am to embrace all body types and all different people and all different types of women, is really special to me, and one of the reasons I am so excited to be part of this issue."



Kate Upton Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue 2017



"It's a full circle moment for us. We started Kate in her career, and you know, we watch her grow and become not only this worldwide, superstar phenomenon; she changed the direction of the modelling industry. Kate Upton was really this trailblazer that led the way for the Ashley Grahams of the world and everything you're seeing happen that's different in fashion right now." 
MJ Day, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Editor


From supermodel to movie star, Kate made the move to Hollywood with a starring role alongside Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann in the 2014 romantic comedy The Other Woman

Kate's character Amber is a Swimsuit model and mistress in the hilarious comedy about three women who unite to take revenge on Mark, after they discover he's been dating all three of them at the same time. 

Kate: "Amber is a free spirit, and she's definitely a little bit naive or too optimistic about life. So she never thought she's be put in a situation where she was with a guy who was married or even had a girlfriend, especially not both. So she was really shocked and upset that she hurt these women and I think that was more her shock than actually her boyfriend cheating on her." 


Kate Upton THE OTHER WOMAN


Kate: "The Other Woman to me, is about women who really are there for each other and have found that their friendship means more than that relationship. And it's about going through their lives and having someone who loves them so much they would do anything for them and that's why I really love the movie." 

Kate really enjoyed her first major movie role especially being on set with fellow actors Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann, while filming the movie on location in New York City, The Bahamas and The Hamptons. 

Kate: "I'm so lucky to have you know one of my first movies with Leslie and Cameron - they're such amazing people and they're so inspiring and happy all the time. We have so much fun. We talk and we're laughing all the time off set, it makes it a lot more comfortable when you're on set." 







"This film is hilarious and it's a lot of fun." 
Kate Upton

In real life, Kate found love off screen with American baseball pitcher Justin Verlander. The couple were engaged in 2016 with Upton revealing the news on the red carpet at the Met Gala. 

Kate: "We met filming a commercial for Major League Baseball." 

Following Justin's World Series win, the pair said I Do in a romantic Tuscan villa in Italy on November 4, 2017.  


Kate Upton & Justin Verlander

Wedding Photography by KT MERRY 

When it came to designing her dream dress, Kate chose Valentino.

Kate: "For my ceremony dress, I had the pleasure of collaborating with the fantastic team at Valentino. They are the best at creating delicate, beautiful lace and details, and their Italian heritage kept the fashion and feel authentic to our venue." 

Kate Upton | KT MERRY 

A year later the newly weds welcomed their first child, a baby girl, Genevieve "Evie" Upton Verlander on November 7th, 2018.  

In 2019 Kate's focus is family and fitness with an emphasis on self motivation and self love. Encouraging all women to have a healthy relationship with their mind and body, especially after giving birth. 

This month Kate revealed her un-retouched cover of Health magazine (September 2019). 


Kate: "I don't want anyone to have to be in that negative space where they think, "Oh, no! I don't fit into that size 2 dress." You know what who cares? Buy another one!" 


Kate Upton via Instagram


Kate: #ShareStrong is a campaign to encourage us to post videos or photos of us talking about who or what inspires us to be our best selves. It's to spread positivity and inspiration by creating a community that talks about encouraging, empowering stories and self motivation.


Join Kate's campaign to encourage positivity, inspiration and self love by posting a video or photo explaining who or what motivates you to be strong. Hashtag #ShareStrong and encourage your friends, family and followers to do the same. 


Kate Upton | Instagram

Find your strength. 
Find your confidence. 
Find what makes you strong. 
Kate Upton 


Strong 4 Me by Kate Upton is a workout for busy women on the go. Created by Kate Upton and her personal trainer, Ben Bruno, to help women of any fitness level build strength and confidence. Strong4Me fits into busy schedules and was created to provide sustainable lifestyle changes that keep you energised, motivated and balanced. 

Join Kate's Strong4Me Fitness 12 week at-home fitness program at Strong4MeFitness.com


Kate & Harley | STRONG4ME FITNESS

There's no denying Kate's love for dogs! With her adorable boxer Harley by her side, Kate and her husband Justin are animal advocates promoting shelters in Houston to bring awareness to the #AdoptDontShop campaign. 


From model to movie star to motherhood Kate Upton is motivating women to be strong, authentic, body positive and happy in their own skin. So girls, take note. You don't need to be a size 2. Just be you! Find your strength, find your confidence, find what makes you strong and #ShareStrong. 



Kate Upton 

Instagram: Instagram.com/KateUpton
Facebook: Facebook.com/officialKateUpton

Strong4Me Fitness 

Official: www.strong4mefitness.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/strong4mefit


This cover story is featured in Eco Glamazine August 2019 


Kate Upton Photo credit: Strong4MeFitness.com