Sports Illustrated

Rob Gronkowski's smokin' hot GF says modeling agencies pressured her to drop serious weight in order to get gigs ... but the NFL superstar urged her to not give in to their demands.

Camille Kostek said Gronk made her realize she shouldn't have to conform to the crazy, unrealistic standards in traditional modeling ... and it turned out to be some of the best advice she's ever gotten.

"He had seen me get rejected by a lot of agencies," Kostek said on Mark Dohner's "Livin' Large" podcast ... explaining how she was sometimes told to lose 15 pounds in 3 weeks or to shed inches off her thighs in order to be considered for jobs.

"I was like, I just don't want to do that. [Gronk] was like, 'Do you even want a body like that?' And I was like, 'No.' And he was like, 'Yeah, I don't even want you to be like that.'"

Turns out, it was great advice -- the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition tapped Kostek to be a rookie model in 2018, and her career has exploded ever since.

And now, those same agencies that wanted her to starve herself are probably begging for a callback. How's that for karma?!

There's a bunch more in the interview ... Camille also talks about her time as a Patriots cheerleader ... and how she linked up with Christian Yelich for the California Strong campaign for the CA wildfires and Borderline Bar shooting.

Why do so many people HATE the New England Patriots -- the greatest dynasty in the history of pro sports?

That's the question we posed to Rob Gronkowski's smokin' hot girlfriend, Camille Kostek -- and her answer was simple ... JEALOUSY!

"You hate us 'cause you ain't us," the former Pats cheerleader told us at LAX.

Kostek -- who's also a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition model -- just got off the plane from Kansas City where she battled freezing temperatures to support the future Hall of Famer ... and told us how the couple celebrated the big win.

So, how does Gronk feel about going to ANOTHER Super Bowl??

"He's amped, he's so pumped," Kostek said while admitting the constant winning NEVER gets old!

As for the big game, Kostek says she's friends with Rams QB Jared Goff -- but that goes out the window on February 3 ...

"All I gotta say is, good luck! I think it's gonna be a great game ... Patriots coming out with a W."

Alexis Ren's got a wide variety of looks for the camera, but in these shots of the model's sexy sea romp there's a constant ... her itty bitty black bikini.

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2018 Rookie of the Year is kicking off 2019 down in Mexico at the Casa Malca Tulum resort, and recruited a lucky guy Thursday to snap some sultry shots of her splashing around.

Alexis was mostly all smiles for the mystery photog, but the cheekiness led to her flipping him the bird at one point.

Not sure what he did ... but Alexis didn't seem to hold it against him too long.

Earlier in the day, Alexis tweeted out a cryptic message -- "If you're reading this, I miss you" -- which fans believe is directed at her former "Dancing with the Stars" partner, Alan Bersten.

Rob Gronkowski missed the game-saving tackle in the Dolphins game on Sunday ... but his S.I. model GF tells TMZ Sports it was NOT a mistake havin' him on the field.

We got Camille Kostek out at the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year ceremony at The Beverly Hilton in L.A. ... when she explained why Bill Belichick should give Gronk more burn on defense.

"I don't play football, I don't make the rules -- I support whatever he does. So if he needs to be put at defense again, I say, 'Go for it, baby!!'"

Of course, Patriots fans were pissed ... and confused about why Gronk -- a 6'7" tight end -- was on defense in the first place for Kenyan Drake's miracle sprint.

But, Camille says her BF ain't one-dimensional -- and she knows her man will get it done if he's in the same spot again in the future.

"I mean, look what he does as a tight end. He doesn't just catch the ball and get in the end zone. He's blocking, he does it all. So, yeah, I think I can see him doing it again!"

As for the couple's future ... we had to ask if wedding bells are coming down the pipe ... and while Camille says not right now ... she definitely didn't say no to the idea down the road!!

Like pics of hot chicks on the beach? And also, world class athletes on the beach?

Then you're gonna love ... "Hot Chicks and World Class Athletes Playing Soccer on the Beach!"

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition models Samantha Hoopes and Camille Kostek -- they're here!

Paralympic snowboarding superstar Brenna Huckaby? STRAIGHT FIRE!

Landon Donovan, Rashad Jennings and Chad Ochocinco? Sure!

57-year-old Colombian soccer legend Carlos Valderrama and his legendary hairdo also made an appearance.

It was all part of the 2018 World Futbol Gala -- Celebrity Beach Soccer Match presented by GACP Sports and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in Miami.

Other stars ... Miss USA, tennis legend Genie Bouchard, Casper Smart and the Miami Heat dance team!

Forget the TB12 Method ... Rob Gronkowski clearly needs to come out with his own fitness line -- 'cause Camille Kostek says he's the reason for her smokin' hot bod!!

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model -- who joined Harvey and Charles on "TMZ Live" -- says she's been training with the Patriots tight end ... and credits his workouts for gettin' her magazine ready this fall.

"I'm doing the same workouts [as him]," Camille says ... "Maybe not the same weight, but I'll do just as many reps and he'll push me until I can't go anymore."

Soo ... what's the RG87 Method's secret? Camille tells us the New England superstar LOVES resistance bands!!

If you wanna see the results of Gronk's training program firsthand ... Kostek's gonna be on the beach in Miami for a charity celeb soccer match this Saturday.

In case you can't make that ... no worries -- we've gotchya covered here!

Elle Macpherson got body checked after taking a nasty tumble getting into her car ... and it appears to be the fault of some pesky footwear.

The iconic Aussie model was leaving a flower shop in Sydney, where she had a bouquet in her arms ... and some fancy high-heeled boots on her feet. She tells the paps who'd gathered around that she was done with photos ... but gravity wasn't done with her.

Check out the clip -- Elle completely collapses trying to enter the vehicle, which spurs her driver into action as he tries getting her up. She appears to be okay, but struggles a bit.

Bet this wouldn't have happened if she was in her natural habitat, just sayin'. #SplishSplash

What'd NFL star Danny Amendola get for his 33rd birthday Friday??

NOT A DOPE NEW ROLEX WATCH!!!!!

At least ... not from his ex-GF, Olivia Culpo, anyway -- 'cause the smokin' hot model says she's keepin' the $12,000 ROLEX she presumably bought for her ex-man's big day.

"Looks like this is my present now," she wrote ... "HAPPY BDAY TO ME"

FYI ... Olivia's birthday ain't until May -- so, yeah. SHAAAAAAAAAADE.

As we previously reported ... Danny was spotted on the beach last weekend with a cutie that wasn't Olivia, while Culpo was out shooting bikini pics for Sports Illustrated -- and reports say Culpo was so pissed, she broke things off right away.

As for what Danny's now missin' out on (besides the love of Miss Universe 2012) ... Rolex says the watch "was designed to meet the demands of professional racing drivers."

Big bummer for the Dolphins wide receiver. Hope the Miami canoodling was worth it!

How does smokin' hot model Alexis Ren blow off some steam when she's not training for "Dancing with the Stars"?

Tiny bikini beach sesh ... and it's great.

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition Rookie of the Year hit up the beach in Santa Monica (where she grew up) over the weekend and flaunted her insane physique for all to see.

Ren wasn't alone ... she was splashin' around with her boyfriend, Sky Bear (yes, that's his name) ... a handsome dude with a man bun.

The two were spotted flirting in the water and kicking around a soccer ball. She looked amazing. He was also there.

Monday morning, it was back to work for Ren -- training with her 'DWTS' partner, Alan Bersten, as they get ready for week 2 ... where the theme is "New York Night."

Camille Kostek is channeling her inner Tammy Wynette ... 'cause she's standing by her man in a BIG way, firing back at Jalen Ramsey, who she says is less of a man than Gronk in both talent and hotness!

Ramsey -- a star cornerback for the Jacksonville Jaguars -- went after Gronk in a scorched-earth attack on a bunch of NFL stars ... saying the Pats tight end is "not that good" and struggles when defended by a true corner.

We got Kostek out -- she's incredibly attractive, which has nothing to do with this post -- and when we asked her for a rebuttal to Ramsey's trash talk, she wasn't shy at all.

"Rob's sexier than you, and he's a better football player," the S.I. Swimsuit Edition model told us.

Kostek also says she can't WAIT to watch her man dominate Ramsey in person -- telling us she'll be at the game when the Pats take on the Jaguars on Sept. 16.

Getcha popcorn ready!!!

Darrelle Revis gave us a glimpse into his life after football Wednesday night ... and it looks good. REALLY good.

The newly retired cornerback showed up to the ESPYs with Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and pro MMA fighter Mia Kang as his arm candy ... and the two looked VERY coupley.

Are they dating for real? Mia wouldn't spill the beans ... but, Revis did say the two already have a second date planned.

"She said she's going to kick my ass soon," Revis says. "So, I'm looking forward to it."

Sure beats jammin' receivers during the dog days of training camp, right D.R.??

Camille Kostek is becoming a bikini force to be reckoned with ... Rob Gronkowski's GF hit the runway at Miami Swim Week in a super small bikini -- and the pics are awesome!!

Kostek and Haley Kalil were 2018 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition rookies -- and they hit Swim Week to coach the next batch of bikini models during the Sunday night show at the W South Beach.

Tons of women showed up for the casting call -- but show producers only selected 16 girls to walk the runway ... and, judging by the pics, they chose well.

As for Kostek, she was also hanging behind the scenes with Olivia Culpo -- who's dating Danny Amendola ... Gronk's former New England Patriots teammate.

Enough reading ... starting clicking.

Game respects game ... 'cause Sports Illustrated smokeshow Samantha Hoopes says Saquon Barkley's naked pics are so good, he OWES IT TO THE WORLD to keep modeling!!!

You gotta watch the video ... Samantha's reaction to Saquon's nude pics in ESPN's Body Issue is real, and she's legit impressed!!!

"I do think that you're kind of limiting yourself with a body like that if you don't model," Hoopes says about the 21-year-old NY Giants running back.

"You know, 'cause we all work out to look like that and so if you've already got it, you might as well flaunt it. Right?!"

Samantha knows a little something about the modeling game ... she's posed for Guess, Levi's and has become a fan favorite in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

There's more ... the 27-year-old blonde also weighs in on Gisele's recent comments about it being tougher for models to make it big these days thanks to social media.

Ex-ESPN reporter Ed Werder is calling out a Sports Illustrated writer -- claiming her hiring practices are completely unfair ... because she's discriminating against MEN.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Here's the deal ... SI tweeted out an ad looking for an entry-level news writer -- which was retweeted by SI senior writer Charlotte Wilder, who added the following caption:

"If you can stand sitting near me in the office this is a v cool opportunity. Especially if you're a woman trying to get into sports, you should message me — DMs are open."

Werder had a big problem with Wilder's post ... saying, "So men need not apply? Any others ineligible?"

Wilder responded, "Oh WOW you're right, Ed, sorry for attempting to make sports media more than 10% female, my bad."

Werder: "I just always associated SI with hiring the best regardless of race, sex and other factors."

The conversation went on. Someone later asked Ed why he was so upset. He responded:

"Because next week I’m going to be standing in front of a broadcasting class of young people and some will be males and I have to tell them they have the same chance at jobs like those one as all others."

Before you get upset ... one of Ed's former ESPN colleague, Mina Kimes -- a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine -- chimed in and basically spelled it out for him.

"Encouraging women to apply for a position isn't the same thing as 'excluding' men. it's helping female applicants network, which can be a challenge given the massive gender imbalance in our industry (which I'm sure you know exists)."

Donald Trump will be rubbing elbows with his supporters in one of the ritziest gated communities in Southern California.

TMZ has learned the fundraiser will go down at the home of Ed Glazer, the owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He lives in the super exclusive Beverly Park community in Beverly Hills.

Our sources say it was first billed as a "victory party" but later changed to a fundraiser.

Glazer has commissioned a company to install tents for the occasion -- a 40x50, a 40x40 and a 10x15. There are 64 guests who are invited for the event which will be held sometime between 5 and 10 PM.

The price of admission ... minimum $35,000 per person, with a top price of $250,000.

Sports Illustrated is going to bat for Ashley Graham after Toccara Jones called her twerking abilities subpar -- and this new video of her booty-shaking in the sand ... is the perfect re-butt-al..

SI posted the new clip on Wednesday ... showing more of Ashley's on location twerk-off with a photo shoot crew member. Interestingly, the video dropped AFTER Toccara, the "Queen of Thickness," called out AG's twerk skills.

She straight-up laughed, telling us Ashley was lacking some major pop.

In Toccara's defense ... she was looking at a different SI vid (below), where Ashley was shot from afar.

We have no clue if the new angle would sway Toccara's vote, but we'll say this -- Ashley's got plenty of swaying going on back there. Plenty.