Gronk Galpal Camille Kostek a Star in Her Own Right

By Erica Corsano
The Boston Herald

Camille Kostek is a familiar, beautiful face — a former Patriots cheerleader on the 2013-14 roster, she roused fans and players with her spirited moves. The ambassador of Rhode Island-based lifestyle brand BENRUS can also be seen out and about with Pats tight end Rob Gronkowski. And at only 23, the communications major from Eastern Connecticut State University is mulling a career as a TV host.

We caught up with Kostek for our exclusive Boston Herald/BENRUS fall fashion shoot to dish about fashion, game-day routines, 
favorite dishes and more.

You’re obviously a big football fan. When you host friends and family on game day, do you have any special dishes you like to serve?

I’ll mix an avocado with mild salsa and make a homemade guacamole and serve it with chips. That’s my go-to.

I’ve heard that football is your religion. When you are watching the games at home, who do you watch them with?

I have always been a Pat-riots fan, but even more than rooting for the Patriots, I would always try to watch the cheerleaders and the airtime they do get. Any Sunday, when I wasn’t at home, I was looking for that Sunday Fun-day spot to kick back and watch the game or to kick back and watch the game with my family or with the girls. … I try to get to as many games as possible.

Is there a favorite cocktail you like to drink or serve on game day?

You are going to laugh at this … I am very much like my mom. … She doesn’t drink, I don’t drink. It became super handy when it was time to make the squad because Thursday night practice was the equivalent to Thirsty Thursday … so it wasn’t tough for me to switch over to that lifestyle of going to sleep early and waking up being ready for practice.

I bring water with lemon with me everywhere! That might sound so lame, but if I’m going to be honest, that’s all I drink! It’s a running joke here, when I meet friends from work for happy hour, they have a water with lemon waiting for me.

Do you still keep in touch with your fellow cheerleaders from your Patriots days?

Oh my gosh, yes. I never had Greek life at my school, so I kind of say that they are like my sorority sisters. It’s a blood, sweat and tears thing with the team … late hours of practice, early mornings getting ready for games … you just create this incredible bond.

Now that you are not a cheerleader, how do you keep in shape?

I am a fitness instructor at a studio called Modern Barre. I teach signature barre and cardio barre, where we do five straight-through dance exercises, which reminds me so much of being back in the cheer house performing. … It’s really fun. Other than that, I’m in the gym just about every other day and I work with a trainer.

Your career has gone in some pretty interesting directions. You were a cheerleader, you’re a fitness 
instructor, a spokesperson, and I understand you want to get into TV?

If you were to ask me what my dream job is, it would be to be Giuliana Rancic. I was our university news anchor in college which was strict news, which I love … but I think what matches my personality is talking about fashion, and fitness and sports … and my everyday lifestyle. And it’s not strict teleprompter reading, you get to be yourself and it’s very interactive.

What are some of your favorite fall pieces, especially for game day?

I am such a beanie girl. I love football season not only for the love of the sport, but for the season it happens to fall under — I love wearing layers. Our waxed cotton jacket is probably one of my favorites. If I’m not wearing that, I’m wearing the leather rocker because I am a huge leather fan.

I am in love with our 
almond gold concorde sunglasses, which you can wear year-round.

So probably my favorite is pairing the waxed cotton jacket with a beanie and the concordes.