Fitness tycoon Denise Austin is stepping into 69 in a bikini and looking great.
The workout legend, who rose to fame thanks to her line of exercise tapes and DVDs that got millions of Americans moving, went on to become a force in the movement for activity and even served as a member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Now known for her Fit Over 50 magazine and app, the dynamo is still going strong. On Friday, she took to Instagram to share a photo of herself stepping outside on her 69th birthday in a floral bikini. With her bouncy blonde hair and phenomenal body, it’s hard to believe she’s 69. It’s safe to say her dedicated fitness regimen is working well!
Austin Loves a Throwback Post
In a recent Instagram post, Austin shared a photo of herself wearing one of her old white leotards in 1988. Flash forward to 2026, and Austin still has the same leotard and wears it with style.
“Here I am in 1988 ..The ‘then’ photo is from one of my first VHS cover photoshoots!! And the ‘now’ is from my recent Fit Over 50: Vitality for Life Magazine cover shoot!! So fun!” Austin captioned the photo set.
She Recruited Her Daughter, Katie, for Side-by-Side Photos
In a recent side-by-side Instagram post, Denise shared a photo of herself from back in the ’90s wearing her trademark blue leotard and a bright yellow jacket. In the present-day photo, her daughter Katie Austin wears the same outfit. Clearly, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree!
Why She Keeps Those Legendary Leotards
Since many people wonder why Austin has held onto her treasure trove of ’80s leotards, the workout queen recently shared that they’re important keepsakes from her past.
“I saved all of my leotards from back in the day, from the ‘80s and ‘90s, which I used to wear on my videos and on my TV show,” she told Fox News. “I’m so happy I kept them all because [my daughter] Katie loves to wear them. My other daughter, Kelly, loves to wear them too.”
This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
