STRONG Fitness Magazine has landed in Australia, published by Alicia Fistonich, a former media professional turned fitness trainer.
“I’m extremely excited to be bringing a fresh perspective on fitness for women to Australia. Our team is incredible, and I can’t wait to see how far we can go with our Aussie take on this amazing product and brand.”
With a sophisticated editorial voice and greater emphasis on weight-training for women, backed up by evidence based features, STRONG Fitness Magazine Australia reflects the direction that the fitness industry has taken over the past five years.
Originating in Canada and the US, STRONG Fitness Magazine Australia has built a reputation as a trusted source of cutting-edge fitness and health information for the strong, resilient, modern woman.
Editor-in-Chief, Katelyn Swallow aims to educate, motivate and inspire Australian women, as one of Australia’s youngest ever appointed she is a former small-town country girl who has made her mark on the publishing industry in the big city, showing women nationwide how to embrace their strength and succeed.
I was my pleasure to sit down with Katelyn and talk fitness, health and what we can expect from the magazine.
Congratulations on the upcoming launch of STRONG Fitness Magazine – you must be so excited! Tell me a bit about how you started and got to landing the gig at STRONG Fitness Magazine?
Thank you and I really am excited – albeit a little nervous, which I think is natural when you embark on any project that is a little bit niche.
My journey to STRONG Australia began about three years ago when I was heading up another female fitness publication and was asked to speak on a media panel in the US.
Here, I met the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of STRONG Fitness Magazine, Kirstyn Brown, and fell quietly in love with what the brand was offering Americans and Canadians, the educational content they were producing – especially in terms of resistance training – and the empowered female community they were creating.
Fast-forward to early this year, and I received an out-of-the-blue phone call from our passionate director, Alicia Fistonich, telling me she had bought the Aussie licenses and asking if I was interested in coming on board as Editor-in-Chief. Safe to say I didn’t hesitate, and now here I am. Living my dream.
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect a magazine that minimises the fluff and delivers quality, evidence-based journalism and motivational storytelling on all things health, fitness, beauty, and mental wellness. They can expect to meet inspirational Australia women, of varied backgrounds, body shapes, and capabilities.
They can expect easy-to-read lifestyle content and light-and-bright photography, mixed with darker, grungey imagery and long-form fitness features. They can expect a magazine brand that integrates print and digital doesn’t shy away from the big issues and wants to empower its readers and get them involved in the process! Most of all, they can expect a focus on strength – in-gym, in-body, and in-mind.
Who will be contributing to the publication?
We have a range of experts on speed dial providing commentary, as well as extremely intelligent and articulate columnists and journalists writing the features. One of the more notable names includes our Head Trainer, Alexa Towersey, who is not only an incredible athlete, trainer and motivational speaker but also a very dear friend of mine.
She has an incredible personal story of strength and resilience (you will hear her story issue 1, so be on the lookout for that!), as well as a hefty list of credentials and experience.
To have her on board for STRONG Australia is exciting.
One thing that I think had been really exciting is the shift from the stereotype of fitness fans to the inclusivity of everyone finding their own fitness and health journey. What does fitness and being fit and healthy mean to you?
To me, being fit and healthy is about exercising and eating in a way that brings out the best in me in every other aspect of my life. When I eat well and train hard, I find I’m better equipped to deal with stress, I concentrate better at work, I’m happier with how I look and more confident when I walk into the boardroom or an event, I sleep better and can give more to those around me – be it family, friends or a partner.
So being fit and healthy isn’t necessarily hitting a certain ‘look’ or PB or prepping for a comp (although I’ve trained and dieted for all of those in the past) – it’s now about a bunch of habits that improve my life day-to-day.
