There’s a special kind of confidence that comes from knowing someone has your back—on the field or off it. For Jake Browning, that’s been his job in Cincinnati, stepping in when Joe Burrow went down last season. But beyond the locker room, the Bengals quarterback has taken on a different kind of role: No. 1 hype man.
It all started years ago when Browning met a woman with big dreams and even bigger ambition. Stephanie Niles wasn’t just another NFL WAG—she was building something of her own, long before she ever put on a Bengals game-day outfit. From the moment she first set her sights on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, she knew it was a long game—one that required patience, resilience, and the ability to hear “no” without backing down.
Now, she’s back for another shot at the SI Swim Search, and Browning? He’s perfectly executing his role off the field! When Browning found out that his fiancée, Stephanie Niles, was diving back into the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2025 Swim Search, he had one job: Hype. Her. Up. And, like any elite QB, he delivered. When it comes to Niles? He’s not competing—he’s leading the fan club.
Stephanie Niles is a businesswoman, a game-day fashion icon, and now? A model chasing unfinished business. The SI Swim Search process is on, and Niles is a part of it to hopefully earn a rookie spot in the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue. Amidst this, Browning is hyping her up with his full might. Resharing her post, he captioned it with a big red heart to show his support for Stephanie.
In the post, Stephanie, clad in swimsuits, first in pink and next in teal color, says in the introductory video, “Hey SI, this is Stephanie Niles, and this is my 2025 Sports Illustrated swimsuit audition.” Through her post caption, Stephanie shared her journey with her fans.
She wrote, “Being a SI Rookie has been a dream of mine ever since I saw Hannah Davis (now Jeter) on the cover in 2015!” She has been passionate about the magazine since then. Further, she mentioned, “When there was an open call in 2018, I flew from Seattle to Miami, stood in line with like 10 thousand women & made it to the top 67 (aka the Sweet 67 ) before they got down to 16 women.” Regardless, she was proud of herself for making it this far, “but now I have grown so much & have so much more confidence!,” Niles added. “My admiration for the brand, the women featured & what SI stands for continues to grow!,” reckoning why she has applied for the same.
She ended her message with her appeal for the fans, writing, “If you want to help me become a SI Rookie for the 2026 edition, repost or comment on this video tagging @si_swimsuit & @mj_day !! It would mean the world to me 🩷 . Thank you in advance for everyone’s support & I’ll keep you all updated!” Her application is in, her campaign is rolling, and her social media? Absolutely cooking.
Jake Browning’s fiancée Stephanie Niles’ fashionable moment
Previously, Stephanie Niles gained attention for her viral bodysuit moment at a Cincinnati Bengals game. She is pitching for a solid modeling career, applying through SI Swimsuit’s online submission process that opened in December and runs through March. On Feb. 2, 2025, Niles shared her audition content on social media.
Not only this, but her Bengals game-day fashion moment went viral whilst Browning had stepped up as starting QB during Joe Burrow’s injury layoff. Niles took to wearing a custom all-white bodysuit that featured Browning’s name and number in glittery letters.
Browning and Niles officially started dating in May 2018. In a five-year anniversary Instagram post, Browning wrote, “Remember when we agreed we weren’t going to date? Or when we finally started dating we agreed we were going to break up when you moved to NYC in 2018…?” Proposing to Niles on a beach in Malibu, they shared their engagement photos on Instagram, writing, “HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!!!!! .”
The couple remains semi-private, but is likely to share wedding updates soon. Amidst this, while Jake Browning gets ready for the 2025 season, Stephanie Niles is giving her best to earn the rookie spot in the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue. This might open multiple avenues, including being featured on SI Swimsuit covers, acting careers, television hosting gigs, and an exclusive opportunity to design your own jewelry and swimsuit lines. Get it, girl!
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