Keith Newport, CEO, Founder, and Creative Director of Hunt & Harbor, chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about being an entrepreneur in the digital age.
His swimwear company, Hunt & Harbor, is serving as an official sponsor of this year’s Mister USA competition, which will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Charles Wooton serves as COO (Chief Operating Officer) of Hunt & Harbor.
Overview of Mister USA
Mister USA is an American beauty pageant, which is held annually, and the winner goes on to represent the United States in the Mister Universe competition. It is a celebration of culture, diversity, beauty, intelligence and empowerment.
It believes in the power of young leaders to make a difference in the world. It is not solely about outer beauty; it recognizes the inner beauty and intelligence of their contestants.
How did Hunt & Harbor come about?
It’s funny because it wasn’t some grand plan. I’ve always had a creative side, I do little projects here and there just because I genuinely enjoy it. I grew up in a small town in East Tennessee, we have a mountain house in North Georgia, but I also love the northeastern coastal Americana preppy aesthetic. Those things all feel natural to me, but I couldn’t find one brand that held all of that.
So I started designing things I would actually wear. Really small, just tees and hoodies at first. And slowly it became something. The brand is still growing and still finding itself in some ways, which I don’t mind saying. But when real people started connecting with it, that’s when it stopped being just a creative outlet and started feeling like something worth growing and investing in.
What does your role as Founder and Creative Director actually look like day to day?
It’s a lot more than most people probably imagine. The creative side never really stops. I’m always designing, always keeping notes, always thinking of new ways to express the brand. Once that door opens, it just flows. But there’s also the business side: communicating with manufacturers, working with photographers and content creators, managing social, running ads, analyzing the data. I genuinely love the metrics side of things, seeing the numbers, tracking growth, understanding what’s working.
I’m fortunate that my co-founder and husband Charles handles a huge part of the operational and financial side. He actually retired earlier this year to take that on full time as the brand has grown, which has been a game changer. Because I’m still very much in my full-time career Monday through Friday, so this is happening in the evenings, weekends, late nights. It never really stops, but I don’t say that as a complaint. It’s energizing.
What inspires you most as an entrepreneur?
Honestly? The people. I think that’s the part that surprises me most. When you put yourself out there with something you created, you start connecting with people you never would have crossed paths with otherwise. Photographers, fitness people, musicians, other designers, content creators, people who are genuinely passionate about what they do. That energy is contagious. It pushes me.
And then there’s that moment where someone reaches out and says the brand resonates with them, or you see someone actually wearing something you designed. That’s a feeling that’s hard to describe. You had an idea, you built it, and now it’s out in the world. That never gets old.
How does it feel to be partnering with Mister USA 2026?
It feels a little surreal, to be completely honest. When they reached out and asked if I’d be interested in submitting some designs to be considered, I thought, why not? I put together a creative brief with my vision, they liked it, and then I got on a call with Jino Cabrera, who is the CEO and President of the Mister USA and Mister Universe organizations.
That call changed things. I was upfront with him, I told him the brand was still growing and still relatively new. He didn’t flinch. And from the moment we started talking, it felt less like a business meeting and more like catching up with someone I’d known for years. His passion for the organization and what he’s built is infectious. Once we made it official, he’s had this “we’re in this together” energy that has made the whole experience feel like a genuine partnership rather than just a transaction. I’m really grateful for his trust.
And getting to know the contestants in the lead-up to Vegas has been an unexpected highlight. I assumed it would be more surface-level, but these guys are genuinely impressive, not just in how they carry themselves, but who they are in their personal lives. They’re inspiring in their own individual ways, and I’ve just really enjoyed getting to know some of them. That part I did not expect.
Where do you see Hunt & Harbor in five years?
I try not to set rigid expectations because honestly, not having them is part of what keeps this fun. But I’d love to see the brand continue to grow the way it has been, organically, through real connections and opportunities that feel right.
We’ve had some genuinely exciting moments already. Actors and country music artists have worn the brand, and we’ve outfitted deck crew with personal swimwear for the upcoming season of Below Deck Mediterranean on Bravo that’s about to air, so hopefully that will make it on screen – things I never mapped out or planned for. Those kinds of moments are what I’d love more of.
And I want Hunt & Harbor to keep growing as a full lifestyle brand, not just apparel. We’ve already expanded into denim and other categories, and I want that to continue. The brand has a point of view and I want that point of view to show up in more places.
What advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs and designers?
Start with your “why.” Get really clear on who you are, who your customer is, and what makes you different. Once you have that thread, everything else connects to it. Without it, you’re just making things aimlessly.
And understand that you can’t only focus on the parts you love. You have to learn the whole business, the financial side, the operations, the customer experience. The creative part is the fun part for me, but the business part is what keeps the lights on, so to speak.
Don’t get discouraged early. Starting out is an investment of time, energy, and money, and most of that investment happens before anyone is paying much attention. Stay consistent, pay attention to what’s working, be willing to adjust. And really believe in what you’re doing. I think people can feel when someone genuinely stands behind their product, their art, their brand. That authenticity matters more than any ad budget.
What does success mean to you?
My definition of that has shifted a lot, especially as I’ve gotten closer to 50. For a long time, success looked like titles, achievements, the external markers. And I’ve had those. I have a career I’m genuinely proud of and still love. But success now feels like something different. It’s doing both. Building something creative and meaningful alongside a professional life I’m committed to. It’s being uncomfortable enough that you’re still growing. It’s not looking back and wondering what if.
Life is short. I think the version of success I’m most proud of is just proving to myself that you can actually do it. That it’s not too late. That you don’t have to choose one thing and abandon everything else to have something worth being proud of.
What do you want readers to know about Hunt & Harbor?
Hunt & Harbor is for everyone. I was intentional about not building something that felt inaccessible. Trust me, I love designer brands, but there’s a lot going on in the world right now and I don’t want to be tone deaf to that. I want this brand to be something people can actually enjoy without it feeling out of reach. A premium feel, real design, but attainable prices.
And if I can leave anyone with one thought beyond the brand, it’s this: if there’s something nagging at you that you keep putting off, something you want to try, build, or create, just start. You’ll surprise yourself. I know I have.
To learn more about Hunt & Habor, visit its official website, and follow its Instagram page and TikTok.
For more information on Hunt & Harbor CEO, founder, and creative director Keith Newport, follow him on Instagram and TikTok.
