Raise your hand if you’ve spent HOURS looking for the right swimsuit (oh, oh, call on me!!). The right fit, the right cut, the right body parts showing in the right ways. Is that even possible?

This was me earlier this year. I spent weeks searching for “the one,” only to come up short-handed.

If you know me personally, you know that I have a tall/athletic build. So why would I require anything different than a bikini? BECAUSE I DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE IN A BIKINI.

As a 37-year-old mother of two young kiddos, I don’t feel confident running around with my booty hanging out of swim bottoms. Not only did my body physically change after having kids, but so did my whole view of who was seeing my body. Do I just cover up with an oversized t-shirt? Do I sit on the sidelines while my kids splash and beg me to come join them? Or do I push myself into a bikini that makes me feel uncomfortable and exposed?

Sound familiar? After literal months of searching for a swimsuit and not finding exactly what I was looking for (because the opposite of a bikini is a frumpy 2-piece and that's not what I want either, dangit!), I decided to take matters into my own hands.

I put out a simple survey to my friends, and exactly 101 women responded with the same stories — hiding under t-shirts, sitting out of water activities, missing out on living because they couldn’t find a swimsuit that made them feel good.

That was the turning point. If I couldn’t find a suit that worked for me, and hundreds of other women couldn’t either, why not create one?

That’s why I started Florine Swim Co. — named after my grandmother Florine, who gave birth to FOURTEEN children. I can only imagine how much she would have appreciated a swimsuit that gave her the freedom to feel comfortable while chasing after her kids. Her legacy inspires me to build something that empowers women everywhere — whether you’re a mom, a daughter, a sister, or a friend — to live fully and confidently. Once my logo is finalized you will notice a rainbow feature- this is a nod to my Grandma and I look so forward to sharing the story behind it.

So far, I’ve worked with a freelance designer to bring my vision into digital sketches. Now, I’m ready for the next big steps — and this is where I need your help.

How your support will be used:

– Hire a consulting firm to guide me through sample production, sourcing, and manufacturing (I have only ever worked in a healthcare setting so all of this is new to me. I have been educating myself the best I can along the way but as we all know, a little bit of guidance can go a long way. I will remain the in the driver's seat for all decisions, I just need a passenger or 2 to give me some directions along the way)

– Create and test high-quality product samples to ensure the best fit and comfort (my goal is to make these suits last you FOREVER, while still be eco-friendly in the production phase)

– Fund the very first production run of Florine Swim Co. swimsuits (aahhhh!!)

This isn’t just about swimsuits. It’s about confidence. It’s about freedom. It’s about saying YES to playing with your kids, YES to joining your friends in the pool, YES to living fully in the bodies we have.