There have been many iterations of MIGA. First there was MIGA, which was custom-made to our volunteers and condition-specific. That was our first collection, inspired by burn survivors that we funded through our 2018 Kickstarter. Second, we had the collection where I worked closely with 5 women who all had very different diagnoses, from ulcerative colitis to acne inversa, to tell their stories through design and in the canvas bags that come with each suit. For this collection, we produced upwards of 800 units which were ready by the time we were in COVID. You can imagine how difficult it was as a small business to finally be in stock when the whole world was shut down with no vacation insight.
Last year, we did the ally collection, a push to create swimsuits that appealed to a greater audience as a way to continue to raise awareness about the disability community while combating ableism. If we weren’t so steadfast to our mission we would not be here.
What I have learned is that a good product will sell. A product has to appeal to the customer through the eye first, our bright neon pink Ally bikini top comes to mind. Then, everything else falls into place. One of our biggest pivots was when we realized our brand needed to target the mass market in order to fulfill our mission to combat ableism. I do not need to tell members of the disability community about the horrors of ableism, they know them too well. I need to engage with those that do not know how inaccessible our world is in order to fulfill our mission.
I never thought I would move away from a direct to consumer model to working with retailers like Target and Macy’s. I thought that in order to have a big impact I could do it all by myself and I was wrong. As a small business it is nearly impossible to get eye balls for a reasonable price, Google and Facebook are cost prohibitive, especially during the pandemic. So here we are working with two partners that we believe Can and will take our business to the next level. My therapist recently said that we are in expansion mode. And although I still cannot believe it, that is where we are today.
WHAT WE ARE |
WHAT WE ARE NOT |
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Since the inception of MIGA Swimwear, I have interviewed over 100 different people to understand the disability, chronic illness and disfigurement experience. The majority of the interviews have been conducted with women who have these conditions, to understand their unique views on life, on how best to live day-by-day with the uncertainty of a diagnosis, diagnosed or undiagnosed. All of these women are courageous, strong but above all resilient. And just like everyone else, they want the same as you and me. They want love, they want a job that makes them proud when they go to bed at night, they want to be respected, equally in their field and as valuable members of society. Ultimately, they want to belong.
While I have never been discriminated due to my disfigurement at a job interview (admittedly, I have never applied to be a foot model but I am pretty sure I would not get a callback), from a very young age, whether by explicit or implicit bias, I learned that my disfigurement was something I needed to hide. My disfigurement is something that brought my value, as a woman but also as a human being, into question. What was my value if something in my body didn’t look like everyone else’s? By 8th grade, I was convinced that my disfigurement was some kind of symbol that made me not cute enough, didn’t matter how much I would develop my personality. My worth would always come into play when I was barefoot. For some, my height or my short legs was enough of a tell-tale sign to label me as below average.
I used to look at myself in the mirror and think everything else looks passing as far as I keep my socks on. I did not realize, however, that giving up the freedom of being barefoot would replace one issue with another. At the beach or the pool, I would become quite socially anxious. While before I loved swimming, swimming competitively even, now I was passing the opportunity to go with my classmates on a cruise graduation trip. The thought of being barefoot 24/7 being too daunting to bare. By giving up that freedom, not only did social anxiety creep in, I started to feel the ick of dishonesty all over me. Add to that the internalized shame I felt for having a rare condition that made me “weird”. So now at the ripe age of 15 years old, I felt deceitful and fake.
There was no incentive to disclose, in fact I was encouraged by my parents not to, their protective side while well-intentioned doing more harm than good. In the years to come, I hope to become a mother and I wonder if in my parent’s position I would do anything differently. I grew up in the 90s, the psychology of appearance was not as advanced as it is today. With the advent of social media and the commodification of displaying what makes us unique, you can find communities in the far reaches of the web that celebrate your condition, no matter how rare. If I were to have been a parent in the 90s, I would probably done the same as my parents; the world was not ready for it then and yet, sometimes I wonder if it is ready for it now?
With the statistics of social media’s mental toll on appearance matters, I worry that it is not. More than a third of people living with disfigurement have experienced employment discrimination, this percentage rises to 45% among 18 to 34 year olds. No longer can we play dumb and deny that discrimination towards people who have disfigurement is real and carries economic burdens to the members of this community and to society, overall. That’s why Ariel, Nathalia and I will be giving a panel at SXSW on the disfigurement experience this year. We are hopeful that in a year when the world opens up, it will be a world much more conscious about the health inequalities in this country.
Let’s make this upcoming opening, the mask-free-year, a year where people that have burn scars, cleft palates or psoriasis will no longer have to hide AND will not have to experience employment discrimination. As a society, I am optimistic that we now understand that the health of many is the health of all. That we have come to terms with our mortality somewhat and that as a result, we will become more humane towards those that are not part of our silo. No longer can we be ignorant of the experience of the other, we need protection and we need society to care, do you care? If you do, please help us signing the following petition. ]]>I grew up in Costa Rica. This is what life in Costa Rica is like.
]]>I get asked what it was like to grow up in Costa Rica and immediately I can feel the sway of my hips to the beat of old school Carlos Vives. This musician is of course not from Costa Rica, but I want to illustrate the influence that the southern hemisphere (and the northern too) have on our small country. A country so small yet so powerful in terms of its sustainability goals and the international draw it has.
I will caveat this entry by saying that I haven’t lived in Costa Rica since 2008 so this piece is more about my experience growing up there and the feelings it brings up, which are specially reignited around this time of year. Growing up in Costa Rica, I can think of one-too-many afternoons where I spent it trying to get green mangoes off my friend’s neighbor’s tree. I can think of a study session that ended up in all of us jumping in a pool and the joy of spinning in my feet non-stop until I fell down exhausted in a bed of orange flowers from the nearest Poró tree. I can think of the predictable rainy season, a harbinger for the coming of New Year’s.
Growing up in Costa Rica meant that sunny days were taken for granted. Even days that started with rain, had a high probability of ending with a bright sunny sunset. Instead of seasons, I was used to each month having its own peculiar feel. January the winds were strong, March the heat was intoxicating and May was marked by a particular kind of bug, los abejones de mayo. December is its own kind of magical, with brisk winds of hope and the contrast of the dry sabana as you drive towards Guanacaste. This place has stolen my heart in more ways than one. Its beaches are a place where I learned to be comfortable in my skin and where I got to say I do not too long ago.
Contrary to popular belief, food is not too spicy; it is mild. Simple flavors because the ingredients are as fresh as can be. Even our cheese feels fresh, Queso Turrialba being my one true love. There are a lot of vegetable dishes, guisos, made with squashes that are not common in the US; ayote and chayote are not to be confused.
Although I do not live in Costa Rica and I don’t get to experience the mundane life that sometimes plagues the city I grew up in, San José, I get to be a far away admirer. And every time I get to go back home, I get pleasantly surprised by how far the country has moved on. Alas without me, and that’s ok. It is the opportunity cost of living abroad. Always representing, because there’s not that many Costa Ricans in NYC (as compared to Dominicans and Puerto Ricans), but also humbly acknowledging that I do not know my mother country as well as I used to.
Our brand’s beginnings: the fact that we make sustainable swimwear is a direct result of growing up in Costa Rica. Finding swimsuits that could outlast the year-round use was impossible. Fading colors and the hyper-permeable fabrics that made you carry a small ton of sand in your swimwear bottoms, no more of that. Growing up in Costa Rica made me love being at the beach and by the pool, I just needed to find swimwear that I could live in so I made it.
Photo by: Antonio Jimenez
]]>Hello hello beautiful people! I’m Mya, a disability advocate, content creator, college student, and wheelie lady. I am proud to say that I am disabled and a wheelchair user as both are very important aspects of my identity. Living in a disabled body that requires a mobility aid means that every movement and every decision I make is based around my support and wheelchair access needs. Being disabled is not my personality, but it definitely shapes my experiences and the way I view the world.
I became disabled later in life, so I spent the first 19 years of my life with able-bodied privilege, completely unaware of how prevalent ableism is in our society. I never had people make assumptions about my mental ability based on my physical abilities. I was never denied access to public places because of my wheelchair. I realized that unless you, or someone close to you becomes disabled, it is near impossible to be aware of the reality and extent of the struggles that disabled people face.
As a digital advocate and content creator, it is very exciting to have a platform where I can address those issues with people. I can bring attention to all the things I was forced to learn because of my disability, I can tackle misconceptions, and educate about the reality of disability. I find it a little funny since I never actually intended to become a content creator. In fact I spent many years avoiding social media like the plague. About a year ago, I decided to post wheelchair dance videos on TikTok to fundraise for a service dog. One of the very first comments I received was about my legs moving and how I was ‘faking paralysis’. Wheelchair users often receive harassment online because of the misconception that wheelchair users are all paralyzed. This is fostered by a lack of awareness about the reality of disabled experiences.
I honestly believe this lack of awareness about disabled experiences is part of what enables ableism to remain so problematic. We live in an ableist society which means we all have some level of internalized ableism... but how can you fight against a problem if you don’t even know it exists? Ableism heavily ties into our education and healthcare systems, people’s ability to be employed, even physical access to society. Unless we are actively aware and combating these issues, it is impossible to act without our internalized ableism presenting in some form. This is why I continue to post and educate about topics relating to disability. With an increase of awareness and understanding of disabled experiences and the existence of ableism, we will better be able to support, respect, and include disabled individuals in society.
P.S. from the author,
If you were to ask my younger self where I would be today, I would not have guessed anything correctly or probably would have said ‘Not here at all’. I struggled with mental health my entire life, and did not see myself getting very far in the future. I am very pleased to say that now, with all my physical and emotional struggles, the last few years of my life have been better than anything I ever imagined. I had plans to be a gymnast, a runner, a surgeon, my disability took away the possibility of that reality...but even through all the struggle I am the happiest I’ve ever been. So here is a message for my younger self, for everyone: Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. No matter how bad things get there is always a reason to smile, they’re just a little harder to find sometimes than others. Just don’t give up, keep on pushing, and let’s roll with it.
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This holiday season make it your thing to support ethical clothing brands, you won’t regret it.
]]>Ethical clothing brands turn off a lot of shoppers because of their price tag but there’s a reason why they cost what they cost. As opposed to buying from an Amazon vendor that doesn’t care if their workers were properly paid or that work in unhealthy spaces, the brands below are going the extra mile to make sure everyone in their supply-chain is not only ethically remunerated for their efforts, they are also mindful in the impact their product has on the environment.
Here are some brands that although they are not cheap, they are making it easier for us to move away from fast-fashion. I have tried all of them and I can say that they are worth every penny.
Girlfriend Collective
Hands-down the best workout clothes that I own. If you are like me and you spend most of your workday in workout clothes, look no further. Not only is the fit insane and their sizing incredibly inclusive, almost all of their styles are made out of recycled plastic bottles. That is a win-win all around. They have a 30% off sale going on right now.
Kotn
Last winter I was in the market for a camel color turtleneck and I found it here. Not only are their products really well made, all of their garments are made in fair and safe environments. Additionally, Kotn has helped impact over 100,000 lives in Egypt by building schools and funding 2,000+ farms. This is a brand that is affecting change beyond their factories, directly impacting the communities they work with.
Universal Standard
This right here is the holy grail of inclusivity. As a small brand we aim to be as inclusive in our sizing and in our fashion shoots as Universal Standard is. Their sizing ranges from 4XS-4XL. Although their manufacturing processes could be more transparent, this brand is leading the way in terms of how we think about sizing and that is truly ethical.
Mate The Label
Perhaps just like me, you graduated from your college t-shirts with raggedy pants to adult pajamas. Mate The Label helped me get there. This brand only uses natural and nontoxic materials when crafting its clothes and is climate-neutral certified. Will be buying from them again.
MIGA Swimwear
Yes, I know it is self-serving to include us in this list but hear me out. We are on a mission to create swimwear that will last you more than 100 wears and in order to accomplish that, we only work with ethical manufacturers stateside. On top of that, we source our fabrics directly from the mill in Italy which guarantees that the fabric has not been tampered with and that it will sustain the wear and tear that is all too common in swimwear. For limited time only, get your MIGA 40% off with code 40for4.
These are our top ethical brands, did we miss any others? Let us know in the comment section :)
]]>What it means to be your own boss means you are never not learning.
]]>Lately, I have been reflecting a lot about what it means to be my own boss. Perhaps because our four year anniversary is around the corner. The exact day of MIGA’s anniversary marks the day I decided to incorporate our business but more importantly, it marks the day I decided to move away from a job that no longer served me.
Prior to this job, I had the privilege to go back to school and get my master’s degree at Central Saint Martins UK. Master programs are incredibly self-led, I chose my field of study and having classes just three times a week meant that you were expected to use the rest of your time wisely and ultimately, learn how to manage your own time. This independence proved to me just how productive I could be when I was intentional and truly passionate about my pursuits.
I wish I could say that since then it has all been peaches but the reality is that when you are your own boss, you are always learning. You are the person on the hook for everything and you are never not learning, and that leads to burnout. If you are a regular around these parts, you know I am no stranger to experiencing burnout. The difference being that before I thought burnout was only possible when you were in a job that didn’t align with your purpose. Now I realize that burnout can also happen when pursuing your own dreams. Not on someone else’s clock, but on your own.
Since August, I have been experiencing tremendous feelings of dread and exhaustion. My husband was the first to notice, then close friends and colleagues. Something wasn’t sitting right. So I decided to pause, first pausing all marketing. Every time a Facebook email would hit my mailbox, at approximately 7pm, reminding me just how much money we were spending on a platform that just doesn’t work for our brand, dread would ensue. Then came the pausing of my actual day-to-day activities to just do the bare minimum. Yes, this was no longer about “allowing myself a break”; it was mandatory. I am using Michaela Coel’s quote as a guiding light through this journey. "Do not be afraid to disappear, from it, from us, for a while, and see what comes to you in the silence.”
I would like to say that I have arrived at a grandiose conclusion on what MIGA will look like in the upcoming years, a plan for the next four years. But I haven’t. I am still in the process of figuring it out and I am deeply committed to fixing myself first because I recognize that MIGA and Maria Luisa are incredibly intertwined. I need to continue to work on being more kind to myself and to take time to decompress. Like my therapist says, I cannot pour from an empty cup. With that said, I will be taking time-off starting December 10th and won’t be back until next year. If you want to get your suits right on time before the holidays, do it before that date as our fulfillment center (aka me) will be closed. In honor of our four year anniversary, you can go ahead and use code 40for4 to get 40% off your next order. As always, thank you for your patience as we undergo these changes and for wanting to be part of my journey. I am forever grateful to all 5K of you.
]]>Hello! My name is Emily and I live with Medical PTSD. Let’s rewind a little bit, shall we?
*cough* *cough*
Hello! My name is Emily and I live with a chronic rare condition. More specifically, I have Myopathic Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction. This is where the smooth muscle in my intestines are weak and floppy and cannot digest nor absorb nutrients. Because of this, I was on Parenteral Nutrition or IV nutrition 10 hours a night, 7 days a week to maintain my weight. I went through all or primary school, college, and into my young adult years juggling this illness as it got increasingly worse. I was in the hospital and average of 3 to 4 times a year, developing liver scarring, and losing vascular access. For these reasons, I decided to get an intestinal transplant in Dec of 2020 at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. It was a rough road with many secondary surgeries due to complications, but I’m happy to say that I’m back to work and doing what I love, studying Medical PTSD!
Pss why does she keep bringing that up? What is it?
When I think of rare disease, I think of the word “secretive”. There were a couple of reasons. Parts of my family encouraged me to hide my illness. I had a low sense of myself in the world. I had an ileostomy that I was horribly ashamed of and believed nobody could accept it and therefore nobody would accept me. Most importantly, I’ve been through a lot of medical trauma while navigating the healthcare system as a chronically ill person.
My medical trauma influenced my treatment outcomes. I’d refuse to go into a clinic any more than once a month and once I got there I was filled with immense anxiety. My shoulders would stiffen, my heart would race, I was on the verge of fight or flight. OR I was completely numb and not focusing during clinic appointments. My medical trauma influenced how I see myself and my role in the world, it told me to shut up, it told me that no one cares. It taught me to be independent – which is of course good, but like…almost too independent. Like, lonely independent. I struggled with social anxiety and avoided letting people in. I was afraid to connect with other people out of fear of rejection. I was living a barely healthy lonely life.
At this point, I was working in behavioral health learning more about trauma and what motivates people to take steps towards recovery. As I was hearing my clients’ accounts of trauma, how they developed it, and how it impacts their decisions today I felt “Well this all makes sense when you lay it out over the table.” I resonated with a lot of my clients and soon began looking inward and asking myself questions I would ask my clients. It soon lead back to my early childhood in the hospital. It went backed to me being held down physically. And then it all made sense. Why I was so avoidant of the hospital and doctors. Why I would emotionally numb myself and watch the clock to leave as soon as possible. I was showing sighs on PTSD and trauma, specifically related to the healthcare system.
I also wondered if I was alone. I started searching around looking for support groups or research or anything. Nothing. Zero. No support groups. I have to say that I created POP!, my new organization, out of frustration! POP! stands for Pissed Off Patients, don’t let the name deter you from checking us out. The name reflects that anger can be a positive emotion if one reacts to it appropriately. Many chronically ill patients feel as if they should be grateful for their providers at all times, even after medical errors. Anger can tell us when a situation is unfair. It can motivate us to make positive changes to improve the healthcare system.
Because there is little research on Medical PTSD, POP! offers a definition of “…a disorder in which a person struggles recovering from either experiencing or witnessing a terrifying medical event. Such events can range for medical interventions required for survival to communication errors between patients and providers.” This means that more subtle interactions, such as not being believed or being told symptoms are psychosomatic, can be a source of trauma.
As of right now, POP! offers biweekly discussion groups on all Medical PTSD related. Topics range from flashbacks to trusting doctors to dating to self-advocacy. I also present to medical students on what Medical PTSD is and how it can affect treatment outcomes. I’m thrilled to say that there is more coming down the pipeline included, but that’ll be my little secret for now.
My ultimate goal is to get a PhD in medical trauma; however I’m not in a place health wise where I can do so. In two years, I plan to be working full throttle collecting data in one-on-one patient interviews built from an already existing PTSD survey, only tweaked a little to make it more medically focused. I hope to be part of a research team of doctors analyzing data and publishing the results. In five years, well, I hope to be in a PhD program! Although I won’t be able to use the data I collected prior to starting a program, I believe it will be an excellent learning exercise!
So what would I say to my younger self, knowing what I know now?
Well, Emily, you have a plan. Stick to it. It is becoming clearer and clearer to me that there is nothing else like this out there. Get through the hard times. Don’t give up. It’ll be good for processing your own Medical PTSD and helping others.
Second, Emily, swimsuits were the worst. They just are. All the other girls may be wearing bikinis and right now, you simply can’t do that. You won’t allow yourself. I know it is VERY hard to find a one piece that fits and doesn’t look like I stole wine from a convenience store. You don’t always have to say yes to invites, or you can say yes and wear a cute outfit instead of a swimsuit. But there is good news: girl, you are getting that transplants! After so many years hiding your body, the universe will somehow turn it around and give you that flat belly you always wanted. You will be called “model” over and over again by the sweet old lady at your dance studio (btw, she also says you have a great butt ayyyeee) Most importantly, once everything is healed and all foreign objects are removed, you will be able to start experimenting with bikinis! And MIGA Swimsuits will be right there for you!
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A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure to meet Taylor Kane, the founder of Remember The Girls, an organization that supports women with X-linked disorders. We met through a panel we were part of for the 2021 Global Genes Summit. We had some time to catch up and ask her some questions about her life and work as a carrier. Below are her answers:
What does having a rare condition mean to you? How has it shaped your life?
I've known I was a carrier of Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) for as long as I can remember. When my dad was diagnosed in 2001, we learned that since ALD is an X-linked disease, I am an obligate carrier. In high school, I learned that I myself have a very high chance of developing symptoms of the disease such as bladder and bowel dysfunction, walking difficulties, neuropathy and more. I also have a 50% chance of passing ALD on to any children I have in the future. Since ALD is in my genes, I've been rare my whole life. It's a part of who I am, and has made me a more compassionate person. I know my future may have difficulties, but I am ready to embrace them head on!
One billion people of the world’s population have a disability, Helya Mohammadian is committed to improving inclusivity in fashion.
]]>In honor of October being Disability Employment Awareness month, we have teamed up with our friends at Slick Chicks, a patented adaptive underwear that is designed to empower people with a disability or physical challenge. I had the pleasure to interview their founder, Helya Mohammadian and talk about inclusivity in fashion. Below are her answers:
What does accessibility mean to you?
Accessibility means something different for everyone and we are all impacted differently by it. To me, accessibility means independence and empowerment. Accessibility makes things possible, like changing your clothes. No matter who you are, we all deserve to feel supported by products that offer a sense of self, dignity, and independence. At the end of the day, it’s about putting people first, showing empathy, and finding a solution to a real problem. Behind every purchased product is a real person with a real story and a very real need. Inclusion is at the heart and soul of what we do and I believe more companies should live by this if they want to be truly accessible.
What inspired you to start Slick Chicks?
My journey started after seeing my sister struggle with bending over to change her clothes following an invasive surgery. The post-surgery recovery left her feeling debilitated for several weeks. Just getting out of bed was a major struggle for her. Something as personal as putting on her underwear, she couldn’t do alone. Not wanting to see my sister have such difficulty with her daily routine, I decided it was time to find a solution. Little did I realize that there was a bigger issue here. A product that I would later develop for someone like my sister has served a bigger purpose and impacted the lives of so many people around the world. For people with disabilities, chronic illness, and limited mobility, the daily ritual of changing may require additional care and support. We all deserve clothes that offer a sense of self, dignity, and independence. My biggest motivator now is the feedback and response from our customers. It’s an amazing and diverse community of confident people, and the enthusiasm, love, and openness has truly touched me. Hearing body-positive stories and learning about how to make our world more inclusive has really become our number one goal at Slick Chicks, and we try to use that as our guiding principle.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced building the brand?
Part of the challenge early on was fundraising and proving that this was a new, but viable market. The other challenge was being a female founder and woman of color looking for funding. I faced many obstacles until I met another female founder and CEO, Michele Gay, whose story resonated with mine as her sister was diagnosed with MS. She saw the great potential and impact this product would have for so many people. So, she created a women’s empowerment fund and made Slick Chicks the FIRST investment.
Where do you see adaptive fashion in 2 years? 5 years?
There are over 1 billion people or 15% of the world’s population with a disability and who struggle with getting dressed every day. We are ALL aging and likely to experience some form of disability, temporary or permanent, at some point in our life. Though we have defined an underserved market, the bigger picture is that our products soothe a pain point in a growing market that can impact us all. I don’t look at our products as purely for the “adaptive” space, I see it as products that bridge the gap between fashion and function and can benefit all people.
*** Courtesy of Helya and her team, you can use the code MIGA20 to get 20% off their site for the month of October. A purchase that is beautiful, functional and mission-led, COUNT US IN.
]]>After the doctor told me that in order to fix my condition I would have to undergo a long and arduous surgery, I decided it was not for me. This is my story with Brachymetatarsia.
]]>Brachymetatarsia is much more than the lack of development and growth of the metatarsals, the bones in your toes. For me, it was a concept I learned when I was 20 years old. “Toes of the same size” was what I entered on the search bar from the comfort of my own home. Afterall, this is what my podiatrist said I had and how I responded when people would ask me what I had.
Having differences of appearance when you are a teenager is not easy. I was fortunate enough to go through this stage unscathed, free from critics, uncomfortable questions or even teasing since I decided to hide my small defect in any way I could. I avoid going to social events that call for being barefoot, like sleepovers and if I go, I always wear socks. I also avoid the pool and dip my toes into the sand when I am at the beach, that way in case someone takes a photo, they can’t see my difference. To this day, I avoid certain activities that involve showing my feet, I don’t use flip-flops or sandals that show my toes, and even though I would love to do it, I don’t feel ready to show my difference to everyone else.
I am aware that having this insecurity comes in part from my idealization of certain parts of the human body, like having straight hair or perfect skin, not having any hair or having small feet with perfect nails. These stereotypes not only make me feel insecure, they also cause huge consequences to the entire population, in particular to boys and girls that believe that everything they see on TV is the correct way of looking. When kids realize they don’t look the same as models, emotional, psychological and educational problems arise.
Even though I am the only person in my family that has this condition, I never felt any difference. When my mom realized that I had this difference she took me to the doctor and he told us that the only way to “fix” my condition was with a long and arduous surgery. Thus, we decided not to go ahead with it. Overall, I have always felt a lot of support when coping with my difference and I couldn’t be more appreciative. My family and friends filled me with confidence and if I could meet 10 year old Yaris I would tell her physical differences make us unique, perfect in our own way and definitely, stronger.
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La braquimetatarsia es mucho más que una falta en el desarrollo y crecimiento de los metatarsianos, un hueso de los dedos del pie; al menos para mí es un concepto nuevo que surgió de pensar como a mis 20 años no sabía el nombre de mi condición, por lo que, en una reciente de búsqueda en internet desde mi casa, escribí “Dedos del pie del mismo tamaño”, que fue el diagnostico que me había dicho un ortopedista a mis 9 años y si alguien me preguntaba lo único que sabía responder era eso.
Tener diferencias físicas en la etapa de la adolescencia en definitiva no es un proceso fácil y pude salir ilesa a críticas, preguntas incomodas o burlas ya que decidí ocultar mi pequeño defecto de distintas maneras, desde evitar reuniones sociales que pudieran involucrar el no usar zapatos, ir pijamadas y en todo momento usar medias, hasta no querer estar en una piscina o mantener mis pies cubiertos de arena cuando estoy en la playa porque de esta manera, en caso de que me tomen una foto, estos no se van a ver. Al día de hoy, todavía evito ciertas actividades o alguna demostración de mis pies, por ejemplo, no uso sandalias que no cubran mis dedos y aunque me encantaría poder hacerlo aun no me siento preparada de mostrar mi diferencia a los demás.
Parte de lo que me hizo llegar a esa inseguridad fue la idealización que se le da a ciertas partes del cuerpo femenino, como tener un cabello perfecto, una piel lisa y suave, no tener vello corporal o tener pies pequeños y con uñas perfectas. Estos estereotipos, traen grandes consecuencias a toda la población, pero en especial a niños y niñas que piensan que todo lo que ven, es la forma correcta de lucir y al ver que ellos no son iguales a estos modelos, se pueden producir problemas emocionales, psicológicos o educativos.
A pesar de ser la única en mi familia que posee esta condición, en ningún momento sentí ninguna distinción y mi mamá en especial al notar este desarrollo entré en control médico donde nos indicaron que la única forma de “arreglarlo” era con una cirugía con una recuperación larga y dolorosa, por lo que decidimos no llevarla a cabo, sin embargo, siempre recibí todo el apoyo para sobrellevarlo y no puedo estar más agradecida con ellos y mis amigos de llenarme de seguridad y confianza y si le pudiera decir algo a mi yo de hace 10 años llena de miedo, confusión e inseguridad es que todo estará bien, las diferencias nos hacen ser únicos, perfectos y en definitiva más fuertes.
]]>Different from other suits, our swimsuits have been built with direct feedback from people that have different types of disabilities. Whether it is a limb difference or a medical device, our suits are designed to take these differences into account. But a common misconception is that if we create swimsuits with this input then our styles are only meant to be worn by people with disabilities. And that assumption is incorrect.
Universal Design is defined as the design of products to make them accessible to all people, regardless of age, disability or other factors. So when we design universally, we are including everyone. Thus, our brand is not only for people with disabilities but for everyone. I think it is important to point out, however, that our brand is not for those who are ableist. If you believe that disability is something that must be overcome, then our brand is not for you.
Accessible swimwear is swimwear that has been created with the intention to be accessible to all, meaning it is easy to put on and put off. You can imagine how challenging it is to go to the bathroom if you are wearing a wetsuit, so we have created The Anna swimsuit with an extra long pulley at the back so that it is easier to take off and put on. The Anna is also inspired by Anna Nelson’s story with Acne Inversa. This skin condition caused her to develop wounds in her armpits that were so painful that they interfered with her work. This long sleeve one piece swimsuit works for Anna because it comes with raglan sleeves, which guarantee no chafing in the armpits.
The Lydia Bottom comes with a detachable belt that can be tied in different sides of the stomach, depending on what works best with your medical equipment. In the case of Lydia Andrews, she ties the belt to her left side to best accommodate her ileostomy. The Lydia Bottom can be paired with The Lydia Top, which has no-chafe sleeves and a long zipper pulley at the back for easy dressing. Similarly, The Mio one-piece has extra long straps that make it easier to put on for those that have limb differences and/or limited mobility.
And these are just four of our nine styles. Our hope is that when our customers put on our suits and read the health story printed on the canvas bag that comes with each suit, that they feel encouraged to appreciate their body as is, empowered by the courageous and resilient stories of our collaborators. In turn, our collaborators share their story as a way to feel less self-conscious and to raise awareness and empathy about their experience. Our customer is preoccupied with how inaccessible society is, and wants to continue to learn more about the disability experience. Our customer understands that when this world becomes a more accessible place, everyone wins.
Illustrations by: Summer Atwood
]]>I get asked a lot if I have a disability. The short answer is no. This is why I am the founder of this business.
]]>I am not sure if other founders get asked this question. I understand asking someone why they chose their life purpose, but in this case I am being questioned because some believe I am appropriating the disability experience as my own. I am not. I have a genetic condition called Asphyxiating Thoracic Dystrophy, also known as Jeune Syndrome. My case is so mild that by law, I do not have a disability. That is not the case for other people who have this condition.
MIGA Swimwear starts from recognizing that my ableist views, which I didn’t question until I was in my mid-twenties, hurt my self-esteem and my perceptions of self-worth. This experience is what I have tapped into to create this business. Our brand is not for people who ascribe to ableist beliefs. Our brand is for those that are self-aware enough to understand that we grow up with biases towards having a disability, for those who believe that the world is unfairly inaccessible to this community (15% of the world population), and for those who are committed to denounce this and be allies to this community, whether they have a disability or not. Ultimately, it is those people who understand that by learning more about the disability experience we can bring about change, making this world a more fair and tolerant place.
In the American with Disabilities Act, a person that cannot complete one or more major life activities such as walking or taking care of one’s self is considered as having a disability. Getting dressed is an integral part of the human experience. Just like underwear has proven to be fundamental in identity-affirming for the transgender community, swimwear can provide body-acceptance in the disability community. We hear from some of our followers that even though they live close to the ocean they don’t go to the beach, just talking themselves into doing this activity is exhausting in itself, because they rarely feel welcomed, so they just end up doing something else. Swimwear is a category that society has attached so many rules to (i.e. “the bikini body” or wearing only one-pieces after a certain age) that with the creation of the brand we are dictating that differently abled bodies are swimwear bodies too and more importantly, that this community deserves the healing properties of being close to a body of water.
Belonging is a fundamental need of the human condition. Because of the disfigurement I have on my feet, I look different from my family and up until some years ago, I had never seen anyone with feet like mine. Thus, in 2016 I set out to create a community through our brand so that no one else would feel ashamed or isolated because of their disfigurement. In 2018, however, I realized that I clearly needed to revise my language and once again check my ableism, focusing on disfigurement meant focusing only on the physical differences brought about by my genetic condition.
So in 2019, we expanded our brand messaging to include disabilities and chronic illnesses. It is at this point when we start getting a lot of questions about whether I have a disability or not, “just how disabled are you?”. This begs the question, why does it matter whether I have a disability or not? Everyone should care about disability. After all, 1 out of 4 of 20-year-olds today will become disabled before reaching retirement age. Assuming that you should only care about or create an adaptive business because you have experience with disability is not only wrong, it is ableist.
Focusing on the disability community also became tricky because the disability experience is so broad that we often get stuck comparing traumas. And this, to me, is the biggest threat to this community. Instead of discrediting each other, because someone has had it worse than others, let’s focus on what matters, which is contesting ableism so that we can make this world a more accessible and inclusive place.
]]>If there is one thing that will make you a savvier, more sustainable shopper, is knowing how to measure yourself. Below are our tips to get the measuring down.
]]>Knowing how to measure your body is not something we are born knowing. Instead, we either have gotten our measurements when we bought our first bra or when we made bigger purchases, say like a wedding dress. I had never gotten fitted until I did the latter. That means 30 years not really knowing my measurements. Isn’t that crazy?
So from my own experience and the amount of questions we get from our customers about which size of MIGA suits to get, I figured I would share with you my tips on how to measure your beautiful body. I know for many of us the idea of measuring our bodies can be frightening and even tedious, but is it more tedious than having to go to the post office to return the order you just received? I don’t think so. Below are our measuring tips:
There are 3 measurements that you need to know the most, especially if you are perusing the web and shopping a bit too much this summer. Those measurements are Bust, Waist and Hip.
The Bust measurement is probably the measurement you are most acquainted with but don’t get bra size and bust size confused. For bras the band size is the number and the cup size is the letter. The band size measurement goes right underneath the chest and above the rib cage, where the band of your bra usually sits. The bust measurement, however, takes into account both cup and band by measuring the fullest part of your chest, going all around, under your armpits and around your shoulder blades. Your measuring tape should sit on top of your nipples in the front. So while I am a 32B in bra size, my band size is 29 inches and my BUST size is 32½ . So I am right between an XS and a S in our MIGA sizing.
The Waist measurement is easier to find than you think. If you have ever done side to side dumbbell exercises, you will recognize your natural waist as the part that bends during and the part that hurts the most after this exercise. In order to measure your waist, you are going to want to place your measuring tape above your belly button and below your rib cage. It is important to look at the photos of the product you are buying to understand if this measurement is important or not. For example, if you are buying the Lydia bottoms you are going to want to focus on the hip measurement, as opposed to the waist measurement since the belt at waist has a lot of give. Whereas if you are buying the Marije pants, you are going to want to focus on both hip and waist measurements.
Last but not least, the Hip measurement. This measurement can be the trickiest because it is hard to keep the measuring tape straight all throughout. My advice is that you do this measurement in front of a mirror. You are going to want to measure the largest part of your butt, usually the measuring tape will be in the midpoint of your underwear in the front. My hip measurement is 38 ½ inches so I usually wear size Small in MIGA pants and bottoms.
I hope that this blog was helpful in understanding how to measure your body. Truth is, the more you understand your measurements, the better of a shopper you will become. In our eyes, the best shopper is that which is resourceful with what they already have (100 wears guaranteed!), consciously purchases when they need and doesn’t contribute to excess waste (think about the amount of packaging and CO2 emissions that you can save Mother Earth by returning less items!). Please also keep in mind that, the clothes you buy, whichever the item, have to fit your body and not the other way around. At MIGA, we whole-heartedly believe that only when swimwear is functional and comfortable can it inspire confidence.
]]>You may have heard of one of the most important disability rights advocates, Judith Heumann. Here is a list of the top disability accounts we follow, advocates doing the work that Heumann and others started.
]]>The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted in 1990. The law's coverage specifies that all levels of government and programs be accessible, and that public accommodations such as restaurants and stores make "reasonable modifications." As many of you know, we have a long way to go to truly be accessible.
Here is a list of disability advocate accounts we follow whose commitment to educating about the disability experience not only helps breaking harmful stereotypes, but also provide actionable steps for all of us to become better allies and advocates of this community:
Kendall is the Executive Producer of Multimedia at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). During the pandemic, she wrote this compelling opinion piece for the NYT about how her experience with chronic illness had uniquely prepared her for the pandemic.
Why we follow her: Periodically, she hosts Q&As about the disability experience, drawing from her own experience as well as from other's, to dispel misconceptions about the community. She also does pep talks! Follow her here.
Alice is the creator of the Disability Visibility Project, an online community dedicated to creating, sharing and amplifying disability media and culture. She is also the editor behind one of our favorite books on disability, Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century.
Why we follow her:
Not only is she behind campaigns like #CripTheVote and #CripLit, most recently she co-partnered with Mia Mingus and Sandy Ho to create the campaign #AccessIsLove to help build a world where accessibility is understood as an act of love instead of a burden or an afterthought. Also we can't recommend enough her book!
Carly is an award-winning writer and appearance activist. She recently wrote a book about her experience titled Growing Up Disabled in Australia.
Why we follow her:
Since we started MIGA in 2017, we have been following her. Her candid and helpful posts are a must. This one in particular about how you can make your social media more accessible and inclusive, is one of our favorites.
Imani, better known in the internet as @crutches_and_spice, is a communications director, disability blogger and content creator.
Why we follow her:
Her TikToks are the best! She was one of the first people to talk about how guardianship and conservatorship is not unique to Britney Spears. Want to learn more about how to avoid ableism? Just follow her here.
Bri is a model and a disability activist. Full-disclosure we are a little biased because she was a model for our second collection and we cannot think of a better #MIGAMuse.
Why we follow her:
She has been incredibly honest about how at the beginning of her journey she didn't want to be part of the disability community. Now she is a disability activist through and through, most recently she documented the whole process of how Delta Airlines broke her wheelchair, Aphrodite, highlighting the importance of passing The Air Carrier Access Act.
Obviously this list is not exhaustive. There are so many wonderful voices out there working day in day out to bring light to all the injustices that the disability community has to put up with on a regular basis. Let's make it a thing, to take care and support this community now, not until we become disabled (cause odds are we are all going to experience some kind of disability at some point in our lives).
]]>Going undiagnosed as a teen meant a lot of time at the doctors. This is what I am doing so that no kid goes undiagnosed.
]]>In the span of 15 months, I got diagnosed with six chronic illnesses, and I am still getting tested. Before getting my first diagnosis, I always thought that doctors knew it all. I put 100% of my trust in them and never questioned what they were doing.
I quickly learned that doctors do not know everything and unfortunately, many of my doctors are clueless about my conditions. I have hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Gastroparesis, Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, and many others that I am still in the process of diagnosing. When I was 18 years old, I failed multiple treatments and had every symptom of another condition, which I ended up having. So I asked my doctors to run some diagnostic tests and many of them dismissed my symptoms by saying that my conditions were “too rare” and that I “don’t look sick” and that I “couldn’t possibly be in that much pain”. As a result, I quickly lost trust in many of my doctors.
I have always had a passion for medicine, but my experiences have added a whole new drive. I have spent countless hours researching my conditions so I can teach my doctors. I have yearned for a doctor who understands my conditions and believes everything I say. My goal is to become the doctor I wish I had. The doctor who doesn’t stop looking until they figure out what is wrong. The doctor who thinks outside of the box until they find a helpful solution, even if it is only a slight improvement. The doctor who believes their patients. The doctor who understands.
With all this being said, if I was given the choice to get rid of one or all of my conditions, I would not get rid of them. While they definitely make my life much harder, they have really influenced my decision to become a doctor. I wanted to become a doctor before my diagnosis, but spending all of my time in a doctor’s office has changed my reasoning for this. I will be able to tell my patients that I believe them and understand what they are going through. Give them the mental support they need. Show them some of my “battle scars” and explain to them how powerful they are. My illness taught me this.
Diagnosed when I was 12 years old, this is how I have welcomed Epilepsy into my life.
]]>
Epilepsy is part of me as much as my hair, my ears and my feet. Being epileptic means having to pay attention to both big and small life aspects; daily I have to be careful with lights, I can’t spend too much time on my phone or tablet, and I have to double-check my schedule for any potential side effects my daily activities can cause.
I can't imagine separating my person from my epilepsy, we are all-in-one, and my friends know this very well. I've been lucky enough to meet people that do not judge me because of my disability, but I would lie if I didn’t say that sometimes I’d like them to forget it. After I tell people about my diagnosis, they get worried and keep asking me if I’m fine. This can get tiresome. Even when I don’t find it annoying, I am sorry for their concern and keep wondering why they can’t just trust me when I say there’s nothing wrong.
The medicines I take for my epilepsy have changed my life. Physically, my body changed. I started losing my hair and had a lot of swelling, as well as pronounced stretch marks. Mentally, I started having some memory loss. Memory has always been one of my strengths and struggling with it feels terrible; if I had to pick which side effect debilitates me the most I would say this is the one. The medicine also changed me emotionally; now I have a hard time controlling myself even though I’ve always been good at this. I still manage to be in control, but it’s definitely more difficult.
I had my first seizure when I was 12, in the middle of a dodgeball game at school. I never thought I would spend my first week of school in the hospital. At the time, I had no idea what epilepsy was so when I woke up and they told me I passed out the first thought I had was “how is it possible? Fainting is a bad thing, isn’t it?”. Luckily, my doctors were able to diagnose my epilepsy, so I had the explanations I needed in a short time.
I never really had bad feelings about my condition, I simply adapted to the new lifestyle and didn’t really think about it, if it wasn’t necessary. Above all, I believe my silver lining is my personality. I’ve never let anything put me down so when I was diagnosed I decided to not fight it back but to welcome it into my life. Being optimistic and taking the best from every experience has been a life-saver to me and I like to help others look at the bright side as much as I can.
Version in Italian
L’epilessia è una parte di me, tanto quanto lo sono i miei capelli e i miei piedi. Essere epilettica significa dover prestare attenzione a molti aspetti della vita, a partire dalle luci e gli schermi che uso quotidianamente, fino a possibili “effetti collaterali” di attività particolari. Non riesco a immaginare di separare l’epilessia da quello che sono, siamo un tutt’uno e le persone a me care lo sanno bene. Ho avuto la fortuna di incontrare persone che non mi hanno giudicata per la mia condizione, tuttavia mentirei se non dicessi che a volte vorrei lo dimenticassero. Quando scoprono che sono epilettica si preoccupano per ogni piccola cosa, e anche se la loro insistenza non mi dà fastidio, mi domando perché non possano credermi quando dico che sto bene. La conseguenza è che mi dispiaccio per loro e, complici le medicine che alterano le emozioni, rischio di perdere qualche lacrima. Loro si preoccupano di più e io sono ancora più dispiaciuta, una spirale senza fine.
Ciò che mi aiuta molto è il mio carattere, sono ottimista e non mi faccio abbattere dagli ostacoli, quindi non ho mai vissuto male la mia epilessia. Una fortuna per cui sarò sempre grata, per questo motivo cerco sempre di far vedere e vivere anche agli altri il lato luminoso delle cose.
]]>You probably follow Winnie Harlow's account, but there are plenty of other vitiligo ambassadors you should be following. Below are a list of our top 5.
]]>Vitiligo is a chronic condition that causes areas of the skin to loose color. Vitiligo affects 1% of the global population. In the US, alone, there are more than 200,000 cases per year. However, like many other skin conditions, there are a lot of misconceptions that surround it.
Below are a list of Vitiligans who we believe contribute to diversify, and communicate their experience with integrity and honesty, singlehandedly breaking stereotypes.
Known for her makeup tutorials, Talia is from South Africa and she is signed to a modelling agency. You can follow her here.
"Now to make things worse I lived in Miami, Florida which means summer all year round. My classmates wanted to go to pool parties, the beach, play sports and I felt weird and out-of-place because I looked different." Learn more about Mary's story.
"During my teens I struggled with my identity. Being mixed race but having a higher percentage of white skin, made me insecure. I started to question just how much I truly connected with my black side." Learn more about Natalie's story.
Shankar uses his platform to not only raise awareness about Vitiligo but also about male mental health. Follow his journey.
"I prefer when people come up to me and ask me about my condition. It is worst when people just stare and judge, or people that have close-minds and assume vitiligo is contagious. " Learn more about Maika's story.
Want to find more Vitiligo accounts, follow @vitiligo.beauty.
]]>While you might not be able to tell ethically made swimwear from regular swimwear apart, here are 5 reasons why you should choose ethically made swim. Every time.
]]>As a fervent consumer of swimwear, I constantly grew disillusioned when after a season or two the fabric of my bikini bottoms started to pil. There was also that one-piece that had sand permanently impregnated in the fabric and that bikini top whose straps had gotten so stretched out, it just didn’t work. To say that I worked my swimwear hard was an understatement, afterall growing up in Costa Rica and being a water-aficionado meant that I used my swimwear all year around, almost every day.
So when in 2016 I decided to start my own swimwear brand, in part due to my frustration that beautifully designed swimwear most of the time didn’t translate into high-quality, I started my quest to break that pattern. In 2019, we found the factory and production team that could get us there. With fabric that is anti-pill, double-stretch and feels like butter, and the skill-set of 40 years in business of our factory, our swimwear is made in humane, sustainable workplaces to withstand the passing of time. Almost four years in, and we are always looking for more ways to make our brand more ethical and sustainable than ever.
Below are 5 reasons why you should always choose ethical swimwear:
Fair wages and working conditions
Unfortunately, most of the clothes we wear are made in places we would never want to work in, let alone live in. And that is the cost of fashion, we purchase a garment to become someone else, while depriving the people who made the garment from their basic rights. When you buy an ethically-made garment, you are buying a garment that was made in a clean and safe environment, while the worker’s rights are upheld to the highest degree and they receive proper compensation for their work. That is the kind of environment where our MIGA suits are made.
Diversity matters
Ethical brands take their stand before an issue comes to a head. An ethical brand understands the unique problems that affect their community and takes action. At MIGA Swimwear we are committed to including in our internal team, campaigns and throughout our brand people of all abilities, Black, LGBTQ+ and all age groups. We donate 5% of our stock to members of the disability, visible difference and chronic illness community, and we also donate 5% of our sales to organizations that support these communities.
Reducing consumption
Ethical clothing is the opposite of fast fashion. It is made to last so that you don’t have to continue to buy a swimsuit every season. Tests conducted by our fabric mill show that the fabric we use in all of our styles is twice as resistant to chlorine and suntan oils. If after 1-2 years, our swimsuits don’t live up to their quality you can contact us and you will get a response from us.
Reducing carbon footprint
The global fashion industry emits 1.7 billion tons of CO2 per year — more than the amount produced by international flights and shipping. We produce in the US to cut down the CO2 emissions that would be generated if we produced in China, for example. Additionally, we save energy in small ways too. For example, we hand deliver our orders when the customer orders are in NYC and in our office we keep our electricity use to a minimum (this means we crack the window open before turning on the HVAC unit and we make sure to turn off any light that is not in use). We also keep our use of plastic to a minimum, for example the plastic bags the fabric uses to ship the final product to our warehouse, are then reused for the following collection.
Experience over newness
The need for newness which usually leads to buying a new product you don’t necessarily need, can be created through other ways, like storytelling and connections with peers through shared experiences, giving users a sense of belonging. As a brand we aim to provide you with more than just a garment. We want to make sure that after you stop on our website, you continue to learn from the experience of others. We believe that only through increased awareness, education, representation and engagement we can combat ableism and contest the stigma of looking differently. And that is ultimately, the reason why we are here.
Next time you are about to purchase anything, whether it might be swimwear or something else, think about this list. It will help you decide whether you should buy it or not. Remember not buying is always the best choice but if you must, let's do it ethically.
]]>We know how vulnerable we feel when we wear a bathing suit. The gaze of the other alerts our consciousness causing us to cover or tuck any way we can. Almost simultaneously, the internal ranking process starts. “I am fuller than her” or “I definitely have more cellulite than her” and so on and so forth.
Wearing a bathing suit is a vulnerable experience that is tied most of the time to traveling. And while you are traveling your routine is thrown in the air and in constant flux. I, for one get really constipated when I fly and since I am not a huge fan of airplane food, I fill myself up with airline bread buns making my situation worst.
Feeling bloated is also a common enemy, especially if you are not drinking as much water as you usually do. Air pressure in the cabin is lower than at sea level so as cabin pressure falls while flying, gas starts to expand wreaking havoc in your digestive system.
Your diet also changes quickly. That buffet is making you indulge in perhaps a bigger breakfast that you usually do and having your choice of croissants, pancakes and cheese pastries is hard to pass on. And sometimes, especially after multiple days of enjoying the local cuisine, you find comfort in fried fast food.
Also while on vacation, we tend to eat more sugar and drink more. Happy hour drinks by the pool and wine with dinner are a must in my vacations. Again, perhaps consuming more alcohol than your digestion is used to, will also cause problems.
In my most recent trip to Turkey, I paid attention to my body more than usual. Perhaps because although I am vaccinated, the fear of COVID19 lingers, making me prioritize my health above all. Did my back feel like I was about to get a stiff neck because of the hotel's pillow? Was the homemade yogurt giving me acid reflux? You know the drill, especially if like me your body is not working like it did before you turned 30.
So I went easy on my body, instead of stressing out because I have gained weight during my trip, I embraced it. This is how I did it:
No matter what your body looks like, all that matters is how you feel about it. Yes, it’s hard when others stare or make negative comments. Yes, it’s hard when you don’t see in the media bodies that look like yours. It makes it harder when you don’t let go of other‘s comments and take them as facts, when in reality are subjective opinions that only matter if you give them importance. The hardest thing however, is what you tell yourself. The ideas you have about your body and it’s worth. Once you recognize that, take all your might to destroy that negative self-talk. Your body is beautiful just the way it is. Let this be your daily reminder.
]]>At the beginning of our journey, it wasn’t clear whether we would be an American made clothing brand. I did brief research in Costa Rica, where I am from, to see if we could produce there and give back to the country where I grew up.
With time, however, it became clear that managing production in Costa Rica would be tough while managing other aspects of the business in the US. So I decided to look in my neighborhood i.e. the Garment District. Naive ole me, thought that if I took a manufacturing tour I would be able to find the right production partner. I was wrong.
I found a middleman, or should I say middle-woman, that promised me to help me create our first samples. Not only did I reek of inexperience, I was also very honest about my lack of production knowledge in hopes that she would take extra good care of our brand. She didn’t.
After 8 months of painful waiting, we got our first samples. For context it usually takes 2-3 months to do product development, fast-fashion can produce a whole collection in less than 2 weeks. This to illustrate how little this company cared about our business and time-to-market.
Once we finished our Kickstarter with a total of 60 units to deliver, I knew we had to change gears. So I used a different factory, this time in New Jersey. This meant, we had to start product development all over again. And unfortunately, they were not a good fit either.
Although the factory claimed to be highly-skilled in swimwear production, we received some of our suits with clasps that were sown backwards. Not only did some of the styles fail very blatantly quality checks, they also delivered the final products with a 3 month delay.
At this point, I knew I needed help. I knew I needed someone, a third-party, that could keep our future factory partner in check. I also knew I needed to hire a pattern-cutter that could execute on our creative vision. Lastly, I knew that all of these new hires would only be successful if they were paired with a high-quality, responsive and professional factory. I knew what I needed and for the second half of 2019, I didn’t rest until I found this dream team.
Today, the factory that we work with is better than we could have ever imagined. The factory owners go above and beyond complying with the USA manufacturing and labor laws. They uphold deadlines and deliver top quality products, every time. The workers are highly specialized and talented at what they do, and remunerated as such. The majority of the workers that sew our MIGA suits are Latina women, who also are the heads of their household.
Although finding the right production partner was not easy, we are committed to producing in the USA. This is why we are an American clothing brand:
As the true cost of fashion can no longer be avoided, we hope that our customers will continue to demand more from our processes and it’s transparency, as well as uphold a sustainable and ethical lifestyle. If you have any questions about our process, we are here to answer them.
]]>Here are 5 essentials you should always keep in your summer bag.
]]>With temperatures reaching almost 70 this week, I can't help but start daydreaming about my next beach trip. One of the many perks of living in NYC is having so many beaches to choose from. Yes, the beaches here don’t come close to the beaches in Costa Rica, but I will take a beach over no beach any day.
For your next beach escapade, don’t forget the following 5 essentials:
These are our summer bag go-to’s. Traveling soon? Let us know, we would love to send you a complimentary suit!
]]>Here’s 5 easy tips to take better care of your swimsuits, from the best-caretaker I know, my mom.
]]>With Mother’s Day around the corner, what better way to celebrate than to share some of the knowledge that my wonderful mom has, especially when it comes to taking care of your swimsuits. In case you don’t know, my mom is the reason I love swimwear. Back in the early 90s, getting durable and high quality swimwear in Costa Rica was tough. So when we had the chance to buy clothing abroad, my mom made sure my sisters and I always took great care of all of our garments, but most specifically our swimwear because we would be getting a lot of uses out of it and it had to last more than one season.
Below are her top tips on how to take care of your swimsuit:
(meaning you have used the suit once in the pool or ocean, or both and intend to use again soon)
Kindly rinse quickly with cold water. If there are some stains use a little bit of gentle soap. If you are traveling and you are not sure if the soap is gentle, test it in an inconspicuous part of the suit before you use it to remove the stain. Keep your use of water and soap to a minimum. Once the soap is removed, if you used it, wring out your suit gently.
(meaning you used the swimsuit multiple times, sometimes rinsed, sometimes didn’t and will be putting the suit away until your next vacation)
In a bucket, add cold water with less than a teaspoon of delicate care liquid soap and mix with your hand. Then add the suit, along with any other swimsuits of the same color that need washing. For example, you can wash the Mio and the Marije Top and Marije Pants together. After, you gently handwash the places where it can get dirty like by the armpits. Then, my mom recommends that you leave the suits in the soapy-water for 15 minutes tops. If you leave for longer it gets harder to remove the soap and for some suits (not ours) it can cause the fabric color to fade. Leaving the suits in the soapy-water will guarantee that any sand stuck between the fibers of your suit will drop to the bottom of the bucket, while leaving the suit smelling heavenly. This is a once in a year, at most, kind of wash. For all other washes, my mom recommends the Lightly Used process.
Leave the suit out to dry in the shade. If you leave it exposed to the sun, the fabric color may fade. If you have time, you can lay the suit on top of a towel and have it dry horizontally in order to allow the suit’s stretch to relax. If you are pressed for time, you can hang your clean swimwear over a hook or rod. If the suit has ties in the chest or on the sides, I usually untie the straps to let the fibers of the suit regain their stretch as it dries.
We mean it! The washer’s tumbling and abrading forces cause the breakdown of fabrics, which means that more microplastics end up in the ocean. Although water treatments remove 99.9% of microplastic particles, extended use of your swimsuit can result in the introduction of microplastic fibres directly into the water.
Swimwear fabric already takes enough of a beating with the sun (Ultraviolet rays have been known to breakdown fibers as well), sand and chlorine, the last thing you want is to add unnecessary mistreatment. If you are pressed for time and cannot handwash, you can use the hand wash setting in your washer but again we do not recommend it.
We also do not recommend the dryer, ever.
As you know, most of the swimsuits out there and all of our swimsuits come with a bag and that is for a reason. After your suit has been washed and dry, you should always keep your suits in their bag because of many reasons, among them:
If you follow these steps, we can assure you that your swimsuit will stay with you for a long time. My mom has had swimsuits that have lasted her for over five years. Swimwear is an investment, let's treat it like one.
]]>Around here we don’t get ready for summer by losing weight, we do so by getting our skin ready. These are top 5 tips to get your skin ready for summer by someone who knows her skin best, an eczema thriver.
]]>Dry, itchy, flaky, irritating sensitive skin. Eczema has the ability to transform your entire way of living or simply cause mild discomfort. Having to be aware of possible triggers and allergic reactions that can show up on your skin as a rash, that itches like poison ivy and that can potentially be all over your body.
Eczema is way more than physical pain, it can also cause great mental distress at times. Just think about it! Most people would be completely self-conscious and bothered by one pimple or minor flaw we could have on our bodies. Imagine having those marks potentially anywhere on your body from your scalp to your feet, depending on your severity or the time of the year. It can truly cause a great interruption in your mental health, whether it be anxiety in social settings, or depression while working and praying for your skin to stop itching and begin to heal. That’s the impact and seriousness of eczema, but thankfully there are many ways to adapt to this reality and continue to enjoy life.
Some eczema patients have their worst flares in the hot summer and others have them in the dry brittle winter. Having eczema since birth, I have experienced all types of flare ups and during all different times of the year. Similar to the care of a houseplant, our bodies in general but especially having skin sensitivities need to be catered to differently depending on the time of the year.
These are my top 5 tips to get sensitive skin ready for summer:
During the winter, my driest skin season, I make sure to add salt or oatmeal baths to my routine. After my bath, I use thicker body butters than usual in order to retain moisture. I look for the purest, raw or organic kind I can find, I used this one last winter and would use again. This ensures that come summer, my skin can easily transition into the high temperatures.
My skin thrives in the summertime and all I need are natural oils like Aura Cacia's Jojoba and Josie Maran's Argan to moisturize and I am good to go! However, this wasn’t always the case. I worked HARD to get to that point and not have to rely on medication to calm my skin.
The more you learn about the science of skin and it being our largest organ to filter out toxics and more, the better you will be at maintaining healthy skin and managing flare ups. For example, I learned that I need to stay away from fragrance and any ingredients in skin products that I may be allergic to. Knowledge is power.
Because of my eczema, I have the habit of periodically examining my skin head-to-toe. Not only does this help me track how my skin may be reacting to my diet or the environment, it is also the best way to detect early warning signs of skin cancer. If you notice any change in an existing mole or discover a new one that looks different in terms of color, diameter or symmetry it might be best to go see a dermatologist. As part of my health routine, I make sure to have a skin check with my dermatologist every year.
Although my skin thrives in the summertime there is still essential care that is necessary for sensitive skin, especially protection of UV rays, because despite the level of melanin, our skin is more prone to sunburn. Having sun exposure on those beach or pool days is so good for your skin as long as it's not overdone. Having swimsuits that are breathable, but yet cover my arms while offering SPF50 protection is what I look for in a swimsuit. Having a technically savvy swimsuit like MIGA that you don’t overheat in and that it’s wearable all day has been a life saver. MIGA Swimwear is truly everything I never knew I needed in a swimsuit because MIGA’s the first of its kind to cater to sensitive skin warriors like you and I! You’re proud to wear these pieces because they have a story behind them and they are top quality, giving you an ease of mind we always strive for.
I hope these tips are helpful. I can’t wait to see all the sensitive skin beauties still choosing to live their best life out in the summertime season and year round, while taking the best care of themselves in the process!
]]>For this award season, inclusivity is at an all time high. Here are our top 5 disability-focused movies and TV shows.
]]>This award season the entertainment industry has made tremendous headwinds in terms of inclusion on the red carpet. The amount of content streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon are pumping makes it so that original stories and experiences land in front of our couch, and I believe this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Although I do not consider myself disabled, the work I do for the disability, disfigurement and chronic illness community has taught me the importance of “passing the mic,” of understanding the experience of the other. While our swimwear designs, matching bags and our blog are successful at showcasing some of these stories, the streaming industry has a much bigger reach than a small business like us. Hence, I am profoundly grateful because I know that the more that these stories are shared and depicted in big platforms, the more awareness, empathy and understanding we will have towards the disability, disfigurement and chronic illness community.
If you are like me, you have spent an embarrassing amount of time in front of the TV this past year. While pre-pandemic I would sometimes feel remorseful for spending my day this way, with the pandemic and wanting to prioritize safety, I can only be grateful to have found the deep, engaging, in some cases inspiring content I have found.
Below are some of the most thought-provoking content I have found on the disability experience:
If you don’t know much about how the Americans with Disabilities Act came to be, you need to watch this Netflix's documentary. I would say it is the gold standard for disability documentaries and produced by none other than the production company of the Obamas. 10/10 recommend.
Although the main character is not played by an actor who is actually deaf, Riz Ahmed’s commitment to the role, to fully represent the experience of being deaf was truly breathtaking. He has been nominated for Best Actor this Sunday, alongside his co-star Paul Raci, who plays the role of deaf camp counselor and whose parents are deaf. Raci has been nominated for best supporting actor. My favorite part of this movie was the message that being deaf is not something that must be fixed. You can find it on Amazon.
I am impatiently waiting on Netflix’s season 3 of Sex Education. The show is about an able-bodied boy, Otis, who takes his mother’s sex therapist occupation and makes it his own alongside his friend, Maeve, giving sex tips to his classmates. Maeve lives in a trailer park and that is where she meets her neighbor, Isaac who is portrayed by George Robinson, a wheelchair user. The scene that made it for me was when Maeve, Issac and Otis attend a party and Issac has trouble navigating the stairs. This scene brought up an important lesson about accessibility, without depicting Issac as the problem, but rather the world around us.
Netflix’s crude take on middle-school drama is funny and refreshing. They cover every single topic that gave us nightmares when we were 14 years old, from facial hair to periods. Big Mouth also has a character who is paraplegic, Lars. The scene I remember the most is when Andrew, one of the many able-bodied characters, is so jealous of Lars dating Missy that he questions whether Lars really needs his wheelchair or whether Lars is using it to get girls. This scene brings up Andrew’s preconceived notions of what people with disabilities can accomplish and also the sad truth that many living with disabilities, visible or invisible, are many times questioned their disability. The character DeVon also mentions that he has rheumatoid arthritis, a win for the chronic illness community.
Amazon’s Them is polarizing as it is scary and violent. As a white-passing latina, it made me feel incredibly uncomfortable, upset and disappointed with 1950’s race relations. I thought it was very innovative in the sense of how it addresses PTSD and mental health problems, especially in the black community. Both parents have suffered traumatic events, Henry in the war and Lucky when a group of white people took her baby. Throughout the series, the line between what is in their heads and what is their reality gets mixed and the whole family struggles with believing each other. I did not like, however, how the show used disfigurement as a way to showcase evil. Epps, the spirit of the elder of an all-white community that haunts the whole family, has burn scars in his face. Although he died in a fire which would explain the scars, this is not explained until the end of the series and made me question the creative choice of Epps having such pronounced scars in his face as a fear-factor.
While this award season's disability representation is at an all time high, I am hopeful that in the years to come we will see a wider range of disabilities, chronic illnesses and disfigurements represented on the screens. I would also like to see stories that showcase disability as the main character, and not a supporting one. Got movie and TV recommendations for us? Drop it in the comments section.
]]>What do we mean by Live In Swimwear and why we are committed to getting more than 100 wears out of your MIGA suits.
]]>Our design ethos fuses comfort with functionality. The ideal swimsuit being one that can translate from beachwear and streetwear to evening wear. When I go on vacation I make sure to pack enough swimsuits so that I can wear one during the day, and one during the night. You never know when you will go for a evening dip ;)
If you are going to be practically living in your swimsuit, you have to make sure it is comfortable. That means that if the swimsuit is giving you a wedgie, maybe its time to pass it on to your niece. You may not be living in it, but it should be comfortable enough to do just that. We believe that being comfortable in a swimsuit is paramount to accepting and loving your body as is. Please remember that swimwear, and any other garment for that matter, should fit your body not the other way around. If you bought a tiny bikini in hopes that you will loose some weight, stop right there. The swimsuit you buy is for now.
The functionality of our suits comes from our commitment to designing swimsuits that work for a wide array of bodies and abilities. By designing with the input of our end-user directly, we are able to create without making any assumptions exactly what our customer needs and wants. Our customers wanted more sun protection, so not only are all of our suits made with SPF50 fabrics, we have two styles with long-sleeves.
Just like wearing underwear can be identity-defining for many, swimwear I believe has the power to define a state of mind. The state of mind I crave and thus, feel when I step into one of our swimsuits is shoulder-raising excitement, bursting confidence, and relentless joy. My hope as a designer is to, even if it is just for a brief moment, change your state of mind to that.
My attachment to this state of mind is why I believe swimsuits must be season-less and versatile. Why should we reserve all of these feelings to just when you go on vacation? Not only are vacations a luxury, last year, in particular, they proved to be non-existent. So we had to do with what was available: your balcony, your backyard or just sitting by your window. To get more wears out of your swimsuit, most of the time all you need is to live in a place that is warm. Hey! Even if you live in a cold place you can still layer up your swimsuit for a jacuzzi session. You get my point.
If your relationship towards swimwear needs some work, I hear you. Most of us can think of that one time you felt a certain way or someone made a certain sly remark about your body while wearing a suit, and since then trying-on or even online shopping for one has become an anxiety-ridden experience. I want to invite you to change that. Next time, instead of thinking about how your body should look, think about the feelings that come to the surface when you are taking some much needed time-off or the feeling of being surrounded by nature and channel that into your next purchase. Keep in mind comfort, functionality and versatility of the piece and I can assure you, before you know it you will hit more than 100 wears on your suit!
]]>Swimwear season is upon us, so we wanted to compile our top sustainable swimsuit trends for 2021 so you can make a smart and conscious decision this summer.
]]>Since we started in 2017, we have prioritized sustainable processes because we love the ocean (any other water babies out there?). I was that kid that it was 7pm and I was still in the water. The thought that every year 8 million metric tons of plastics enter our ocean keeps me up at night. Hence we wanted to give you some key pointers to help you make the sustainable choice when you buy swimwear this summer.
Whether you buy from us or other brands, make sure you check with this list to make sure your purchase is as eco-friendly as possible:
Here you are looking for three things:
Multipurpose: Did you just buy a tankini that can double as a top for spring? Is the swimsuit style you bookmarked, a look that can translate from beachwear to streetwear? If the answer is yes, then that is a good sustainable investment. If you live in a four-seasons kind of place, you want to make sure you can get as many wears from the suit as possible, if the swimsuit is top quality then it should last you at least 5 to 7 years. Our favorite multipurpose suit is the Colette Set and the Lydia Top, I have used it as a top in Fall and even used the belt of the Lydia bottom as a bikini top.
Quality:
Monotone: A trend that pays off in spades, is the monotone trend. You can get more wears out of a suit that is one color than one that has a flashy print. The colors that get the most uses are green, like the Anna One-Piece. If monotone is not your style, we recommend getting a suit that has 2-3 different colors (tops) so you can still mix-and-match effectively with the rest of your wardrobe. For this, we recommend the Mio One-Piece.
As always the most sustainable option would be to continue to reuse the swimsuits you currently have, but I understand that especially when it comes to swimwear we can’t either resist the splurge or our body has changed and we are in real need of a new suit. Whatever the reason, make sure that your purchase is both conscious and smart. Mother Earth will thank you!
I wish I could say that I wasn’t part of the burnout culture of my generation but I was, and sometimes wonder if I may still hold some of the beliefs that got me there in the first place. This is how I keep my mental healing journey in check.
]]>I wish I could say that I wasn’t part of the burnout culture of my generation but I was, and sometimes wonder if I may still hold some of the self-destructive beliefs that got me there in the first place. Back in 2014, I was undergoing a lot of changes. I had just moved to a new city, had a new job and started to make new friends. This was all exciting and new, but it was also incredibly anxiety-ridden. Until then, I had never quite self-identified as someone who was anxious. I knew I got anxious when there was turbulence on the plane or before an exam, my college counselor called this ‘test-anxiety’.
A less-than-perfect work environment coupled with the inkling that I was in the wrong industry, led to the perfect storm. I have talked briefly about this before but I cannot stress this enough: I am convinced that what got me to crippling anxiety and depression was negativity. My whole life I considered myself positive and happy-go-lucky until then. Every second of every minute, I would complain about just how bad my situation at work was and how everything else was fine except for this. The worst part was that I decided to stay in this complaining cycle for longer than I should. Little did I know that with every negative word that came out of my mouth, the space between neurons in my brain was getting smaller and smaller, rewiring my brain to be negative, causing me to have a negative outlook not just on my profession, but anything around me. I was convinced that if I stuck it through for just a couple more months it would get better. It actually got worse. People around me at first wanted to help, and some of them did, but I could tell how others were just getting impatient with my constant complaining, especially when they realized that this was not a phase but the new-me.
When I was in the worst of it, meaning still trapped in the negativity cycle without being aware, the following helped:
🧘🏽♀️ Meditate: I used headspace to get somewhat of an understanding of what was really going on in my head. I did this daily for 10, then 15 minutes.
🏋🏾♀️ Workout: This was particularly hard because back then the negativity was draining the little energy I had to even get dressed and out the door every day. I usually did 20 minutes in the elliptical and then I was out.
📖 Read: Around this time, I knew I needed to believe in something greater than myself so I stumbled on the book Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks. This book in particular helped me get hopeful and also contributed to me becoming more serene during my meditation practice.
I recognize my responsibility for getting myself to such a low point in my life and I am committed to taking better care of myself next time. These are a couple of frameworks I have in place when I catch myself going down the slippery slope of negativity and self-pity (cause in my case those two go hand-in-hand):
💆🏿♀️ Practice: Although I don’t meditate as often as I did back then, I practice self-awareness daily. What this looks like for me is that I do a mental check-in when I am doing the most trivial of things, like washing my hands. I start by asking myself how am I feeling? Then, why am I thinking that? And then I categorize my feelings with kindness, if a negative thought comes around I label it as “not nice” and then I put it away.
🤓 Rationalize: Some days I am being more critical of myself than others, especially in the morning or late at night. Some of these thoughts revolve around productivity (or lack thereof), my goals and my self-worth. When I start worrying that we won’t sell out our current collection, I rationalize that fear. Am I doing everything in my power to accomplish this goal? Yes. Do I have the right team in place to accomplish this goal? Yes. Did we create a product that I am 100% proud of? Yes. When I answer all of those questions with honesty and rationale, that fear goes away.
👁 Visualize: I used to be really good at this one, and need to get back at it. When I was 18 years old and I wanted to transfer to Georgetown University, I had post-its all over my room that had written on them “I am part of Georgetown’s Class of 2012” or “In 2010, I will live in Georgetown’s campus.” I had not been accepted yet, but I took it as a fact. I did the same when I wanted to move to London with work and then, to get into an MA program at one of the most prestigious art schools in the world. All of these happened for me. Having a visual reminder every day of the goal I was relentlessly working towards kept me focused and hopeful.
I hope sharing my mental health journey is helpful. Having put time and distance from this challenging chapter of my life has offered me the perspective I wished I had back then. If you are in the pit of it all, remember that it will get better and that if you had the energy to get yourself in that mess, you also have the energy to get yourself out of it. If you have dealt with anxiety and depression, let me know what has worked with you in the comment section. I am aware that we all experience mental health challenges differently and I would love to hear from you. Take care!
]]>Spring is here and the need to escape our routine is clear. Here are 5 tips for planning a sustainable getaway.
]]>After being cooped up for what seems like an eternity, what better reason to dust the spiderwebs off your carryon than to plan your next sustainable getaway. Whether near, think next town over, or far (anywhere you can travel to with safety precautions in place), it's time to plan your next escape.
Below some of our tips on how to plan your next getaway in the most eco-friendly way as possible:
Buy Local
When visiting for long stays (working remotely in paradise anyone?) make sure to adjust your diet to meet what can be supplied locally. I am not saying forgo your lactose-free milk if you are lactose intolerant, but think about going out of your comfort zone and trying fruits and vegetables that are locally farmed. When visiting supermarkets that cater to tourists, you might end up buying products that come from far away, more CO2 in the atmosphere at a more expensive price to the detriment of your wallet and most importantly, the planet.
Great Minds Think Alike
Find yourself a place that is beautiful but also whose mission aligns with yours. Many hotels and Airbnb’s have adopted sustainable practices quicker than regular households because it just makes cents! Whether your hotel has the towel-on-rack means no wash policy, or your Airbnb comes with a compost bucket, make sure you leave the place the same or better than you found it. Mother Nature will thank you.
Say Bye to Plastic Bottles
Do you know how many water bottles you consumed in your last trip? The international tourism industry is a significant contributor to the 400 million tons of plastic produced globally every year. I cannot think of a bigger contradiction, pay to go be at one with nature, while at the same time trashing your destination. I present to you the Grayl Water Filter Bottle. This bottle has its own filter so you can fill up your bottle up from any faucet, even rivers! If you are sceptic about it, we were too at first but we have used it from Mexico to Brazil, all without getting a single tummy ache. Can you imagine how many years we are saving the world by doing this?
Treat it Better than Your House
So you walk into a little slice of heaven, surrounded by breathtaking views and luscious nature. Think about your accommodation's running costs, how much in their currency it costs to maintain the infrastructure or pay for electricity and water bills. Next time you go away, be mindful that you might not be in the land of plenty and make sure you take quick showers, remember to turn the lights off after you leave a room and make sure the AC/heater is off when not in use.
When Everything Aligns
You can’t preach a sustainable lifestyle if your wardrobe is not to match. For your next trip consider packing one of our MIGA suits, made entirely of post-consumer yarns (think discarded fishnets and carpets). Plus our fabrics' two-way stretch technology has been tested to withstand the passing of time, so from season to season the suit will stay longer with you, reducing the time that a similar garment would end up in landfill.
]]>Bathing suit anxiety is incredibly circumstantial. Here are 5 ways to conquer it ahead of the summer.
]]>When I think of the first time I ever experienced bathing suit anxiety, I think of the locker room in the country club my aunt used to take us to. I distinctly remember the wet linoleum floors and the stall doors that had two inch gaps between them, making it impossible for you to feel like you had any privacy at all. By the pool, I remember holding my stomach in as I took the towel away from my body and being hyper aware that I had way too many mosquito bites in my legs. That was then, this is now.
I have always been a water baby. I love water so much that I cannot let my anxiety bar me from truly enjoying these spaces, so instead I have become committed to understanding why I feel bathing suit anxiety. With time, I have realized that bathing suit anxiety doesn’t leave you completely, regardless of how advanced you are in the self-acceptance and self-love journey. It is INCREDIBLY dependent on the circumstance you are in. For example, if you are in front of people you don’t know well but perhaps you care what they think about you, you are going to feel anxious (check this blog on a similar experience with coworkers). Likewise, if you decide to come out wearing a swimsuit after everyone else has or are the only one wearing a swimsuit (any other water babies out there?), it will be awkward. What we get right is that people are going to stare, it's a biological reflex, especially when it comes to other people’s bodies. What we get wrong is how long or how deep others think about our bodies or a specific part of our bodies.
Before we let our minds spiral trying to figure out what will everyone think, here is what has worked for our community to conquer bathing suit anxiety:
There’s a lot of things that will change because of the pandemic, but who I choose to share information about my health won’t. This is why my health condition is where I draw the line.
]]>I have a pre-existing health condition, which means I qualified for the COVID19 vaccine in the state of New York as part of Phase 1B. I’m a 28 year old woman and have been able to work from home in my tech job for almost a year. I have quite obviously jumped forward in the line for a COVID19 vaccine beyond others my age.
My health condition has never exactly been a secret, but who I share it with has always been limited to trusted friends or on a need to know basis. The COVID19 vaccine roll out has created a ranking of the population from most to least vulnerable, and my position in this line has put an unexpected spotlight on my health.
My initial excitement at my eligibility was quickly replaced with a level of discomfort after the announcement that my turn for the vaccine had finally come. At first, I didn’t have any reservations about telling people beyond my inner circle that my new pastime was to refresh all the vaccine booking websites in hope of securing an appointment. Whilst most people sympathised with my struggles to book an appointment, a few people became suspicious of how I could possibly be next in line for a vaccine. Their reactions ranged from a questioning wrinkled brow over a video call, to being outright asked “Why are you eligible?” and I quickly realised this was a topic of small talk I was no longer comfortable participating in.
I’m sure those asking about my eligibility were trying to work out what loophole I’d discovered to see if they too could get a vaccine earlier than expected. No one’s intent was to make me uncomfortable, or to question if I had jumped the imaginary queue we are all standing in. But unfortunately, I found myself now choosing not to share my happy news of securing a vaccine appointment.
There’s a lot of things that will be changed by the pandemic, but one that will not change is who I choose to share information about my health with. So yes, I have now had my first dose of the vaccine, and no, I will not tell you why I am eligible. Please remember that a lot more people have pre-existing conditions than you think. If someone unexpectedly tells you that they have received the COVID19 vaccine, please do not question why they are eligible. If they wanted to share the backstory for their health with you, you’d already know.
Instead you can ask the following questions: