We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Adriana Bushong a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Adriana , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I discovered my mission in life when I left my hometown when I turned 18 years old to build a better life for myself and create opportunities by working hard and studying my future profession as a Journalist. I created my own business ‘jewelry handmade’ when I was in the high school and I took that to the capitol of Colombia, Bogota. Sold in the streets and small shops to support myself and my family. Since that time I knew I wanted to build a big business one day, but took 20 years to started as I dreamt. I I understood if you keep working hard with passion, discipline and dedication your process is going to be real and strong. Currently I have my own business Adriana Bushong Swimwear in partnership with my husband and my older sister and right now I am working in my first collection: Frenesí.

During my journey I met some people that were in the beauty pageants and they looked at my skills and confidence. They convinced me to try and represent my town as a Mrs. Santander and I started to train with one the most famous trainers of queens in Colombia. I wanted to be the best and get the crown as Mrs Colombia because of my hard work ethic and will to win and I made it!

I asked God after Mrs Colombia crown what I have to live this experience and the answer was: you have to keep helping others, and I created my own social movement Reina el corazón for work side by side with non profits organizations. After the being crowned Mrs Universe, I worked harder with my non-profit and others were helping me to help children in schools and helping the elderly in nursing homes and currently I became Humanitarian Ambassador of the Universe by the organization Reinas y Reyes del Universo in Colombia and also I was designated as Global Woman Peace Ambassador by Woman’s Federation for World Peace International. Since that I approached every opportunity came to my life so I decided to become a professional model and I completed my training and working with other modeling companies. The training in modeling is helping me currently with my Swimwear business and right now I am in United States working in that new chapter of my life.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

All I knew 20 years ago was having a strong business one day with fashion inspiration and when I traveled around the world I went in the beautiful beaches in Thailand and that view gave me the answer I was waiting for developing my dream. I saw an infinite variety of bodies and styles and I started to create in my mind a style for that bikinis one day will be. When I get married I told my husband my dream: design swimsuits with art for real women make them feel exclusive, secure and beautiful, and he believed in that and we made partners.

Adriana Bushong Swimwear is a Colombian Company creating the first collection of swimwear in collaboration with a paint artist to produce limited editions of bikinis hand painted regular and plus sizes for every woman value art as an expression of feeling.

This first collection called ‘Frenesí’ because is the result of the passion and love with which we create these pieces as true works of art, designed for women who want to look, feel different and confident on their vacations.

At AB Swimwear you girls will find:
Art and Exclusivity: Highlight that each hand-painted piece is unique.
Authenticity: sublimated pieces, developed based on two works of art based in the real heart.
Sustainability and Craftsmanship: Highlight the sustainable processes and manual work behind the collection.
Fashion and Empowerment: Position the brand as a reflection of confident, sophisticated and creative women.
Expression of feeling: with Frenesí we express our passion and the love that we are putting into every detail of Adriana Bushong Swimwear.

We want ‘Let the sea set you free’.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

We have been creating this first collection for a year and although at first we did not find it logical due to the time each test took, we understood that everything is a process that must be careful when providing a garment, such as a bikini, to women. since it is the second skin that is exposed to others on their vacations, and we want them, apart from appreciating the art in each one, to feel confident and beautiful. Therefore we understood that we had to be patient in the design processes, making samples, testing on everyday women, painting tests with water, in order to reach the full production of this first collection. Resilience in business is very important, because then you value every detail, every person is involved. You value the effort you put into it every day and you give it deserves, in order to reflect it to the clients, who through social media we have been telling about it, because it is not make one more collection of swimsuits, those are works of art that should be treated as such. a process that is really worth it.
However, we have many lessons learned that we study and internalize so as not to repeat them in the following collections and be more effective in the processes. It has been a year of learning and love for what we do with Adriana Bushong Swimwear.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Four years ago we met with my husband and from the first day I told him about my dream and as we got to know each other until we got married a few months later, he knew that I was a dreamer, passionate, disciplined woman who made decisions, so He always believed in this project and decided to support me not only by being my investment partner but also by getting involved in the processes and understanding our mission that with his business support he has helped us in the construction of this brand that bears his last name.

Also my co-worker and with whom we work every day to carry out this project is my older sister, Diana Marcela, with whom we grew up selling underwear on the streets of our hometown: Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia and that life taught us that Giving up was not an option to move forward. We are hard-working Santanderans, entrepreneurs, dreamers, but above all persevering. With them Adriana Bushong Swimwear has heart and soul, but also a different vision.

We also have a team of 10 people who have put their effort into every detail. Very soon our first collection of many that will come will be launched to bring Colombian art in our swimwear around the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.adrianabushong.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adrianabushongswimwear?igsh=eWpyb3RrZHRlcWdw
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/adrianabushong?igsh=MTkwcG55MzFldTByNg%3D%3D&utm_source=q