We were lucky to catch up with Amber Rankin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amber, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

As women, there are so many things society tells us to do – how to act, how to feel, how to be. The burden on women to meet these expectations is 1) outrageous and 2) ridiculous.

It’s time for women to take back their power. At Feel Good Swim, we care about one thing: making women feel good about themselves.

This business started in 2019 after another year of feeling less than – in my swimsuit. As a busty woman (specifically with a smaller frame and larger bust size), it is notoriously hard to find a swimsuit that’s flattering and provides the support we need.

Living in Texas, you almost NEED a swimsuit. It’s one of the few ways to escape the summer heat. And when you don’t have something that fits and leaves you feeling embarrassed, it can truly impact your mental health.

It’s one more thing telling us that we’re not good enough or pretty enough.

This was me back in 2019. I only had raggedy old swimsuits that weren’t cutting it. I put one of these on, looked in the mirror, and became instantly depressed.

I threw off the swimsuit, got in my jammies, and flung myself into bed after canceling the plans I had to meet friends at the pool that day.

No one should have to go through that.

You may be saying, “I’m sure the swimsuits weren’t that bad; you’re exaggerating.”

When you have a larger chest that gets way too much attention with clothes on, the last thing you want is more eyes on you wearing your swimsuit. For many (like me), this is unwanted attention. I just want to live my life without oogling.

So at that point, I was determined that no other woman should have to go through this emotional rollercoaster and set off on my fashion journey.

Amber, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I started this journey in 2019. It’s now 2024 and I’m finally launching. It has taken 5 years to get here! The me from 5 years ago wouldn’t have guessed it would take this long, but she’d be SO PROUD of her resilience to get here.

I had no background in fashion. I worked in health tech up until this point.

And while I joined programs and courses, my lack of experience combined with the complexity of swimwear, is really what took me this long to get here.

I didn’t know how to find the RIGHT manufacturers. I didn’t know what the RIGHT expectations of partners should be. And although each misstep took me down another fork in the road, I learned SO MUCH along the way.

In 2023, I finally hit a stride and found a partner who truly understood my vision – creating a timeless and flattering one-piece swimsuit for fuller-busted women.

We launched 7/16 on Kickstarter with this signature style in 3 colors!

Other than having kids, this is the BIGGEST and HARDEST thing I’ve ever done.

I’ve done a lot of mindset work to stop the spiral of negative thoughts, and I’m constantly learning how to reprogram how I think. More often than not, we are our own worst enemies in achieving our dreams.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I mentioned earlier that I’ve worked a lot on reprogramming my thinking. I had the “I’m not good enough” trope on loop.

In 2022, after another failed attempt at finding the right team to bring my swimsuit to life, I wondered if I was the problem. I joined a manifestation program that helped me realize my limiting beliefs.

I realized that my thoughts were weighing me down. I was carrying around a 50 lb pack with me everywhere. It felt like I was white-knuckling life.

That manifestation program was the tip of the iceberg for me. It opened my eyes to how our state of mind impacts our daily reality.

I started reading more books on this, listening to podcasts, diving deeper.

And while I did my own work to reframe my thoughts, I also found a therapist to guide me through some bigger questions I had.

And this year, I made a BIG investment into a business coach. I don’t think I would’ve ever invested in myself like this two years ago. And that realization alone has shown me the HUGE strides I’ve made.

I’ve learned that my worth isn’t tied to this business; and being detached from an outcome is the best way to live my life. All I can do is my best – I let the universe take it from there.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I’ve considered quitting quite a few times now. I wondered, “How can it be this hard?”

In the short term, it would’ve been way easier to give up and go about my life doing something else.

However, in the long run, I knew I’d always wonder what if / what could’ve been.

After each roadblock or new bump, I’d begin to consider if it was all worth it. When I’d get to that point, I’d look back at the messages I’d get from followers about how much these swimsuits would help them.

That’s when I’d find air again.

That feeling paired with wondering “what if” would restore my motivation.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/feelgoodswimwear/
• Other: Kickstarter link:

  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/feelgoodswim/2114326854?ref=91kirh&token=4c8636ad

Image Credits

Susie Burleson, Beowulf Media