In my early adulthood, after having my first child, I began battling the effects of my PCOS, which brought on significant weight gain and sent me into a cycle of yo-yo dieting, medications, and depression. After years of struggling to get pregnant again, I made the decision to have gastric sleeve surgery—a choice that ultimately led to me losing over 100 pounds and getting pregnant with my second child! While my outside appearance changed dramatically, inside I still felt like that same "fat girl" who had always struggled with her body image. Over time, I’ve grown more confident in my own skin, but those old fears and insecurities still linger. As women, our bodies go through so many changes over the years, and even now, though I’m smaller, I still carry reminders of my past—the stretch marks, the loose skin, and the emotional journey that came with them. Now that I have a daughter of my own, the effort to love myself means even more to me. I want her to see what strength, confidence, and self-acceptance look like, and to grow up knowing that beauty comes from how you treat yourself and the love you carry within.

When I saw that Lacy had posted on Facebook looking for swimsuit models, my first thought was, “There’s no way I could ever do that.” I didn’t feel worthy or confident enough to put myself out there like that. But as I learned more about her brand, I realized it wasn’t just about the swimwear—it was about helping women feel beautiful and confident in their own bodies. At the photo shoot, I was surrounded by women of all shapes and sizes, each embracing who they were and radiating confidence. Seeing them love their bodies and proudly rock their swimsuits was truly eye-opening and empowering. It was a day I’ll never forget! So when I later received a message inviting me to be part of Lacy’s news segment, I told myself I had to do it—not just for me, but for my daughter and for all the women who still struggle with self-consciousness and self-doubt. Steven Lacy Swimwear is more than just a brand—it’s a movement created by a woman for women, designed to make everyone who wears her suits feel their absolute best!"