Inspirational Women Challenging the Status Quo

Today, we stand united as Salt Sisters. Together, we #ChooseToChallenge the status quo. And choose to challenge ourselves too. Striving to be the best version of you can be tough - here are incredible the stories of women who have done just that.

International Women's Day is all about identifying, celebrating and increasing visibility of women's achievements to help forge equality. And just like the women who inspired our Freedom Collection we want to challenge the women around us to share their stories about breaking through and doing something to change their habits.

Kiki Håkansson

Sweden's Kiki Håkansson was crowned the first Miss World in 1951 wearing a bikini which caused an uproar and resulted in the bikini being banned from beauty pageants worldwide. It took another 26 years for the world to really embrace and celebrate the Bikini! 

She broke through barriers to set a new president in women's fashion, but the event, which was called 'Festival Bikini Contest' in its year of inception, discontinued the practice after it was condemned by the Pope… my how times have changed. We admire her for her bravery and for wearing just what she wanted, despite the times.

The Bikini Kiki Inspired

Our Kiki Bow Bikini Top design the cutest, one of a kind strapless bikini. This little number can be worn in a variety of ways, as a strapless bandeau, halter neck style, or bandeau style with a bow. Style it with a different coloured bow each day to match with multiple coloured bikini bottoms.

Read more about Kiki Håkansson

Freda Josephine Baker 

Josephine Baker (born Freda Josephine McDonald) was an American-born French entertainer, French Resistance agent, and civil rights activist. Her career was centered primarily in Europe, mostly in her adopted France. She was the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture, the 1927 silent film Siren of the Tropics, directed by Mario Nalpas and Henri Étiévant.

The Bikini Freda Inspired

The Freda High Panelled Bikini Bottoms are perfect for beach club poolside summer days. Offering complete comfort and support, they nip in neatly at the waist whilst giving the ultimate booty popping shape. The detailed paneling in the front gives this high waisted style an edge - bringing vintage back in style. 

Read more about Freda Josephine Baker 

Rachel Carson

Rachel Carson is a marine biologist, and one of the most celebrated nature writers of the 20th Century. She herself was not just an inspiration but truely a force of nature and her story underscores the power of calling others to thoughtful action.

Her book, Silent Spring (1962), became one of the most influential books in the modern environmental movement and provided the impetus for tighter control of pesticides, including DDT.

The Bikini Carson Inspired

The Carson Bikini Bottoms are the ultimate tanning bottoms. Designed to be worn higher on the hips but can be worn lower to suit your style. Featuring a seamless cut with finer elastic that sits flat against the skin without cutting in. These bottoms are a classic cut that will match perfectly with any choice of bikini top from the Freedom Collection.

Here, published in the New York Times are her “Lessons After 50 Years” 

Katy Payne

Our Katy bikini is named in honor of Katy Payne, of Oceans Alliance and the first woman to recognise the complexity behind the calls of the humpback whale. 

Acoustic biologist Katharine (Katy) Payne finds her faith in a sanctuary without a roof and walls, and the sacred songs that she listens to often have no sound--at least to human ears. A life-long nature and music lover, Katy has been studying the sounds and languages of two of the largest animals in the world: humpback whales and African elephants.

“My church is outdoors mostly. What's sacred to me is this planet we live on. It’s been here for more than 4 billion years. Life has been on it only for 3 billion years. Life as we know it, you know, for a very short time. It’s the only planet where life has been found. And that, to me, I think, is ultimately, you know, what I consider is sacred.” – Katy Payne 

(Speaking of Faith, NPR. Interview with Krista Tippet on February 1, 2007.)

Her work in building understanding, awareness and conservation is helping to ensure the survival of these majestic creatures.

The Bikini Katy Inspired

The Katy Bikini Bottoms are designed to be worn in multiple ways. They are firm waisted to give you complete support whilst showing a sexy high cut at the back. The adjustable panel means you can wear them high-waisted, ruched down, or folded to the waistline. Eat, party, and play whilst feeling beautiful and free. 

Read more about Katy Payne

Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2004 for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace - she was the first ever black African recipient. Peace on earth depends on our ability to secure our living environment and Maathai developed the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots organisation that focuses on planting trees to replenish the environment and improve the quality of life.

The Bikini Maathai inspired

The Maathai Bikini Bottoms sit at the perfect height just below the belly button, providing ultimate support and comfort. These are our fuller coverage and sporty pant option with carefully placed paneling drawing the attention in at the waist and giving our fuller coverage the most flattering style.

Read more about Wangari Maathai

Greta Thunberg

Thunberg is a Swedish environmental activist who is internationally known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action against climate change. At just 16, she inspired millions with her weekly #FridayForFuture protests. Greta has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for her work and continues to inspire by challenging the status quo and speaking up on behalf of future generations.

The Bikini Greta inspired

This youthful, flattering style is a personal favourite. It features a strong straight V, a supportive underbust band, and detailed panelling across the cup. The straps are fully adjustable and merge into a corset style to tie up at the back. 

The Greta Bikini Top has removable cup inserts and looks great on both smaller and larger bust sizes, simply adjust the cups and back accordingly.

Read more about Greta Thunberg

Malala Yousafzai

This awe inspiring 19-year-old is one of the most recognised advocates for fair and better education in the world. Malala Yousafzai  wrote a book about her life, I Am Malala, in 2013, and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 - the youngest ever recipient.

“I spoke out publicly on behalf of girls and our right to learn. And this made me a target.

In October 2012, on my way home from school, a masked gunman boarded my school bus and asked, “Who is Malala?” He shot me on the left side of my head.”

“I woke up 10 days later in a hospital in Birmingham, England. The doctors and nurses told me about the attack — and that people around the world were praying for my recovery.”

Learn how Malala began her fight for girls — from an education activist in Pakistan to the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate — and how she continues her campaign through Malala Fund.

The Bikini Malala Inspired

The Malala Bikini Top is unique and super flattering on all sized busts. The curve in the shape is designed to give ultimate cleavage for smaller breasts whilst giving the option for more or less, with its removable pad inserts. The desired amount of cleavage can be adjusted by pulling in the back with its fully adjustable straps and back tie.

Read more about Malala

Micheline Bernardini

Micheline Bernardini (born 1 December 1927) was a French dancer at the Casino de Paris who agreed to model, on 5 July 1946, Louis Réard's two-piece swimsuit, which he called the bikini, named four days after the first test of an American nuclear weapon at the Bikini Atoll.

Designer Louis Réard could not find a runway model willing to showcase his revealing design for a two-piece swimsuit. Risqué for its time, it exposed the wearer's navel and much of her buttocks. 

The Bikini Micheline Inspired

The core design elements of the Micheline Bikini Top  are reminiscent of the one Miss Bernardi modelled but with a new age twist and vintage corset style back. Perfect for fuller breasted women featuring a double supported waistband, fuller cup coverage, and removable padding.

The stitched edges give this top a unique finish and the straps merge into the back corset making it completely adjustable to ensure the perfect fit - just choose your cup size.

Read more about Micheline Bernardini