So much has happened since International Women’s Day 2021 — it’s hard to believe this time last year I was on the precipice of delivering my twins. It’s even harder to believe, today, those twin girls are a year old.
Navigating my second pregnancy in tandem with raising capital for Knix marks one of the most challenging periods of my life. One year later, it’s incredible to see these moments of adversity translate into a film, Big. Strong. Woman., and a successful financing series that made our brand even more resolute in its values.
I still remember when Knix was a team of two (we’re now a team of over two hundred) and, as the company has grown, so have I. On a personal level, I find myself finally comfortable in my own skin — something I credit to Knix and the work we’ve done disrupting the mainstream and broadening beauty ideals.
Along the way, we’ve had the opportunity to work with some extraordinary women and people — including our partnership with the one and only Ashley Graham, a woman I deeply respect and admire.
Every day, we’ve also continued to prove that we’re more than just an intimates brand. Expanding our commitment to living unapologetically free with the launch of our activewear collection has been beyond exciting. The only thing more thrilling than exploring uncharted territory has been seeing our creations come to life through our community.
Just as rewarding has been using our platform and voice to tackle taboos, like demystifying the fourth trimester with our book Life After Birth and partnership with the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI). Through this partnership, we committed an initial $75,000 in scholarships for NOURISH, a postpartum Doula training program, which 26 Doulas will be graduating from this year.
This year, for me, International Women’s Day is centered around recognizing the multitude of ways women are big and strong, and reminding people to see and celebrate their strength everyday. In doing so, I’m reminded to be proud of my own strength in navigating the growth of Knix, raising three kids under three, and the strides I’ve made on a personal level.
Today, I’m speaking at an event for Dress for Success, an organization that has helped countless women achieve economic independence through its network of resources. As a founder who has, for years, navigated the intersection of womanhood and entrepreneurship, it’s important to empower others to thrive professionally and personally.
Since founding Knix, I’ve witnessed many other female founder success stories. When I first started out, I was told Knix’s category and the challenges we were hoping to solve — menstruation and bladder leaks — were too “niche,” which speaks volumes.
Just as Knix has, other companies have broken through the barriers thanks to the strength, persistence, and resilience of their founders, but there’s still a long way to go. In 2021, only 2% of venture capital funding was allocated to female founders, the lowest since 2016. Even more harrowing, just 0.34% of this went towards Black female founders.
Looking forward, things need to change and we have to demand better. I often hear from people, “wow, Knix never stops,” and it’s true, we don’t. We’re on a mission to topple taboos, empower people to live free of self-doubt, and equip everyone to navigate the world with confidence — and we’re just getting started.