Not long after, I moved to Hawaii — and something about this place got under my skin immediately. Life here means being outside, in the water, in a bikini more days than not. But recovering here meant I couldn't find anything that fit the body I was learning to live in again, or that made me feel like myself. Everything either fell apart after a few wears, didn't sit right, or came with a price tag that made my stomach drop.

I decided to take things into my own hands — literally. I found a new creative outlet, a new passion, and just started drawing: dreaming up styles, colors, patterns, letting my imagination run in every direction. It was overwhelming, in the best way. Almost a year later, I was holding my very first self-designed bikinis in my hands. Dance had been the thing that made me feel most like myself, and for the first time since losing it, I'd found something that did that again.

Meili exists for every woman who's ever stood in a dressing room and felt like nothing was made for her. I design with intention — unexpected details, patterns that feel fresh, quality that actually lasts. Every collection is rooted in what inspired me from the beginning: the wild, untamed beauty of the world around us, and a deep respect for this earth that Hawaii taught me.

And that respect is turning into something bigger than swimwear. The more Meili grows, the more I want it to leave a real, lasting mark on the world — not just through what we make, but through what we do with it. That part of the story is still being written, and I can't wait to share it with you soon.

No matter what stage of life you're in, you deserve to feel beautiful in your own skin. That's what I set out to create — and it's what I pour into every single design. Olivia Founder & Creative Director