Model Madison Martina has worked with an extensive list of fashion and beauty brands that includes Guess, TooFaced Cosmetics, Anastasia Beverly Hills and Kya Swim, just to name a few. Given her hands-on experience and lifelong dream of being a fashion designer, it made sense her expertise has blossomed into the influencer-favorite Kamari Swim. The brand offers bikinis, one-pieces and other beach and pool-friendly pieces fit for anytime and anyone. As Kamari makes its way through its first year on the market, Martina opened up about what she’s learned from modeling, her hopes for the brand and the importance of finding the perfect swimsuit.
Kamari was the answer to your negative experience with swimwear. Can you give us the behind the scenes understanding at how your swimwear is made to be more liveable?
I wouldn't say the experience I had was negative, I just didn't feel as confident as I would have liked. This made me really want to create something women would not only feel confident in, but also feel sexy and comfortable when wearing the swimsuits. There’s no better feeling than finding a swimsuit you love to wear.
How has being a Florida native influenced your approach to Kamari?
Being a Florida native inspired me a lot for sure. I pretty much grew up wearing sunscreen, a swimsuit, and flip-flops daily. Comfort in my swimsuits was a must. I was at the beach pretty much every week. My family lived on a ski lake in Florida as well. So my weekends consisted of going to the beach or being on the lake.
How does modeling benefit your roles as founder and creative director at Kamari— does it help with inspiration, are you able to stay on top of trends, etc?
A lot of my inspiration comes from being in the modeling industry. Being behind the scenes with so many fashion brands allows me to see what works, doesn’t work and what could work. It definitely helps with staying on top of the latest trends. When designing Kamari I try to be unique and different from other brands.
Kamari is approaching its six month anniversary. What is the most important lesson you’ve learned as an entrepreneur in that time?
The most important lesson I learned is how to build and grow a brand. Whether it be the business side or the marketing and growth side, it has all been very important and critical in helping Kamari grow in the best way possible. In the future, I would love to expand Kamari by exploring other areas of fashion.
What are you most proud of about Kamari?
I am most proud of how Kamari makes people feel. I spent an enormous amount of time working on the fitting of each piece in making sure I felt confident. I went several rounds in the fitting phase, as well as getting others' feedback. There is no better compliment than someone messaging me to share how much they love Kamari.
What are your future hopes for Kamari?
To expand into clothing, athletic wear or even beauty. I really want to get creative with Kamari as I know it has the potential to be something great.
The power of a great bikini is everything! How do you hope Kamari wearers feel in one of your swimsuits?
I hope people feel confident and sexy in Kamari Swim while feeling comfortable doing whatever they want in each swimsuit.
See also: See the Celebrity-Favorite Shoe That'll Add Sparkle To Your Closet
Photography by: Tuan Pham; Kamari Swim;
