Two years ago, Ruby Alexander, a transgender girl in Canada, struggled to find a well-fitting pair of bikini bottoms that she could wear to the beach. So, her dad Jamie made one for her and now it’s a full-fledged swimsuit brand that the father-daughter duo take care of.
According to a report by CNN, their brand ‘RUBIES’ in Toronto has shipped over 500 pairs to transgender girls around the world since 2019.
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The bikini bottoms have compression spandex and mesh to provide a compact fit so that trans girls can feel comfortable and enjoy their lives the same as their cisgender friends.
Ruby is now 13 years old and “happy to see all the kids who can get back into enjoying the activities they love, like swimming, dance and gymnastics.”
“The response has been amazing,” she told CNN. Ruby transitioned when she was 8.
Her dad Jamie said one day at the age of 11, Ruby told him that she wants to wear a bikini like her friends. However, even after trying some trans-friendly options, they couldn’t find the piece that would make her feel comfortable or not draw unwanted attention.
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So, with a background in entrepreneurship, Jamie created a bikini that he said both looked and felt like one. While other brands feel bulky, the RUBIES bikini bottoms are made with a sleek and stylish fit in mind, he said.
RUBIES now ships free bikini bottoms worldwide to those who can’t afford them through their ‘Every Girl Deserves To Shine’ campaign.
“My future hope is for trans kids to not be judged,” Ruby said.
“I want all girls, and all trans kids, to just feel comfortable about their body,” she added.
