Why swimwear? Why bikini? Why not bird watching? I think swimwear to me was the obvious choice, especially with the platform that I'm trying to empower women. That is their most vulnerable state. Helping women to see that a good piece of swimwear does make a difference in how you feel. When you feel really good in what you're wearing, you position yourself much better and it's magic. Kathy Dawson transformed personal adversity into a mission of female empowerment as the founder of the Salty Bikini. After overcoming significant life hurdles, she now utilizes her retail platform and public speaking to help women cultivate internal confidence and reclaim their personal strength. How many narcissists have you dodged and weaved until getting to where you are today? I am no longer taking on any projects. Let's just put it like that. It spans the globe like a super high-level internet. Elvis, ready to fire up here. Today, Apple is going to reinvent the bar. It's not over until I win. The Living Your Legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy. That's extraordinary. The impossible. Oh, that is sensational. Welcome back to another episode of the Living Your Legacy podcast, the Women in Power edition. For Inside Success, I am Ray Gutierrez. It's casual Friday here, and I'm just going to go with it. Joining me today is Kathy Dawson. Kathy, there's something very salty about you. Please tell us why you're so salty. I am owner and creator of The Salty Bikini, which is a swimwear shop in St. Catharines that also has an online platform. And it is our mission to empower women to embrace their inner beauty, confidence that they bring to the world and not to let the outside world dictate what beauty should be, but allow that to come from the inside. Right on. Where does your journey begin? A lot of folks are born beautiful. When did you realize that beauty is in or out? Where does that journey begin for you? For me, it's been kind of a process. And my journey actually, and my epiphany of what my purpose was began when I left a 33 year marriage, a marriage where I was not valued, did not, was not made to feel loved And over the years with the healing and the growth that I had to do and the research that I done and the work that I done to understand about manipulation and how it works, I came to the conclusion that all of these opportunities were opening up to me after this incredible challenge. And that was a very clear sign to me that that's the path that that was my purpose that I believe that you're not given these horrific stories to come out of and then the opportunities unless you do something good with them. Right on. So you felt empowered. 100%. So your resilience equals power. Oh, yeah. Where does that grit come from? Like, What's your earliest memory of that grit? It's funny you mentioned that. I think where that grit and where that fight comes from with me is I've always participated in, I was a baton twirler. I was a cheerleader for a very short period of time. And with the different things that I've done, I've always... Traits? Traits. Superpowers. With all these different things that I've done, I remember even at a young age, looking back and thinking to myself, like, you got through this, you are unstoppable. There was probably four specific times through my life where I didn't think I was going to get through something. And I got through it and like winning a world championship medal with baton, winning my solo, like participating in a Crystal Light National Aerobic Championship and winning with that as well. all these things that I they had blocks in front of them I came out of them and told myself that I did this I am unstoppable so having those um those uh instances was a constant reminder to me when I was going through this that hell I can do this I've done this before I can do this it's a much larger scale, but I can do it. And I've done it. Why? Why swimwear? Why bikini? Why not birdwatching? Well, I think swimwear to me was the obvious choice, especially with the platform that I'm trying to empower women. That is their most vulnerable state. And it is it really I've been able to connect with women on so many different levels, because all women at one time or another have hated what they see in the mirror and they're so down on themselves. So by offering the quality swimwear that we do and helping women to see that a good piece of swimwear does make a difference in how you feel And the thing is when you feel really good in what you wearing you position yourself much better And then there's a whole bunch of science that goes on with that, that when you're standing taller and positioning yourself, it's magic. I was going to say, yeah, it's very magical, which is why when folks are like, oh, I can model. Yeah, right. You can be an influencer all you want. That's adorable. but modeling is an art form. Like you've got to put yourself in that mindset. When you look for folks that are wearing your, your salty bikinis, what do you look for in their heart? Not their body. I'm sure you're looking for what's in their heart. It's their energy. 100%. And you know what? The first time I really connected and realized that kind of thing is when I had my fitness studio and I was running a six week challenge. And I remember specifically seeing women that society would dictate. are maybe not so sexy because they were larger girls, but how they carried themselves? Oh, yeah. Damn, like they were sexy as hell. And then you have women who were... Which, by the way, most women don't know what... Most men don't know what to do with that, by the way, which is why most men act the way they do. It's true. It's true. It's true. It's true. And then you have women that society were a certain size would deem as sexy and then walk around meek and mild. And it was that energy. it's that energy that when you radiate and that energy comes from inside when we allow the outside world to dictate how we should feel it's temporary and we're always chasing that when we have that confidence and that love and that i feel i am amazing inside you never lose it and nobody can take it away from you. And that's the difference. Right on. Some folks, you know, I hate to use the N word, narcissists seek out this energy. Oh, I know. And those are, those are the, those are your, your cryptites because you're such people pleases. You're just full of energy and love. And then you meet that one narcissist that goes, how many narcissists have you dodged and dodged and dodged and weaved until getting to where you are today? I am no longer taking on any projects. Let's just put it like that. enough sagas yeah it has been in all honesty i know it has been in my path my growth so i am not resentful because i know it's part of my life's journey same however i'm done i'm completely done and you know i um i'm good yeah no more projects you're speaking to a narcissist e a narcissist. I've been on both sides of the spectrum, so I just want peace. Yeah 100 Right now it head down just work focus on me my family my business That it And I really do believe that when you are in your element and you are rocking it that when the magic of the right person comes along. So I'm going to graduate you from an E to a P, element to power. When you're in your power, how do you feel? Unstoppable. Hell yeah. No question. How did you feel in front of these cameras today in your own podcast? Like, how does it feel being in this moment? I feel much more comfortable now. I was really nervous to begin with because I am a very deep thinker and I overthink everything. So I was overthinking all my answers and where I needed to be. And it was I was overwhelming myself. But the more I'm doing it with you, it's just a genuine conversation. And nobody knows me like me. That's beautiful. I remember a decade ago going podcasts are never going to take over. And they clearly have, you know, with the Joe Rogans of the world. But now folks are just looking for authenticity and authentic voices. They're done with the commercials. They're done with the doom scrolling and the 15 second ads. What we're trying to pursue here is essentially highlighting folks like yourself, real authentic stories and women in power. Speaking of which, what will we learn in your episode of Women in Power? What will you learn? a couple things that you learned that I lead my business with purpose over profit, because I do truly believe that when you are living in your purpose, and you are giving the profit just follows. You will also learn that I'm not just here to preach the story that I have lived the story. And I actually like to say that I've walked through hell, and back a few times, and I'm carrying that bucket of hope and that is for other women to empower them to let them know. I don't, I didn't just read it in books. I've actually lived it and it, it can be done. Wow. How can folks learn more about your journey and get in contact with you and work with you? I can be reached at Kathy with a K at the salty bikini.ca. The website is the salty bikini.ca Instagram, the underscore salty underscore bikini and the underscore bikini underscore boss. Those are the best ways to connect with me. And I'm here to help with any questions that you have. And I also am here if you are looking for somebody to do a presentation on woman empowerment. Right on. Very, very cool. With that, that concludes yet another warm Living Your Legacy podcast, the Women in Warm edition. With Inside Success, I'm Ray Gutierrez. Thanks again. Thank you so much.
