I started gaining weight when I was 7. I have experienced bullying and judgement throughout my life. I also taught junior high for 15 years, and I know how difficult body image can be for younger girls. Confidence is something we all have, but somehow it gets lost along the way as we age. Experiences can tear our confidence from under our feet, and it can take years to gain it back through self talk and learning how to believe in ourselves again. 

Women can be incredibly harsh when it comes to their bodies and judging them (and each other, for that matter). However, we quickly forget how marvellous our bodies truly are.

I created Smoothies because I couldn't find a tank top that wasn't see-through and didn't ride up. It occurred to me that millions of women wear tank tops as a layer or for working out and casual wear. But they all rode up! The only solution was to design one myself. And I did.

Finding the perfect fit changes the way you feel about yourself. It's about lifting your spirits and feeling incredible. It’s about allowing yourself to feel confident about who and where you are in life. And at Smoothies, we believe it’s by wearing a soft and comfortable fabric that feels like a hug. Did you know that hugging someone for more than 5 seconds raises oxytocin and lowers cortisol? Seriously! That means you feel secure and comforted all day long!

Author, teacher, and entrepreneur, Kiki Rozema lived most of her life with the same fears and insecurities that affect most women, which took root in her psyche early on thanks to issues with weight gain. She wrote When Being Me Doesn't Feel Like Enough to help girls understand their power and voice, and to help undo the societal conditioning placed on women and girls. Another one of Kiki's publications, Kiss My ASSets offers guidance and tools for women to overcome their insecurities, anxieties and negative self-image. Filled with insights, tools, and simple strategies developed over a lifetime fraught with emotional challenges and loss.

Kiki lives in Grande Prairie, Alberta, with her husband Neil, their children Kristopher and Noah, and their dogs Mowgli and Milo.

At Smoothies, we believe that confidence starts from a young age. That’s why, every September, we run a 3-day Empowerment Camp for Girls aged 9-14. We know that girls are vulnerable to how society judges them, and they need tools and support to help guide them through their formative years.