1. What inspired you to start Lagoa Swimwear?
I was inspired to start Lagoa Swimwear while I was living in Brazil. I spent two years abroad, traveling to all of the beautiful beaches and lagoas. I’ve always been nervous to leave my belongings unattended on the beach. On one occasion, I went into the ocean for a minute and upon my return, my money and ID were stolen. I looked everywhere for a bikini with a pocket and came up empty handed, so I decided to come up with a solution. I moved to Los Angeles and began designing swimwear for the effortlessly chic girl who wants to keep her belongings safe!
2. What is the significance of the name Lagoa? What does it mean?
Lagoa Swimwear gets its name from some of the most spectacular lagoas in Brazil. The name lagoa means lagoon. A few of my favorites are Barra da Lagoa, Lagoa da Conceicao, and Lagoa do Paraiso.
3. Why is Lagoa a must have swimsuit for women travelers?
Lagoa is a must have for your swimsuit drawer because the invizible zip pocket allows women keep their valuables safe. Women don’t need to worry about someone walking off with their keys, money, etc while they are relaxing at the beach. Lagoa suits are also reversible, so you get two looks in one. Each piece is made with love in California with double lined high quality four way stretch nylon-spandex to fit the body like a second skin. We use eco friendly packaging materials to support sustainability and donate 10% of sales to help protect and preserve our oceans and beaches! Shop the Lagoa collection at lagoaswimwear.com
4. Tell us more about the causes you support and why?
Our goal is to protect and preserve our oceans and beaches. WIthout healthy oceans, we can’t have a healthy Earth. I wanted to donate to a cause that I could also help be a part of. Surfrider Foundation has monthly beach cleanups that we participate in. It is so important to spread the word about keeping our beaches clean. If everyone does their part, we can help to preserve it.
5. What do you think people think of when they think of women travelers?
I think people think women travelers are adventurous, risk takers, and make the most of each day.
6. What type of traveler are you?
I love to travel like I am a local. To me, it is much more of an experience to learn about the city and culture by speaking to locals and getting to know them. One of my favorite memories is when I stayed with a host family in Barcelona while I was there taking Spanish classes. They told me about all of the best places to see and local restaurants to eat at.
7. What is the craziest thing you’ve done/experienced while traveling?
Hahaha. So many things have happened on my travels. I think the craziest thing that happened to me was when I was in Mexico with my mom. We were on a bus to the town of Tequila. On the way there, we started to smell smoke and shortly after I looked out the window and saw a wheel rolling down the street. The wheel was from our bus!!! Luckily the driver was able to pull over safely without anyone getting hurt. We waited hours on the side of a dirt highway in the middle of nowhere until the next bus arrived. It was a scary experience and one that I will never forget.
8. Where was your favorite trip? Why?
My favorite trip was to Foz do Iguacu. I was with my husband, mom, and mother in law. When I first saw the falls I was in awe of its beauty. Then I realized that was just a small fraction of the falls. They spread on for what seemed like miles. We went down into one area of the falls and we saw a perfect, permanent rainbow. It was honestly the most magical moment of my life and the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
9. Why is travel important?
Travel has shaped me into the person that I am today. I think it is so important to learn about other cultures and how other people live. Traveling forces you to live in the moment. I’ve become more grateful for each day because of the experiences that I have had.
10. When did you start traveling?
My first trip abroad was when I was in college. I took summer classes in London and was able to visit Paris and Prague while I was there. This experience definitely sparked my interest to continue traveling.
11. What is your favorite souvenir?
I don’t really have a favorite souvenir. My souvenirs are my memories. It fun to think back and reminisce about my travels.