Jessie James Decker on the importance of 'representing all kinds of women' during swimwear show
Jessie James Decker is a woman of many talents. But when it comes to her clothing line Kittenish, she often relies on her daughter for inspiration.
"Vivi influences me every single day in every way. I probably trust my 8-year-old’s opinion more than anybody in this world," Decker told Yahoo Life at Paraiso Miami Beach Swim Week. "And so, when it comes to fashion, I ask her, 'What do you think about this?' 'What should we do next?'"
While gearing up to present her line's most recent swimwear collection in South Beach, Decker also noted the impact that having children has had on her mission of highlighting inclusivity in fashion. As the 34-year-old joined a host of swimwear models on the Kittenish runway, her daughter watched from the front row.
"I think what I teach Vivi is everyone is beautiful in their own way, in their own special unique way," she explained. "When you're a little girl when you sit at home and you look at a TV and now obviously when you're looking in a magazine or you're looking on Instagram, you want to see you. And I love that we are representing all kinds of women here, that way that little girl at home can pull someone out and say, 'Mommy, I look like that girl.' That’s what we're trying to do here."
The message is particularly important to Decker, who has faced her fair share of body shaming while living in the public eye. She even opened up about experiencing body image issues herself in a lengthy Instagram post in June.
Still, it hasn't stopped her from showing up and celebrating her body. Walking in Swim Week was something that she's long been wanting to do.
"It's just such a special thing to be a part of, all the best brands get to do it, so I feel like we worked really hard to get here and it just feels good to be here," she said. "I just feel like Kittenish is an extension of me as an artist and as an entertainer. I love fashion, I love wearing cute things and I love feeling confident."
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