Meet Lauren Yerkes
Lauren is an inspiring force, a breast cancer survivor, educator, and founder of a purpose-led, swimwear label redefining how women feel in their skin. With an extensive background in e-commerce, fashion and merchandising, and a fire in her belly to create meaningful change, she launched POST SWIM less than six months ago, and it’s already gaining powerful momentum.
Created by a woman, for women, POST SWIM designs swimwear with deep intention. From pieces that support women with caesarean & hysterectomy scars to those who've undergone mastectomies or lumpectomies, Lauren's mission is personal and heartfelt: to empower every woman to feel confident, no matter what scars she may carry.
We're honoured to stand beside Lauren, a woman who leads with integrity, heart and courage, transforming one of life's hardest chapters into a legacy of community, creativity and advocacy.
The Conversation
Q: Can you tell us a little about yourself, where you're based, what you do, and what a typical day looks like in your world right now?
A: I'm 41, born and raised in Southern California where I still live. I've been married to my husband, Chris for almost 13 years - he's honestly my best friend. We don't have kids, just our cat, but we spend loads of time with family.
I love being in the kitchen and baking. A typical day starts with some form of movement - walking, strength training, or yoga. Then I'm working on POST SWIM, which could be anything from social media to email marketing to developing new products. Evenings are for catching up on shows with my husband or date nights. Sundays are always family time.
Q: Lets rewind, what were you doing before launching your brand, and how do you feel that experience has helped shape POST SWIM's vision?
A: Prior to POST SWIM, I was the Chief Merchandising Officer for REVOLVE for 16 years. I started as an Intern and worked my way up. I feel like I was given so many amazing opportunities and wore so many hats there that it gave me a lot of experiences and lessons to help me eventually build this brand.
The company is so entrepreneurial, and I feel like it just became ingrained in me to keep that same spirit up in creating POST SWIM. I try to do as much of it myself as I can, with the help of my husband (and my mum!), and we recruit out when there is something too technical we just don't know. I think a lot of what it takes to build a business and a brand is about learning how best to analyse situations, information and how to think strategically.
Q: What was the biggest internal shift for you, going from fashion executive to purpose-led founder?
A: The biggest shift has been learning things I didn't do while at REVOLVE. For example, operations wasn't my area – I was on the product side and got to pick out cute clothes or talk to the consumer about the things she needed to buy. I knew generally what would happen, but to execute it was different. So, my husband and I have taken that task on together, mostly led by him, to ensure we can get our products to our customers, as seamlessly as possible.
Q: Can you take us back to the moment POST SWIM was born? What was the catalyst?
A: It was about a year after I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form that is relatively 'rare' as far as breast cancer types at the age of 38. I had undergone 14 of 16 rounds of chemotherapy, 5 of 12 months of immunotherapy (everything was cut short due to ulcers I had developed in my GI tract, forcing me to get a feeding tube), a double mastectomy with reconstructive surgery and was close to a preventative hysterectomy. I was frustrated and didn't feel like me anymore anytime I looked in the mirror. I had complained to my husband that none of the swimsuits I had prior to surgery fit or covered the things I wasn't quite ready for everyone to see. He looked at me and told me to do something about it and encouraged me to start POST SWIM – a swimwear brand made for scar coverage because I believe in the power of owning your story and sharing it on your time.
Q: How did your breast cancer journey reshape your relationship with your body, identity, or style?
A: Honestly, at first, I was mad at my body, I felt like it gave up on me. I was treating it well – working out regularly, eating right, getting enough sleep and generally thought I was doing all the right things. And then as treatments went on and I started to recover, I realised I couldn't be mad at it, I had to be grateful because it got me through the hardest days I had ever been through – physically, emotionally and mentally. I realised that the fashion industry is one tough critique and felt like it no longer understood me as I started to recover, it didn't understand how my world had flipped upside down right in front of me, how my body had changed from all these surgeries and the limitations that come along with reconstructive surgery or lymph node removal and recovery. Cancer changed everything about me, and although I wish it had never happened, I am grateful for what it taught me about myself, about time, about relationships and mostly about living for the now.
Q: POST SWIM speaks directly to women carrying physical and emotional scars. How do you approach designing for healing, confidence, and beauty?
A: Yes, we focus on physical and emotional scars, which is so deeply personal to everyone. Some women are not bothered by their scars and happily show them, other women want to conceal them. I am a firm believer in showing my scars verbally and I mean this by the fact that I will advocate for early screening and genetic testing (I learned I carry the BRCA2 genetic mutation which increased my risk of developing breast cancer to over 80% and my risk of ovarian cancer to over 30%) and I will share my story in hopes that it helps another woman.
But for me, my scars are personal, when I look at them some days I see pride, some days I feel sadness or anger and other days I don't even notice them. POST SWIM is about giving women the option to conceal them on the days they need it most because cancer is not over once you are declared 'cancer free.' I also believe that POST SWIM is a place for women to feel understood. You want to know that someone thought about you when putting on clothing, and that's what I'm building with the brand: a community of women who have gone through something in their life that has left them with scars that maybe they just didn't want in the first place.
Q: How do you balance the need for sensitivity, functionality, and aesthetic when designing for women post-surgery?
A: I've learned in this industry that there is a space for everyone, and while my space might not be for everyone, I'm going to try my best. Each suit we have in our current collection and in future collections serves a specific purpose. I have one suit that covers the implant rippling I get after my reconstructive surgery really well. Then I have another suit that covers my port-a-cath scar beautifully. And another suit that is great for women who are flat and did not have reconstruction.
I feel like my job as a CEO is to make sure that women know I am 1) thinking of them, but 2) that I hear them. I can't tell you how many women message me saying that they are so happy to have found the brand because we are making suits that are sexy, functional and still stylish – other brands that exist for this customer don't have that mindset and with breast cancer diagnoses getting younger and younger, I believe POST SWIM fills a gap in the market.
Q: You've turned personal pain into collective empowerment. What's been the most powerful response from your community so far?
A: Honestly, just the understanding of my mission. Of course, there are some people who don't get it, and that's okay. But, I'm giving women the feeling of 'normalcy' back, and that is what you want after a diagnosis. Women tell me all the time, I put on one of your suits and I felt normal again or I cried because I finally found a suit that understands me. Like I said before, when you are surrounded by fellow cancer survivors and thrivers, you feel understood, and that's all I wanted after my diagnosis, so I'm honoured I get to do this for other women.
Q: Has your definition of beauty or femininity evolved over time?
A: Absolutely! On the days when I had no hair and was lying in bed feeling so sick from treatments, my husband would still tell me I was beautiful. I didn't believe him because I didn't see that in myself, but I've learned that beauty is beyond the looks, it's how you feel, it's how you show up for yourself, it's how you show up for those you love and for me, it's how I go about my days – the things I experience or when I'm on my walks and I see flowers and butterflies that make me smile, those are the real things that I define as beauty. I stopped trying to fit into a mould during my recovery and started to really see me for me, and how I show up in this world.
Q: What's next for POST SWIM, and what legacy do you hope it leaves behind?
A: My hope is that we can continue to get in front of more women. To partner with non-profit organisations that are helping women under 40 get diagnosed with breast cancer and to help them build their confidence again.
I hope that we can expand our product range and open up more stores and e-commerce partners. Work on collaborations with women who are making a difference in the cancer community. And ultimately, my hope is that POST SWIM's legacy is a brand that becomes a pillar of hope, a pillar of comfort and a pillar of strength for any woman who is faced with this awful disease.
Q: At Sontse, we're all about rituals that build confidence and encourage self-care. What does self-care look like to you?
A: I love this. Prior to my diagnosis, I did the things I thought you were supposed to do, and I learned all those things I did still gave me cancer. So, since my diagnosis, I've worked more so on the mental and emotional side of healing.
Reframing my mind, not overextending myself and putting me first. I work hard, and it's still practice, to find time in my days to meditate, work on breathing exercises, set my phone down and write in my journal, eat nourishing foods and move my body. It's about listening to what I actually need, rather than what I think I should be doing.
Q: If you could leave everyone with one mantra or piece of advice, what would it be?
A: Advocate for yourself if you feel something is wrong with your body. No one knows you better than you.
Q: As we look toward the rest of the year, can you share what's next for POST SWIM?
A: We are working on our next collection, entitled 'Resilience', which will launch in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
We are launching some new bodies, prints and colours and I am so excited because some of the bodies have been requests from women who follow the brand and have scars they are hoping to conceal.
Thoughts from Sontse
Lauren's story reminds us that choice in beauty and fashion is essential for true, felt confidence.
This resonates deeply with our own mission at Sontse. Whether it's choosing sunless tanning over UV damage or swimwear that understands your scars, sometimes the healthier choice comes with outdated judgments attached. But maybe that's exactly why these conversations matter.
When we prioritise our wellbeing over what others expect, we give permission for others to do the same.
After cancer, Lauren stopped following the rules that didn't serve her and started listening to her body, mind and heart. That kind of wisdom only comes from walking through fire and choosing to use what you've learned to light the way for others.
If Lauren's story stirred something in you, check out her work at POST SWIM and follow her advocacy for early cancer screening and genetic testing. Sometimes the best way to heal is by witnessing someone else's journey and recognising pieces of your own.
Want to share your story or nominate someone for Golden Hour Chats? Get in touch with us today. Or, looking for more inspiration? Read our past Golden Hour Chats with other leaders in fashion and beauty.
How you choose to glow spreads far beyond yourself - it creates ripples of courage and hope that reach women you may never meet.
Written By Liana Pantalone — Beauty & Skincare Copywriter at Climbing Vine Co.
Leave a comment