Latest news with #Megababe
Forbes
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Megababe Founder Katie Sturino On Women's' Body Acceptance
Katie Sturino, creator of Kitty & Vibe's Sunny Side Up swimsuit collection, on Beach in the Sunny ... More Print. Hollywood has long sold a narrow definition of beauty, where being thin equals being wanted. And, sometimes, perfection comes with a surgeon's touch. Women are expected to chase an illusion. However, more women are now rejecting the outdated status quo; they are embracing who they are, whether tall or short, curvy or lean, barefaced or bold. Authenticity is replacing conformity. The National Organization for Women reported that by age 60, 28.7% of women feel dissatisfied and 32.6% feel self-conscious about their bodies—additionally, 43.7% of women over 60 report considering cosmetic surgery. The new age body positivity movement challenges the notion that only certain bodies are worthy of love and success. It encourages people of all shapes, sizes and abilities to accept themselves without shame or apology. What began as a grassroots movement for inclusion has evolved into a cultural shift that's reshaping the fashion and media industries. 'It's a really interesting thing,' Katie Sturino, founder of Megababe, shares about women accepting their bodies, 'because once you realize that you may be the one holding the key to the mental freedom you want to feel around your body, the mindset shift of acceptance happens.' In 2017, Sturino launched the digital platform Megababe to solve a problem. What began as a way to help curvy women feel comfortable in their own skin has evolved. It's a rallying cry for all women to reclaim their bodies and their confidence on their own terms. In a culture that still profits from shame, Sturino has become a sharp, savvy counterforce. Her debut novel, Sunny Side Up, has helped shift the narrative around women's bodies. And now, she's brought that message to the beach. Body Acceptance Isn't a Size. It's a Shift. Body acceptance isn't about loving every inch of yourself every day. It's about no longer letting your body image dictate your life. 'It just means that you're not ruled by your body image,' she says. 'Your life is focused on your passions, your relationships, what you're putting out into the world, not what size you are in jeans.' This mental freedom is revolutionary. For many women, something as simple as buying a bikini becomes an act of defiance. 'We've heard from so many women who bought bikinis for the first time because they realized they could,' she says. 'They realized no one's going to say anything about their body, and they just want to have fun.' Cameron Armstrong, founder of Kitty & Vibe, and Katie Sturino, author of "Sunny Side Up." A Collaboration That Lets You 'Wear the Story' Sturino's latest collaboration with Kitty & Vibe, a body-positive swimwear brand, is an extension of her recent novel, which features a main character who goes through heartbreak, healing and—most importantly—learns to accept herself without shrinking. Together with Kitty & Vibe's founder Cameron Armstrong, Sturino co-designed a line of swimsuits, Sunny Side Up, inspired by the book. The collaboration marked the first time a fictional narrative has been translated into a fashion line. 'You can actually wear the story,' says Armstrong. For both creatives, the process was built on trust, creative freedom and shared values around authenticity and representation. The First Step? Notice Your Inner Voice When asked for advice on body image struggles, Sturino emphasizes the importance of awareness. 'Just noticing what you say to yourself is powerful,' she says. 'You might not even realize that you start your morning by looking in the mirror and saying something negative.' That awareness, she explains, is the first step toward rewiring the internal narrative. It's a small shift, but one that creates big waves. When Women Accept Themselves, They Lead Differently Body acceptance has a ripple effect, especially in the workplace. 'Finding peace with yourself allows you to bring a different energy to your job, your team,' she says. 'It makes you a better leader.' And maybe that's the real takeaway: body confidence isn't just about bikinis. It's about showing up, standing tall and rewriting the rules without waiting for permission. 'I just keep going back to our message, which has not changed,' Armstrong concludes. 'It is rooted in this kindness. It's rooted in helping people feel comfortable and confident in a swimsuit.'
Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
How creators can launch businesses and reclaim their audiences
In the heyday of the creator economy, stars are made in living rooms. Ordinary people prove capable of extraordinary things, turning content into cash and ideas into empires. But while creator power is growing, the control they have over their own brands on social media is not. Payment structures for sponsored brand content have shifted, as have algorithms and platform rules. A significant majority of creators view their monthly incomes on social platforms as unpredictable, while 78% say appeasing algorithms impacts what they create, according to a 2024 Patreon survey. As many of them wade into entrepreneurship and launch businesses of their own, this restrictive social media environment can hinder their growth. According to Shopify research, almost a quarter of businesses that added the platform as a sales channel did so to gain full control over their online presence. Ownership matters, especially for creators who build their audiences around their deeply personal identities. Learn how two creators, Katie Sturino and Rajiv Surendra, pursued entrepreneurship to diversify their projects and income streams-and keep doing what they love, on their own terms. When "too real" is just right Katie Sturino started in the same way as many of today's top creators: posting authentic content that attracted a niche audience. But she was before her time. "I was warned by people that I was too raw, too real," she says. A decade ago, filtered images of perfectly poached eggs and sleek manicured hands reigned on Instagram. Sturino was here for real talk. "I started my platform because I just wanted to help bigger girls find clothes," she says. "Then I realized women of all sizes were feeling bad about their bodies." Her content appealed to a wider audience than expected, and expanded to cover other body issues. The internet was ready for it. In the years since Sturino launched her personal brand, creator aesthetic has taken on a more authentic quality. "I'm very comfortable with the new landscape because it's all about being real. That's easy for me," she says. For Sturino, starting a business was about filling a gap she identified by listening to her audience. "I wanted to challenge the beauty industry to put out products that help with actual problems, not made up problems," she says. Problems like chafing, sweating, and even hemorrhoids. Megababe launched in 2017, founded by Katie, her sister Jenny, and friend Kate McPherson. At the time, Sturino had around 55,000 loyal followers on Instagram. "It's not a lot of followers to launch a gigantic beauty brand," she says. But it presented another way to deliver value to her fans and deepen the relationship. Go-live day was tense, with Sturino's parents' garage filled with product that wasn't flying out the door. Then, after landing a spot on The Today Show, the flood of sales happened. Megababe has since grown into a force in the beauty industry, expanding product lines and leaning into major retail partnerships. And Sturino's personal brand has grown alongside it. She's become a leading advocate for size inclusivity and published her first book, "Body Talk," a guide to self-acceptance. Still, her social content isn't reaching everyone. "For the past two years, I've been on and off shadow banned," she says. She's seeing it in her own data. "Plus size bodies often get flagged as inappropriate." Some 60% of creators say Instagram does not always show fans their best work, according to the same Patreon survey. "It's a real balance trying to figure out how to feed it correctly while also putting out content that you want your audience to see," Sturino says. "Platforms change, algorithms change," she says. Diversifying her projects and platforms-she's now on Substack and is publishing a second book-means she has more control over her message. And through Megababe's website, Sturino isn't at the mercy of the algorithm. She calls the shots on how and when her brand shows up. Her success with entrepreneurship hasn't changed Sturino's approach to authenticity. "I think people are shocked at how hands-on I am," she says. "It probably feels like someone else is answering my DMs. I'm still here talking to people about their armpits." A little dark, in a good way Unlike Sturino, scaling an empire isn't in Rajiv Surendra's plans. While the world may know him best for playing the charismatic and shameless Kevin Gnapoor in "Mean Girls", Surendra lives a decidedly quieter life these days. In 2021, HGTV toured Surendra's NYC apartment. The resulting video has garnered over 4 million YouTube views. Prompted by the enthusiasm for his lifestyle, he started his own YouTube channel, broadcast from that very apartment. That channel became a window into Surendra's world, a place where he shared his passions for art, vintage, and creating by hand. It's a blueprint for slow living, a throwback to simplicity. Fans follow along as he collects silver antiques, canes a chair, and makes candles and soaps from scratch. It's the latter that opened up a new opportunity for Surendra: His fans wanted to buy his products. "I didn't even know how to make that work. I only make like twelve bars of soap a year," he says. Eventually, he relented, though, and launched his own online shop. "I finally decided to say, 'OK, but you can only buy what I have.'" Alongside soaps, Surendra sells his watercolor studies and clay pots, also made by hand. "It was a big question mark for me whether people would be willing to pay $50 for a bar of handmade soap, but they were," he says, "and the soap actually is the fastest-selling thing on my website." While his approach means the store is often out of stock (awaiting the next drop of slow-crafted goods), the move unlocked a few things for Surendra as an artist. First, the store became a natural extension of his personal brand and YouTube channel, unbound by platform parameters. He worked with a close friend to design it after the feeling and aesthetic of his own apartment-the space that started it all. "The website feels kind of quiet, it feels a little dark in a good way," he says. "It really feels like me." Having full ownership over his brand like this is a stark contrast from his days in the entertainment business. "You would not believe how restrictive these contracts are. They want to own the rights to everything and have a say in everything," he says. "When I'm creating stuff in my apartment, no one's telling me what to do and how to do it." This new shop, launched in late 2024, isn't Surendra's first foray into entrepreneurship. He ran a calligraphy business for 10 years, producing signage and other projects for clients. It was here that he set boundaries for himself, once even turning down a massive client while he was struggling to pay rent. "A lot of people would say it was a stupid decision," he says. "But I knew that the goal was longevity and the only way to get there was by keeping the passion, by being excited about it." And he's able to do just that with his new venture, controlling what-and how much-he makes and sells. Selling products on his own site means he's closer than ever to his fans, too. "Now that I'm engaging in transactions with viewers, there's an added element of obligation," he says. "There's this new facet to the relationship that feels more personal." Forging these relationships is critical in a reality where more than half of creators say it's harder to reach their followers today than it was five years ago, according to Patreon data. These days, Surendra is thinking a lot about compromise. While in the past he's rejected the idea of mass producing something so personal, he's now entertaining ways to scale. "Maybe there are people or companies that can make the soap exactly as I make it," he says. "I am starting to think about ways of making it work, but still keeping the passion alive." This story was produced by Shopify and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. © Stacker Media, LLC.
Buzz Feed
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
25 Target Items For Body Things You'd Rather Keep Quiet
A stick of Megababe's Thigh Rescue I can *personally* testify works anti-chafing miracles after wearing it many a task in Texas heat. I've tried a few other brands, but always end up back at Megababe because it lasts the longest and isn't grossly greasy. A Kerasel fungal nail renewal treatment because while we love Shrek, we don't exactly want his nail routine. This magic stuff helps reduce discoloration and thickness, as well as hydrate and exfoliate brittle nails to get them back on track to being ✨shiny✨ and strong. Promising review: "I noticed my big toe had nail fungus, so I tried this treatment. I've been applying it twice daily and after just 18 days, my nail looks much better. I thought it would take longer, but it's already improving." —IvyPrice: $23.99 (originally $26.49) A Bug Bite Thing insect bite suction tool to relieve itchy bites and stings from insects out for their summer ouchie hoorahs. No need to broadcast that you forgot to reapply bug spray to the world: Those meddling insects can ~suck it~. (Or at least your new tool can!) Promising review: "It ONLY works if you use it right away, but it DOES work. People who say it doesn't work are likely waiting too long. You have to keep it with you and use it as soon as you feel the bite. That's the trick to it. Great product." —FeralHousewifePrice: $9.99 A K-beauty snail mucin essence I've not gone without since 2020 because this is a GOOD bandwagon to be on, trust me. This was a big part of the popular glass skin movement on TikTok, but all I care is that it helps tame my adult acne flare-ups and fits seamlessly into my morning (and evening!) skincare routines. Promising review: "This is very hydrating. My bedtime moisturizer wouldn't leave me feeling very hydrated, but after adding this into my bedtime routine my skin feels nice and moisturized for the night!" —Emily Price: $8.50+ (available in two sizes) A Colgate teeth-whitening pen to start getting your smile summer travel pic ready by removing discoloration and stains with a swipe of a pen. Brush and floss before applying, but then get ready to unleash your million-watt smile! Promising review: "Could tell a difference after the first day, have to apply three times the first day and twice on subsequent days. Tip makes it possible to get in between teeth where it is hard to get other whiteners." —MsMacPrice: $26.49 A pack of Mighty Patch pimple spot treatments that finally broke me of my pimple-popping habit because these work so much better and leave your face less red. Just put them on for six hours or so (I use mine at night) and watch as they work their gunk-removal magic! Promising review: "Hero is the only brand of pimple patches that actually work for me. These pimple patches are part of my necessity items in my bathroom drawer and I carry a few with me when I travel. One patch will help dry a pimple up and these patches work fast. No more popping, picking or scarring!" —VolMom2025Price: $8.99+ (available in two pack sizes) A Dr. Scholl's callus-removing gel and foot file for smoother feet if you're tired of your cracked skin snagging on your socks every day. This professional salon formula breaks down the callus in under five minutes and makes it easy to file away your cracked feet worries lickity-split. Price: $9.99 Some Pond's dark-spot correcting cream with vitamin B3 to help decrease the appearance of dark spots and moisturize your face. It's hypoallergenic, too, so there's a low chance of a weird skin irritation popping up when you give it a go! Promising review: "Gave this moisturizer a try for a few months and very impressed. My skin tone has evened out and dark spots are not getting darker with many hours in the sun every day." —MamagremlinPrice: $8.99 An Aveeno foot mask if your feet are dry, dry, dry from all that sandal wearing. Get them back into tip-top shape by giving them their own personal spa day while you relax on the couch and catch up on your fave shows. Pro tip from someone who loves these: Keep them on a full 30 minutes. There is SO much product in these little booties, give your feet a chance to fully soak them up and then wring out the extra when you're done and give yourself a foot massage. My feet are SO soft after using these and I always have some on hand in my cabinet. Promising review: "Adding to my weekly routine. I've done foot peels and they help but not before a week of sloughing. This is a 10 minute deep conditioning that left my feet super soft and moisturized. Next time I'll use after a proper soak and scrub and expect to have silky soft feet. Well worth the money if you do pedis at home." —DailyJuicerPrice: $3.69 And Aveeno hand masks so your paws can also get in on the pampering action. Nobody wants to fess up to crummy cuticles and flaky fingers, but this will help rehab your hands so you don't even have to mention them before ~they're gone~. (The flakes and crumbs, obviously. Not your hands.) Promising review: "First off super easy to use, not messy at all. I was skeptical, my hands get so dry that they crack and bleed. I put these on and instantly felt relief. I hardly recognized my hands when I took them off! Smooth and pain free! Life changing! I'm stocking up on these bad boys!!!" —MommaBirdPrice: $3.69 A Debrox earwax removal kit if you constantly have earplugs or in-ear headphones clogging up your ear's natural cleaning system. 🙋🏻♀️ Since we're apparently *not* supposed to use cotton swabs in our ear canals, these drops are the answer to helping flush out all that ick. And what a treat this stuff is! I use it about once every three to six months just because I SWEAR my ears feel cleaner afterwards. (And the drops actually foam in your ears which is fun!)Promising review: "This saved me a trip to urgent care. It worked great! My ear was plugged for about a week and nothing was working. It worked the first time using it. I highly recommend!" —KimPrice: $9.99 A pair of Proof overnight period underwear for those nights when you've got a heavy flow but don't wanna bother with tampons or pads. Just slip these on and rest comfortably knowing that your beautiful sheets are safe! Promising reviews: "Where have these been all my womanly years?!? Sleeping in dreadful pads no longer! Tested them on a heavy night and NO leakage. I am so happy to have this comfortable option." —Realtor Mo"Excellent quality. It's really absorbent, doesn't look bulky." —BelloPrice: $24.99 (available in sizes S–XL) A set of acupressure anti-nausea wristbands if motion sickness has plagued you down the years, and enough is finally enough. These work by applying pressure to your wrist, which might just help with car sickness and nausea. Life is stressful enough without wanting to gag at the thought of getting in a plane, train, or automobile, so do yourself a favor and throw these in your cart so you can then throw them in your bag! Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer reviews: "Traveled during 7–8 weeks of pregnancy, and these saved my life more than a couple of times. Highly recommend." —Sbrown9412"These are LIFE-CHANGING for me!!!! I get SO carsick all the time even just staring forward. Driving through the mountains and windy roads while having to work on my laptop, and somehow I'm not carsick while wearing these. Buy them!!!!!! So much better than taking meds." —YummmPrice: $11.19 for a 2-pack A can of antifungal foot spray to help treat and prevent most cases of athlete's foot or jock itch. Use it daily to make sure redness and itchiness stay as far away from you and your cute shoes as possible. Promising review: "This is the best antifungal foot spray I have EVER used. It sprays very easily and doesn't dry out your skin, and it really does the job of keeping my feet clean and dry and itch free. It also prevents my heels from cracking, and my toe nails look super healthy. I look at them now and I swear they look like a child's. …Really beautiful! I've tried several other brands and nothing works as well or feels as nice as this spray. Try this and you'll never use another one, I promise; It's THAT good!" —Diane $6.39 A bottle of Bio-Oil — a friend practically threw one at me when I complained of my nose being scaly. I have since used this on very old scars and can confirm this is a miracle elixir that should cost much more than 10 buckeroos. Sometimes I put a couple of drops in my daily moisturizer ~just for fun~ because it also smells amazing. Promising review: "I've been using this for about a month now and can tell a big difference in a scar I have. Also, just love the moisture it provides my skin. I use it on my whole face, not just the scar area and I think it has brightened my skin." —BoysbaseballandbohoPrice: $6.49+ (available in three sizes) Or an Aquaphor Healing Ointment! I got on the Aquaphor train after having a baby (because this stuff is GREAT for preventing diaper rash), but now it's never leaving my home because I use it on my lips, on my dry elbows, and anywhere else that needs some TLC. My kid calls it "the special lotion" and it really is. Promising review: "Amazing during the drier months. We use on hands, lips, elbows, cheeks, everywhere. It is very oily and thick so it is better to use at night if you don't like the consistency. It works wonderful! I will sometimes out lotion on my kid's hands and wrists then use this on top before bed and it works great to help with very dry skin." —CeebeePrice: $6.29 A pair of Tweezerman slant tweezers so you can kiss stray eyebrow hairs, chin hairs, and everywhere-in-between hairs a not-so-fond farewell. If you can't beat 'em, pluck 'em! That's my motto. Promising reviews: "I will never buy another brand of tweezers. Love Tweezerman. Precise, sharp, excellent quality." —R"I recently bought this tweezer to replace my old tweezer man that I had had for over five years. These are just as good as my old ones. I won't use any other brand! They do the job!" —maggie92Price: $22.05+ (available in three colors) A Dove 72-hour deodorant that helped me get rid of that weird armpit discoloration for good and keeps me from sweating and smelling in Texas summers. (I can't stress how high of praise this is for anything that has to go up against 100+ degree heat on the regular.) It's formulated with "Pro-Ceramide Technology," which works to help replenish and strengthen your skin's natural barrier by potentially boosting ceramide levels (which naturally reduce when you shave) to keep shaving and heat-caused redness away!Promising review: "Hands down my favorite deodorant! Last all day, no residue, and smells so nice. Worth the price." —Target CustomerPrice: $6.99 A pack of breath-freshening TheraBreath gum: You already know and love their mouthwashes. Now you can follow up throughout the day with bursts of sugar-free, icy mint so after-lunch breath doesn't even cross your mind as a concern. (Enjoy those extra onions if you want! TheraBreath has got you covered.) Price: $6.99 for a 24-count Some Happy Hair People leave-in conditioner if your hair is damaged from color, sun, or just ~existing~ in 2025. (🙋🏻♀️) My hair was dry and hay-like on the ends, but no more with this miracle leave-in treatment! Just leave it on your tresses for about 10 minutes after showering, and voila! Also: It really *does* smell amazinggggg. It's like a lil' (happy) treat for taking good care of your hair! Promising reviews: "This product smells amazing and has made my dry, course hair feel considerably softer without feeling sticky or greasy. I really like it!" —chicagomom123"Smells like a dream. Reminds me of a lush scent. It is water based so it doesn't leave me hair oily, does a very good job at hydrating the hair throughout the day. I even apply it on second day hair and it doesn't buildup or make it oily." —SPrice: $7.99 Some of the internet-famous Mielle's Rosemary Mint strengthening oil that's famous for a reason: It's affordable. It smells amazing. Oh, and it WORKS. My greatest shopping writer regret is not taking "before" pics of using this stuff because it helped my postpartum thinning spot better than anything else I've tried. (And without the strong chemical smells of some of the other stuff, thank you very much.) Some researchers have found rosemary oil to be as effective at encouraging hair growth as Rogaine! And read more about how biotin could help with the fullness of hair at Cleveland Clinic. Promising review: "This works great! I use it on my hair the night before I am planning on doing a wash. It always leaves my hair feeling great the next day!" —CpowellPrice: $10.49 A rechargeable Philips Sonicare toothbrush your dentist is probably always telling you to buy, and you should. Lazy perfection for oral hygiene is my most favorite kind of lazy perfection because when I brush my teeth, I want them to be set up for success with all the summer sugary treats I'll be eating this season. Snackities before cavities. Promising reviews: "This toothbrush is fantastic. It really leaves your teeth feeling much cleaner. The different intensities and different cleaning modes really allow you to experience a deep clean every time and is much better than other brushes I've tried before." —Gwills"Sonicare makes the best. It's amazing how clean my teeth feel." —Target CustomerPrice: $129.99 (available in two colors) A three-pack of dermaplaning razors so you can shape your brows, remove unwanted facial hair, or exfoliate your face on the cheap. (I'd make a hair pun here, but perhaps I should just cut it out... and put these in my cart already.) Promising reviews: "The blade is sharp, and I love that each one comes with a safety cover. Great for at home dermaplaning." —PTC"These work way better than any other dermaplaning tool I've used. I haven't got cut from them yet (hopefully I don't jinx myself!) Other brands would always cut my face no matter what technique I used or how gentle I was." —RagamuffinPrice: $6.29 A Hyland's topical salve with so many applications, you'd be a silly goose not to have this on hand. Ingrown hairs, splinters, bug bites, and boils... This salve is basically a magic potion ready to aid you at every turn. Promising reviews: "If you get stubborn under the skin pimples, try this! It works so well when applied consistently." —30 something mama"I put this on overnight for any stubborn under skin pimple. The stuff is a must have." —Mel MPrice: $6.99 A warm vanilla-scented Eva NYC dry shampoo because we as a society should not be punished with strong artificial smells and sticky roots for getting rid of our greasy hair. Enhanced with vitamin C and fatty acids, this will actually nourish your hair and make it smell amazing! Promising review: "Tried this for the first time today and I absolutely love it! Works great and smells amazing!" —AnnabellePrice: $15.69
Newsweek
17-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Katie Sturino Is Ending Women's Body Shame, One Chafe Stick at a Time
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Summer: the time for pool parties, barbecues, beach trips and, of course, lots of sweat. It's something many women experience but rarely discuss. But after years of being unsatisfied with the lack of solutions to the discomfort of existing in the heat, Katie Sturino decided to take matters into her own hands. "My thighs rub together, my boobs sweat and my B.O. is the worst." That candid statement is the top line on Megababe's "About Me" page, setting the tone for the company and its founder. Women's Global Impact: Katie Sturino Women's Global Impact: Katie Sturino Newsweek Illustration/Canva Sturino used her background in beauty, fashion and public relations to start Megababe in 2017, offering a solution to women's sweaty troubles: a roll-on stick to prevent thigh chafing called Thigh Rescue. "The more I dug around in the chafe space," she told Newsweek, "all I could find were products for men or for athletes, people who are doing long cycling trips, nothing was for women who were wearing skirts in the summer [and] didn't want their thighs to chafe." After tiring of waiting for a bigger beauty brand to launch something to fit her needs, she decided to do it herself. The product line has since expanded to cover more personal care concerns, like boob sweat, razor bumps and body odor. But Sturino wants the brand to do more than just keep women smelling and looking their best; she wants to help them feel their best, inside and out. "[Through] multiple career shifts, the main thing that I have really enjoyed doing is supporting women, supporting women business owners and that has evolved into helping women feel good about themselves, which is something that I think we need more of," Sturino said. As an entrepreneur, author and body acceptance advocate, Sturino said her mission is to start an honest conversation about the physical struggles many women face but don't talk about. "I like to help women feel comfortable and confident and get rid of the taboo and the stigma that they might feel with normal, everyday body issues that so many people experience, what we've been made to feel ashamed about," she said. Sturino and her sister started shipping products out of their parents' garage, starting with the chafe sticks and the boob sweat spray. The initial 10,000 units sold out in the first month after Megababe launched, solidifying for Sturino that "we had something." Still, Sturino faced doubt from other business professionals about how profitable the product would be in the early days. She said critics weren't sure there was a market for the products because women would be "too embarrassed." "I had one manufacturer say, 'If you don't put anti-cellulite properties in the stick, women won't buy it.' So it was the kind of mindset that we were dealing with," she said. Sturino said it was difficult to convince a boardroom of men that her products were desirable because they directly solve major problems most women face every day. But it was her conversations with women that provided the anecdotal proof that inspired her to keep moving forward. "What really touched me is that I got to hear from so many different women who felt seen and who felt like less ashamed or less embarrassed about this normal stuff that was happening to their bodies," she said. "We pushed through, despite the funny looks and the weird comments we got." Now, her products are being sold in major retailers across the country, like Target, Walmart, CVS and Ulta. And Sturino said there has been a shift in business leaders starting to take her and her company more seriously. It's chafe season. Have you gotten your Thigh Rescue yet?. Megababe has grown at least 33 percent since its founding in 2017. Thigh Rescue continues to be the brand's top-selling product, with over 1 million sticks sold, according to the company. As of August 2024, the company's revenue increased 50 percent year-over-year. Inclusivity is the throughline for Sturino's personal and professional life. In a time when thinness and a "thigh gap" – where a woman's legs are so thin that her thighs don't touch – promotion is being targeted to women online, Sturino said her goal is "shame busting" and reminding women of all shapes and sizes that they deserve to be comfortable and not "suffer through" sweat, chafing and other body struggles. While social media feeds are flooded with plastic surgery, beauty filters and heavy editing to achieve one type of look, Sturino wants to normalize seeing different body sizes that are not ashamed of addressing these more taboo issues. "The norm on social is still to pose perfect, use filters [and] edit your photos," she said. "So not doing that, showing up with your body the way it is, no makeup [is] still pretty revolutionary." Even before launching Megababe, Sturino has been an advocate for plus-sized women. She started a plus-sized fashion blog called The 12ish Style and pushes for size inclusivity among fashion brands using the hashtag #MakeMySize on her Instagram, she posts side-by-side photos recreating celebrity looks to show how fashion works in any size. With #SuperSizeTheLook, Sturino wants to "help retrain your brain to see a picture of two women standing next to each other and not declare who wore it better, but that you can wear these looks at any size!" she wrote in an Instagram post. The company has a new TV ad that shows Sturino applying Thigh Rescue stick in public. The ad, which was also posted on the company's social media, has many comments from men and women expressing their "disgust" at seeing women apply the stick to their inner thighs in public places, calling the ad "nasty," "disturbing" and "unladylike." Sturino said the ad was kept from running on the Hallmark Channel for being "indecent" – thus proving the brand's entire thesis. Sturino responded in an Instagram post, saying she didn't expect controversy over thigh chafing eight years into her running her business, adding that these comments calling for the ad to be taken down prove that "we've got a major fatphobic problem still." "It is really helpful to have people see because it normalizes different size bodies be putting Thigh Rescue on when you're out and about and see the act of even needing something like Thigh Rescue or it's normal to have that kind of product," she told Newsweek. "So we come at inclusivity from a lot of different angles." Internally, Sturino is also keen on bringing diverse voices together in the business to create a collaborative environment where everyone's input is valued. "I think it's such a benefit that we come from different backgrounds because we all have different points of view and we're very respectful of our points of view, and I think we're also very aware of our strengths and weaknesses as leaders," she said. "I think being able to take feedback and criticism as a leader is something that is an underrated skill." Sturino also recently published her first novel, Sunny Side Up, that she said introduces a character "that is going to inspire and be relatable to a lot of different women." It's a romantic comedy about Sunny, a recently divorced plus-sized PR agent in New York City, with lessons of body acceptance sprinkled throughout. "She's kind of a shining example of you don't have to change your body to change your life," Sturino said. This summer, the company is adding a slate of new shaving products, including a pre-shave exfoliating Bumpy Bar and the Après Shave Oil. The products are also now sold in CVS stores, making them more accessible for people. "One of my goals is just to make sure that you're within five or 10 minutes of a chafe stick no matter where you are, and CVS has really helped us get that goal." As the company thrives, Sturino remains focused on her personal measures of success. "We have to know we're successful, because the point is that outside success keeps changing and shifting as we grow," she said. "So you have to know that what we've done is really special and that's just something you have to believe without the constant outside validation." Sturino is one of the panelists at Newsweek's upcoming Women's Global Impact Forum on Tuesday, August 5. The one-day event at Newsweek's headquarters in New York City brings together senior female executives and women who are "rising stars" in various industries for a series of panel discussions and networking sessions that will connect and inspire women in leadership to make a positive and lasting impact on the world. Learn more about the event and register here.
Buzz Feed
12-07-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
This $16 Absorbing Powder A Summer 'Godsend'
If you deal with heat rashes or irritation from sweat and chafing, you know how brutal warm weather can be. While we can't promise less humidity or cooling temperatures, we can suggest this talc-free, sweat-absorbing body powder from Megababe that users love for drying relief all over their bodies. Deemed 'Bust Dust,' the $16 product comes in a handy non-aerosol pump-top dispenser that helps suck up mositure under your chest. While users love it for beating 'underboob' sweat and odors, the powder is truly a whole-body product that several users calling it a 'godsend' and 'must buy.' 'As someone who is ALWAYS sweaty, this was an absolute lifesaver for the wedding I was just in that was outside and almost 85F blazing sun for photos,' one review said. 'Once I put this on it was game over, no sweatiness for the whole night, including pits, cleavage, underbust, etc.' The powder is a top-tier sweat eliminator thanks to a genius medley of ingredients. Made with aloe, chamomile, lavender and corn starch, Bust Dust is an ultra-fine, non-clumping powder aimed to soothe your skin, absorb sweat and ward off bacteria and irritation. Reviewers with sensitive skin approve the formula, as well as people who have 'tried everything' for sweat and rash prevention. 'This is perfect for any sweaty folds and areas alike,' one review said. 'A little goes A LONG way, so just one little puff is good for most of the body.' Wondering if Megababe's Bust Dust will make it into your summer essentials? Read more love letters from happy users. Get it from Amazon for $15.97.
