Merilyn Lopez is the owner and founder of Kindkinis swimwear line. She established the brand in 2018, with a mission in mind. Growing up in Los Angeles, and being raised by her parents along side her two younger siblings, Merilyn constantly fought to better her family. Her parents had immigrated to East Los Angeles after leaving Mexico, as they wanted to provide their family with a better future. With their life altering decision, new unexpected boundaries emerged. Not only were they in a new country, they also had to learn a new language, find their way in a unfamiliar city and navigate through these new beginnings. Merilyn, being the eldest child of 3, became the translator between her parents and their new life in LA. She went on to graduate from California State University of Northridge with a  degree in Psychology. Inspired by her family’s own journey with her brother’s autism, she worked hard to become a therapist for autistic children.

Living in Southern California, Merilyn spent a lot of time outdoors and at the beach. Loving the adventures out in the sun, she and her friends found themselves unable to find swimsuits that were designed for a realistic woman’s body type. They struggled to find something that they could feel comfortable and confident in. Brands didn’t offer options that cater to most women past a certain ideal. They also didn’t feature models in their campaigns with different shapes, sizes, races, backgrounds and ethnicities. She knew she wanted to change this, to build a brand with collections that focused on inclusivity for all and a purpose driven brand.