The Salty Bikini Founder on Self-Worth, Confidence, and Empowering Women Through Fashion

Summary

Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: Living Your Legacy
Host: Rudy Mawer (Guest-hosted by Ray Gutierrez in this episode)
Episode: The Salty Bikini Founder on Self-Worth, Confidence, and Empowering Women Through Fashion
Guest: Kathy Dawson, Founder of Salty Bikini
Date: March 9, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode of Living Your Legacy dives into the inspiring story of Kathy Dawson, founder of Salty Bikini, a swimwear brand dedicated to empowering women. Kathy shares how personal adversity shaped her mission to help women build confidence at their most vulnerable and discusses her journey from surviving a challenging 33-year marriage to creating a brand rooted in self-worth and authentic expression. This intimate conversation explores the intersection of fashion, self-love, and resilience, offering both practical and heartfelt guidance for those looking to leave their own mark.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Empowerment through Swimwear (00:00–02:22, 05:10–06:00)

• Why Swimwear?
  • Kathy explains her choice of swimwear as a platform for women’s empowerment, highlighting that swimwear reveals women in their most vulnerable state. By providing quality pieces that make them feel good, she helps women see themselves in a new, positive light.
    • Quote: “Helping women to see that a good piece of swimwear does make a difference in how you feel. When you feel really good in what you’re wearing, you position yourself much better and it’s magic.” – Kathy Dawson (00:04, 05:10)
• Fashion as Transformation
  • The right swimwear can boost confidence and alter posture and attitude—there’s “science” and “magic” in feeling comfortable in your own skin.
    • Quote: “When you’re standing taller and positioning yourself, it’s magic.” – Kathy Dawson (05:52)

2. Personal Adversity and Purpose (02:22–03:30)

• Origin Story
  • Kathy opens up about her 33-year marriage, describing it as a time she felt unloved and undervalued. Through healing, research, and personal growth, she realized her trials gave her a unique platform and a sense of purpose: turning pain into a mission of helping others.
    • Quote: “You’re not given these horrific stories to come out of... unless you do something good with them.” – Kathy Dawson (03:17)

3. The Roots of Grit and Resilience (03:34–05:03)

• Building Resilience
  • Kathy reflects on early memories of grit: baton twirling, cheerleading, and aerobic competitions where overcoming obstacles reinforced her belief in her own strength.
    • Quote: “I am unstoppable. So having those instances was a constant reminder to me when I was going through this that, hell, I can do this.” – Kathy Dawson (04:28)

4. Confidence, Energy, and Inner Beauty (06:00–07:36)

• What Matters Most

  • Kathy selects women to represent her brand based on “energy”—not body shape or societal definitions of attractiveness. She recounts seeing “sexiness” in women who exude confidence, regardless of size.
    • Quote: “It’s their energy, 100%... women that society would dictate as maybe not so sexy because they were larger girls, but how they carried themselves… damn, like, they were sexy as hell.” – Kathy Dawson (06:22)

• Sustaining Authentic Confidence

  • Relying on external validation is fleeting; real confidence comes from within and “nobody can take it away from you.”
    • Quote: “When you have confidence and that love and that I feel I am amazing inside, you never lose it and nobody can take it away from you.” – Kathy Dawson (07:13)

5. Toxic Relationships and Moving Forward (07:36–08:33)

• On Narcissists and ‘Sagas’
  • Kathy discusses encounters with narcissists—those drawn to empathetic, energetic women—and how those experiences were valuable for her growth, but she’s “done” taking on more.
    • Quote: “I am no longer taking on any projects, let’s just put it like that.” – Kathy Dawson (07:59)
    • Quote: “I know it has been in my path, my growth. So I am not resentful because I know it’s part of my life’s journey. However I’m done. I’m completely done.” – Kathy Dawson (08:05)

6. Living in Your Power and Authenticity (08:33–09:27)

• Work, Focus, and Attracting the Right Opportunities

  • Emphasizes the importance of being focused on personal and business goals. True “magic” happens when you are in your element.
    • Quote: “When you are in your element and you are rocking it, that’s when the magic of the right person comes along.” – Kathy Dawson (08:44)

• Vulnerability and Authentic Conversation

  • Kathy confesses initial nerves about the podcast but finds comfort in authentic, unscripted conversation.
    • Quote: “I overthink everything... but the more I’m doing it with you, it’s just a genuine conversation and nobody knows me like me.” – Kathy Dawson (09:02)

7. Business with Purpose over Profit (09:27–09:53)

• Guiding Values
  • Kathy leads Salty Bikini with purpose, not profit, believing that when you serve authentically, success follows.
    • Quote: “I lead my business with purpose over profit because I do truly believe that when you are living in your purpose and you are giving, the profit just follows.” – Kathy Dawson (09:53)
• Personal Story as Inspiration
  • Kathy stresses she’s “lived the story,” offering hope and solidarity to women facing their own struggles.
    • Quote: “I actually like to say that I’ve walked through hell and back a few times and I’m carrying that bucket of hope. And that is for other women, to empower them, to let them know I didn’t just read it in books, I’ve actually lived it and it can be done.” – Kathy Dawson (10:07)

8. Connecting With Kathy Dawson (10:35–11:11)

• Getting in Touch
  • Kathy invites listeners to connect via email or Instagram (@thesaltybikini, @thebikiniboss), and shares her availability for empowerment presentations.

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Memorable Quotes

• On Surviving and Thriving:
  “I am unstoppable. So having those instances was a constant reminder to me when I was going through this that, hell, I can do this. I’ve done this before. I can do this.” – Kathy Dawson (04:28)

• On True Confidence:
  “When we allow the outside world to dictate how we should feel, it’s temporary and we’re always chasing that. When we have that confidence and that love... you never lose it and nobody can take it away from you.” – Kathy Dawson (07:13)

• On Purpose in Business:
  “When you are living in your purpose and you are giving, the profit just follows.” – Kathy Dawson (09:53)

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Notable Timestamps

• 00:04 – Kathy on why swimwear: connecting confidence and vulnerability
• 02:32 – Kathy’s journey of self-discovery and leaving her marriage
• 04:28 – Childhood triumphs laying the foundation for resilience
• 06:22 – The importance of energy and confidence over appearance in women
• 07:59 – Kathy on moving beyond toxic relationships
• 09:53 – Leading with purpose over profit
• 10:40 – How to connect with Kathy and get involved

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Overall Tone

Supportive, candid, and empowering. Kathy’s voice is honest, approachable, and passionate about helping women rise above hardship through the celebration of inner beauty and authentic confidence.

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Useful For

• Aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, seeking inspiration
• Those recovering from adversity or toxic relationships
• Anyone interested in the intersection of fashion, empowerment, and authentic leadership

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Connect with Kathy Dawson

• Email: [e-mail]
• Website: thesaltybikini.ca
• Instagram: @thesaltybikini / @thebikiniboss

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Summary prepared for listeners who want the heart of the episode—without missing the truth, resilience, and hope at its core.

Transcript

[Ray Gutierrez]

Why swimwear? Why bikini? Why not bird watching?

[Kathy Dawson]

I think swimwear to me was the obvious choice, especially with the platform that I'm trying to empower women that is their most vulnerable state. Helping women to see that a good piece of swimwear does make a difference in how you feel. When you feel really good in what you're wearing, you position yourself much better and it's magic.

[Narrator]

Kathy Dawson transformed personal adversity into a mission of female empowerment as the founder of the Salty Bikini. After overcoming significant life hurdles, she now utilizes her retail platform in public speaking to help women cultivate internal confidence and reclaim their personal strength.

[Ray Gutierrez]

How many narcissists have you dug and weaved until getting to where you are today?

[Kathy Dawson]

I am no longer taking on any projects. Let's just put it like that.

[Unidentified Speaker]

It spans the globe like a super highest cold Internet Elvis. Today, Apple is going to reinvent the. It's not over. I'm telling now I win.

[Ray Gutierrez]

The Living your Legacy podcast. For those who live to leave a legacy that's extraordinary.

[Unidentified Speaker]

The impossible has. Oh, that is sensational. Jordan Open Chicago. With the lead Usain Paul is the fastest man on the planet. You can live your dream.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Welcome back to another episode of the Living youg Legacy podcast, the Women in Power edition. For Inside Success, I am Ray Gutierrez. It's casual Friday here and I, I, I, I'm, I'm just gonna go with it. Joining me today is Kathy Dawson. Kathy, there's something very salty about you. Please tell us why you're so salty.

[Kathy Dawson]

I am owner and creator of the Salty Bikini, which is a swimwear shop in St. Catharines that also has an online platform. And we, it is our mission to empower women to embrace their inner beauty, confidence that they bring to the world, and not to let the outside world dictate what beauty should be, but allow that to come from the inside.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Right on. Where does your journey begin? A lot of folks are born beautiful. When did you realize that beauty's in or out? Where does that journey begin for you?

[Kathy Dawson]

For me, it's been kind of a process. And my journey actually, and my epiphany of what my purpose was, began when I left a 33 year marriage. A marriage where I was not valued, was not made to feel loved. And over the years, with the healing and the growth that I've had to do and the research that I've done and the work that I've done to, to understand about manipulation and how it works, I came to the conclusion that all of these opportunities were opening up to Me after this incredible challenge. And that was a very clear sign to me that that's the path. That was my purpose, that I believe that you're not given these horrific stories to come out of, and then the opportunities unless you do something good with them.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Right on. So you felt empowered?

[Kathy Dawson]

100%.

[Ray Gutierrez]

So your resilience equals power.

[Kathy Dawson]

Oh, yeah.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Where does that grit come from? Like, what are you. What's your earliest memory of that grit?

[Kathy Dawson]

It's funny you mentioned that. I think where that grit and where that fight comes from with me is I've always participated in. I was a baton twirler. I was a cheerleader for a very short period of time. I've. I. And with the. The different things that I've done, I've always. Traits.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Traits, superpowers.

[Kathy Dawson]

With all these different things that I've done, I remember, even at a young age, looking back and thinking to myself, like, you got through this. You are unstoppable. There was probably four specific times through my life where I didn't think I was going to get through something, and I got through it. And, like, winning a world championship medal with baton, winning my solo, like, participating in. In the Crystal Light National Aerobic Championship and winning with that as well, all these things that they had blocks in front of them, I came out of them and told myself that I did this. I am unstoppable. So having those instances was a constant reminder to me when I was going through this that, hell, I can do this. I've done this before. I can do this. It's a much larger scale, but I can do it, and I've done it.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Why? Why swimwear? Why bikini? Why not bird watching?

[Kathy Dawson]

Well, I think swimwear, to me, was the obvious choice, especially with the platform that I'm trying to empower women that is their most vulnerable state. And it is. It really. I've been able to connect with women on so many different levels because all women at one time or another have hated, you know, what they see in the mirror, and they're so down on themselves. So by offering, like, the quality swimwear that we do and helping women to see that a good piece of swimwear does make a difference in how you feel. And the thing is, when you feel really good in what you're wearing, you position yourself much better. And then there's a whole bunch of science that goes on with that, that when you're standing taller and positioning yourself, it's magic.

[Ray Gutierrez]

I was gonna say, yeah, it's very magical, which is why when folks are like, Oh, I can model. Like, yeah, right. You can be an influencer all you want. That's adorable. But modeling is an art form. Like, you've got to put yourself in that mindset. When you look for folks that are wearing your salty bikinis, what do you look for in their heart, not their body. I'm sure you're looking for what's in their heart.

[Kathy Dawson]

It's their energy, 100%. And you know what? The first time I really connected and realized that kind of thing is when I had my fitness studio and I was running a six week challenge. And I remember specifically seeing women that society would dictate, or maybe not so sexy because they were larger girls, but how they carried themselves. Oh, yeah, damn. Like they were sexy as hell. And then you have women, which, by

[Ray Gutierrez]

the way, most women don't know what. Most men don't know what to do with that, by the way. Which is why most men act the way they do. Just do it.

[Kathy Dawson]

Just.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Yeah, it's true.

[Kathy Dawson]

And then you have women that society were a certain size would deem as sexy and walk around meek and mild. And it was that energy. It's that energy that when you radiate and that energy comes from inside. When we allow the outside world to dictate how we should feel, it's temporary and we're always chasing that. When we have that confidence and that love and that I feel I am amazing inside. You never lose it and nobody can take it away from you. And that's the difference, right?

[Ray Gutierrez]

On some folks, you know, I hate to use the N word. Narcissists seek out this energy. Oh, I know it's. And those are, those are the, Those are your. Your kryptites. Because you're such people pleasers. You're just full of energy and love. And then you meet that one narcissist that goes. How many narcissists have you dodged and dodged and dodged and weaved until getting to where you are today?

[Kathy Dawson]

I am no longer taking on any projects, let's just put it like that.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Enough sagas.

[Kathy Dawson]

Yeah, I call them sagas. In all honesty. I know it has been in my path, my growth. So I am not resentful because I know it's part of my life's journey.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Same.

[Kathy Dawson]

However I'm done. I'm completely done. And you know, I. I'm good. Yeah, no more projects.

[Ray Gutierrez]

You're speaking to a narcissist. E. A narcissist. Like, I've been on both sides of the spectrum, so I'm. I just want peace? Yeah.

[Kathy Dawson]

100. Right now, it's head down. Just work, focus on me, my family, my business. That's it. And. And I really do believe that when you are in your element and you are rocking it, that's when the magic of the right person comes along.

[Ray Gutierrez]

So I'm gonna graduate you from an E to a P element to P power. When you're in your power, how do you feel?

[Kathy Dawson]

Unstoppable.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Hell yeah. How did you feel in front of these cameras today in your own podcast? Like, how does it feel being in this moment?

[Kathy Dawson]

I feel much more comfortable now. I was really nervous to begin with because I am a very deep thinker and I overthink everything. So I was overthinking all my answers and where I needed to be and it was. I was overwhelming myself. But the more I'm doing it with you, it's just a genuine conversation and nobody knows me like me.

[Ray Gutierrez]

That's beautiful. I remember a decade ago, going podcasts are never going to take over and they clearly have with the Joe Rogans of the world. But now folks are just looking for authenticity and authentic voices. They're done with the commercials, they're done with the doom scrolling and the 15 second ads. What we're trying to pursue here is essentially highlighting folks like yourself, real authentic stories and women in power. Speaking of which, what will we learn in your episode of Women in Power?

[Kathy Dawson]

What will you learn? A couple things that you learn. That I lead my business with purpose over profit because I do truly believe that when you are living in your purpose and you are giving, the profit just follows. You will also learn that I'm not just here to preach the story, that I have lived the story. And I actually like to say that, that I've walked through hell and back a few times and I'm carrying that bucket of hope. And that is for other women, to empower them, to let them know I didn't just read it in books, I've actually lived it and it can be done.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Wow. How can folks learn more about your journey and get in contact with you and work with you?

[Kathy Dawson]

I can be reached at Kathy with a K at the Saltybikini Ca. The website is the the Saltybikini Ca, Instagram, thesaltybikini and the Bikiniboss. Those are the best ways to connect with me. And I'm here to help with any questions that you have. And I also am here if you are looking for somebody to do a presentation on woman empowerment.

[Narrator]

Right on.

[Ray Gutierrez]

Very, very cool with that. That concludes yet another warm living your legacy pod. The women in warm edition with Inside Success. I'm Ray Gutierrez. Thanks again.

[Kathy Dawson]

Thank you so much.