Standing in front of a mirror in your underwear can be terrifying.
Liking yourself as you stand there even more terrifying.
 
Feel comfortable in your own body – find your perfect fit

Meet Nina Hehir-Nielsen

Nina, a woman passionate about helping women find their FEEL GOOD FIT.

Nina connects, inspires, and has fun within her everyday life.  And with that has become one of the top and best regarded Intimo Bra Fit Specialists in Canberra. 

I met Nina at a friend’s party a few weeks before I flew out to Italy during the beginning of my break-up.  It was a lingerie party.  Yikes the thought of purchasing new lingerie terrified me…  My lingerie let’s say…. was the boring married kinda type.  Comfortable (well I thought) and unflattering to say the least.  Sure I had a couple of nice pieces, but as you become comfortable so does your under garment. 
Meeting Nina changed my view and opinion of how to feel comfortable in our body. I wasn’t connected to my body, and I didn’t take the time to really look at my body in the mirror without clothes... By receiving a professional fit and trying on some amazing styles I started to appreciate my body.

Coming out of a long term relationship the last thing you want to do is share yourself, little lone your body with another.  We need to become confident within ourselves first. And with that I purchased a few nice pieces and OMG comfortable pieces.  My old bra from a known retailer really wasn’t doing anything for me.  Once the right bra was fitted my outfits started to take better shape, even my posture improved.  From that day, confidence of liking my body started to shine through.

Nina’s energy and passion for respecting your body, being comfortable in your body, being breast aware really did rub off and I wanted to share her story with you.

I love how we always seem to reconnect over the years and I am so grateful and thankful Nina that you have taken the time to connect with me again and share a little about yourself and perhaps a tip or two for women to be breast aware.

Tell me a little about how Intimo began?
Intimo is an Australian owned company and began in 1995, when the Founding Director, Sue Whyte, saw the need for a more personal approach to helping women source well fitting, beautiful supportive lingerie. She was also passionate about helping women in other ways too. It was important to her to offer women the opportunity to a fulfilling career with opportunities to grow as a person and enjoy financial independence within a supportive environment that acknowledges their achievements along the way.

The aim is to assist women to find their Intimo #FEELGOODFIT in high quality Australian designed lingerie through a positive fitting experience and generating awareness about causes such as Breast Health and Breast Checks, that directly impact the lives of women, through education and open discussions.

Why did you choose to become a professional Intimo Bra Fit Specialist?
It first began as needing extra income as at the time my husband and I had sold up our cafe of six wonderful but bumpy years…so I found myself looking for work, but still had my youngest son at home full time.  So flexibility was what attracted me and being my own boss, so I could plan my work around my family, not the other way.

And of course the bras & clothing too…a self-confessed bra hater, I was so over the moon to discover how comfortable the bras were and how I no longer needed to put up with all day discomfort or only being able to wear one style of bra.  Being professionally fitted by someone who was professionally trained, approachable and who listened to me respectfully, opened up a whole new world of comfort and possibilities!

Have you always been in fashion?
Hahahaha! No is the short answer…I have totally learnt on the job and I tell my clients I am a creature of comfort so if the outfit is the slightest bit restricting it doesn’t get a place in my wardrobe. This is why you predominantly see me layered in Intimo’s natural fibre Modal clothing range.
(Nina, I love their fibre modal clothing, and wearing now ha!).

The clothing is so versatile, machine washable and no ironing necessary! Perfect for the busy mum, traveler or someone who loves the feeling of clothing as soft as a cloud.

Do you have a favourite style?
My staple is the modal leggings with our stretchy microfiber Half slip teamed with one of our many Tops and multi-styling Wraps. Or our new Convertible Dress which can be styled over half a dozen ways and take you from day to night, casual weekend wear or out to dinner wear.

What do you hope for your clients when you meet them?
My aim is to help them discover the joys of a well fitting supportive bra and how different it will make them feel both physically (more comfortable & better posture) and emotionally (self-confident & beautiful).

What is Project Uplift?  I noticed you recently went to Fiji with Intimo.
A huge passion of mine since hearing about it four years ago!  Project Uplift is an organisation that ships and distributes new and second hand bras to communities of women in developing countries who cannot afford them.

”Women appreciate the common dignity of a bra for employment and social/church occasions. Bras control breast swing when women bend to garden or cook at ground level. In humid climates rashes, fungal infections and abscesses occur between the breast and the chest wall. Bras help by allowing air circulation. Nursing mums everywhere leak, and bras allow the dignity of a dry shirt, and the comfort of support. A thrush rash on a mother's skin may spread to her baby's mouth, and then back into the breast itself. And a mastectomy bra offers privacy.” Project Uplift

Intimo is proud to be an official partner with Project Uplift to provide women with the quality bras they deserve. To date, Intimo has donated over 300,000 new bras and funded multiple shipments to the Pacific Islands.

In addition to this, myself and my fellow “Intimo sisters” (colleagues) collect pre-loved bras from our customers and pass them onto volunteer collection points to further support these communities.  Just last September I was part of a group of 70 Intimo bra fitters who were given the privilege of working alongside the Fijian Uplift volunteers in local villages. Over 50,000 bras were distributed and I have never fitted so many women in a 5 hour period! Phew! Hats off to the volunteer fitters who give up their time to bring joy, love and dignity to so many women! It was an incredible experience I will never forget and I feel so blessed to be part of an organisation that helps change women’s lives for the better.
Have some pre-loved bras? Find out your nearest collection point in your state at www.upliftbras.org

How should women be breast aware?
Sue Whyte, Intimo’s Founding Director, was dedicated to supporting women in all aspects of life and passionate about offering information and communication about women’s issues in order to empower them to take action to help themselves and others.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Australian and New Zealand women, with one in eight females being diagnosed before the age of 85*. Early detection has been the proven to save lives, so all Intimo bras come with an Intimo Breast Check card that tells you how to perform a monthly self check and what signs to look for. We also have a “how to” video guide on our website click here.
*Australian Institute of Health Welfare & Australasian Association of Cancer Registries

How do you balance being a wife, mum and owning your own business?
Some days are better than others! But seriously, I think it is all about perspective and reminding myself that being a mum of three very busy, loud and full of life boys (5, 10 & 13) not every day is going to go to plan and that that is okay. Being an only child I have had my eyes opened to the wonders of sibling relationships and how little boys (well mine anyway!) need to be constantly on the go and watched with eagle eyes.

I am blessed to have an incredibly hands on husband who is also passionate about helping others and who has taught me a lot about not sweating the small stuff.  He comes from a family of four (two brothers and one sister) so knows all the ins and outs and ups and downs of a busy family. He is the one who can bring back our sense of humour when things get heated!

For head space I love to get out in my garden, go for walks with friends and always have a book on the go. Eating delicious meals made by our personal chef aka my husband, and watching movies are also something we enjoy as a family.

What would you say your life passion is?
Hmmmm, that I am still discovering. What I have learnt is that I love being around people and getting to know their story. I am amazed by how much I learn from the women I meet at my bra fitting sessions, even in the brief (no pun intended!) time it takes to fit them. Because of the intimate nature of a personal fitting, many women can feel embarrassed and anxious about coming in for their fitting when they first meet me. I am quick to explain exactly what to expect and how I am discreet in how I fit them into a bra. Once I have them in the right bra style for them it is in incredible to watch the change that comes over them, some quietly smiling, others running out to show off their new fit! It brings a smile to my face too!!

I love the buzz I get from fitting a lady into her first Intimo bra and the loyalty I have built up in my business from always treating my clients in the way I want to be treated when I am the customer…with respect, integrity and a splash of good humour too!

What are you most excited about for the year ahead?
Meeting more women and helping them find their Feel Good Fit in life, whether in a great fitting bra or starting their own journey as an Intimo Bra Fit Specialist…I would so love other women to experience the possibilities open to them through this incredibly supportive network of women who feel passionate about what they do and lift each other up by sharing their wisdom and support.

Meeting other Intimo colleagues through regular product showcases, training events and conferences, I am always learning and growing in my roles as an individual, mother and life partner. We come from all sorts of places - the busy inner city to the quieter suburbs, the remote outback and across the seas in New Zealand, yet when we are together we are all the same, women helping women be the best version of themselves.

Lastly, you inspired me during my break-up journey, who or what inspires you?
Thank you Jo. I would say my Mum, who never got to see this part of my life journey as she passed away from cancer before I began my business. She was a Cancer Nurse Specialist (Oncology & Palliative Care) and had incredible skills when it came to her work. Not a patient person, she was not one to suffer fools but showed immense dedication to her family and had such empathy for her friends, colleagues and patients.  I try to take from her the drive she had to do the best she could with what she could. And to be grateful for everyday that you have your good health!

To find out more about Nina you can follow her on Instagram
Or contact Nina directly here.

I want to ask you, have you had a professional bra fitting?
And are you breast aware?  Early detection saves lives. It’s nothing to shy away from.

PROJECT UPLIFT - FIJI 2016

INSPIRED