Sienna Mae Gomez, an 18-year-old social media influencer, garnered a following in 2020 for her dancing TikToks, often in her Southern California home or on the beach. Since then, she’s amassed over 1 billion views and 13 million followers on her TikTok.

The influencer has extended into other industries, including acting and, most recently, entrepreneurship. Her swimwear line, Sienna Swim, launched this summer and is focused on inclusivity and styles everyone can enjoy. Gomez, who regularly connects with her fans through an online journal with commentary about her life and current events, wanted this line to be personal—both to her beachside upbringing and for her circle of loved ones and followers. Gomez reveals on the Sienna Swim site that the brand is “a love letter to the places and the people who have made me feel free to be myself, free to own my beauty, and empowered in my own femininity.”

The teen has quickly made a name for herself, starring in music videos and movies on the horizon, attending this year’s New York Fashion Week, and working as an ambassador for brands like Maybelline. Flaunt sat down with Gomez to talk about Sienna Swim, her upcoming projects, body neutrality, fashion influences, and work-life balance.

**OHPOLLY** top, **SIENNA SWIM** swimsuit bottom, and stylist’s own tights.

How did your new swimwear line, Sienna Swim, come to be? Were there any specific inspirations?

I have always loved swimwear; growing up in Southern California, it’s pretty much a year-round wardrobe staple. When I first started posting to TikTok in 2020, I was posting in my bikinis, and tons of people in the comments would ask me where my suits were from, which styles I liked best for my body type, recommendations on what colors they should get, etc. My love for bikinis gave life to this community online where girls were sharing what made them feel confident, what styles were most comfortable, and just generally supporting each other. When I started dreaming up this line, I wanted the swimwear we put out to be reflective of the essence of the community that had formed around my videos. So really, the inspiration came from the people I’ve designed them for—women in my social media comments.

You’ve talked about the diversity in your ambassadors and swimwear sizing for your second drop, can you talk about why that was important for you?

The most important quality I look for when I shop for swimwear is comfortability. I think more than body positivity, we need body neutrality. It’s incredible to love the skin you’re in, but it’s even better to be able to forget about it entirely because you feel so at home in your body. My goal in designing swimwear is to create suits that are so comfortable and flattering you forget they’re there and can just enjoy yourself, whether you’re lying on a beach or surfing. I think everyone deserves the opportunity to feel that way. I also think everyone deserves to see themselves represented in the brands they support. With our first drop in June, we were limited in terms of our models…for the most part, I just used my best friends, since everything was home-grown. For Collection Two, we started a global ambassador program because so many women were reaching out to us asking how they could be part of what we were doing. At the same time, we developed our own custom size chart by doing market research and sample fittings with models from size XS-3X, because in the US, there is no standard for extended sizing, which is both frustrating and ridiculous. It has been so cool to watch girls receive their Collection Two items and share on Instagram or message us how much better they fit, how comfortable they are, etc. I am dedicated to making this brand one that everyone feels welcomed by. The ambassador program in particular has been so special, getting to connect with young women from so many different cultures and backgrounds that want to be part of the Sienna Swim Collective and encourage other women is definitely a dream realized.

**KOCHÉ** dress and **PANDORA ME** rings.

What has it been like to dive into the business world with Sienna Swim?

In short, it’s been eye-opening. Every decision made for this company has to be very intentional because quality is a non-negotiable for me. We get three rounds of samples before the final collection drops, sometimes more if I have additional edits. I have pulled entire suits right before the drop or changed colors completely because I refuse to put out anything that isn’t 100% the vision I have for the brand. At the end of the day, I would rather work double time than put out something that feels lazy or half-done. It’s also opened my eyes to how far the world has to come in terms of extended sizing. As I said before, there is no accurate standard sizing for anything above an XL. I think this is because a lot of industries have developed this sizing without actually doing sample fits with real women who can provide feedback about how things need to change. That’s something that I am dedicated to as a business owner and designer—being open to honest feedback, then placing action behind it.

You recently attended New York Fashion Week (NYFW), can you talk about your experience there and what you took away from it?

I think part of the reason NYFW is so incredible is because you see how many people’s hard work goes into putting on these shows and events. It truly is a massive team effort and that is what most inspires me about it. You can feel the energy of thousands of people working toward this collective effort for each show, which are all so unique and different. I loved every single show I attended, and the fact that the main focus of it all is to showcase the art put forth by the designers is really special.

Are there any fashion influences (whether it be designers, content creators, etc.) that you’re inspired by right now?

I saw Lori Harvey at NYFW and was blown away by her grace and kindness. Her style is so polished, and she’s such a pro. I am inspired by her in that she has multiple business ventures and keeps her head high and her sights focused. I think she’s a great role model for younger girls like me to look to someone who handles themselves with such poise.

**OHPOLLY** top, **SIENNA SWIM** swimsuit bottom, stylist’s own tights, and **VOYETTE** heels.

You’ve acted in some music videos and are now going to be in the movie Prom Night, can you tell us what we should expect from that project?

I love acting and actually got my “start” in musical theater and dance. Being on TikTok is fun, but it’s mostly just me making videos in my room or on the beach. Being on set or stage has always been so fun for me because I love working with other creatives and getting to learn together. I think Prom Night will be a happy return to that environment I’ve so missed! I’m really excited about the project, the people involved with it, and what I can do with the role.

With such a large online following, how have you balanced your private and public lives? Do you do anything in particular to take care of your mental health?

I’ve become very selective about what I choose to share online in the last year. I think people forget that I am a person with a business, not the other way around. I’ve resolved to share what feels authentic to me and my boundaries. Not everything is for everyone, and some things are special just for me and my close circle. I blog weekly on my website and talk about mental health quite a bit, too.

Are there any future projects that you’re excited about right now?

I’m excited about Prom Night, and a few other projects coming up, and I’m also really looking forward to dropping Sienna Swim Collection 3! We are dropping a holiday resort collection and doing a special limited collaboration with someone I am so excited to share soon! I’m a firm believer in women supporting women—so many veterans in the industry have done that for me, including my favorite woman ever, Ashley Graham—so as I continue to grow my business, I’m also introducing opportunities to collaborate with and support other young women entrepreneurs.