During Women’s History Month, stories of innovation, resilience, and empowerment take center stage. Few embody those values as well as entrepreneur Nylaaj’a Wilks, founder of Build-A-Bra. What began as a deeply personal experience has grown into a brand dedicated to helping women feel supported, both physically and emotionally.
Through her work, Wilks is challenging long-standing industry norms while encouraging women to embrace their bodies with confidence. In this exclusive interview, she opens up about the inspiration behind Build-A-Bra, the importance of inclusivity in lingerie, and the legacy she hopes to create for future generations of women.
From Personal Struggle to Purpose
Photo Courtesy: Nylaaj’a Wilks
Q: Women’s History Month is about honoring women who create change. What inspired you to launch Build-A-Bra, and how did your own personal experiences shape the mission behind the brand?
Growing up, I developed a larger chest at a young age, and finding bras that were both supportive and comfortable was always a challenge. Many of the options available either didn’t fit properly or didn’t make me feel confident in my own body. That experience stayed with me for years and made me realize that so many women share the same struggle, feeling overlooked by an industry that should be supporting them.
That personal experience inspired me to create Build-A-Bra. I wanted to build a brand that helps women feel supported, comfortable, and confident in their own skin. For me, it’s not just about lingerie, it’s about creating pieces that allow women to embrace their bodies and feel empowered every day.
The Power of Proper Support
Q: Build-A-Bra isn’t just about lingerie; it’s about confidence and empowerment. In your view, how does something as personal as a well-fitting bra impact a woman’s sense of self and how she shows up in the world?
A well-fitting bra can truly change how a woman feels throughout her day. When something fits properly and supports you as it should, it allows you to move through life with comfort and confidence rather than constantly adjusting or feeling uncomfortable.
Something as simple as a bra can influence posture, confidence, and even how a woman carries herself. When women feel physically supported, it often translates into greater mental and emotional empowerment. Build-A-Bra was created to help women feel confident in the foundation of their outfits.
Redefining Inclusivity in Lingerie
Q: The lingerie industry has historically struggled with inclusivity and proper fit for many body types. How is Build-A-Bra challenging those norms and creating a more inclusive experience for women of all shapes and sizes?
The lingerie industry has historically centered on a narrow idea of what women’s bodies look like, which has left many women struggling to find bras that truly fit and support them.
Build-A-Bra was created to challenge that experience by putting real women and real body diversity at the center of our brand. The idea behind Build-A-Bra is exactly what the name suggests: giving women options that help them build the support and confidence that work for their unique bodies.
Our focus is on providing bras that prioritize comfort, support, and a range of sizes so more women can feel seen and supported. Every woman deserves to feel confident in what she wears, and Build-A-Bra is about helping women find pieces that fit their bodies, not forcing their bodies to fit the product.
Lessons From Building a Brand
Q: As a woman entrepreneur building a brand rooted in confidence and self-acceptance, what obstacles have you faced along the way, and how have those challenges strengthened your vision for Build-A-Bra?
Building a brand rooted in confidence and self-acceptance has been incredibly rewarding, but it has also come with real challenges. As a first-time founder, one of the biggest obstacles has been learning the business side of the fashion industry while building the brand, from sourcing products and understanding manufacturing to navigating marketing and partnerships.
Starting a brand also requires persistence and the willingness to keep going even when things take time to come together. Every step of the process has required research, patience, and faith in the vision behind Build-A-Bra.
Those experiences have only strengthened my commitment to the brand. They’ve reminded me that building something meaningful takes dedication, and it continues to push me to create a brand that truly supports and empowers women.
For aspiring female founders, I hope my journey shows that it’s possible to turn a personal challenge into a meaningful business. If Build-A-Bra can inspire even one woman to pursue her vision, believe in herself, and create something impactful, that would mean everything to me.
A Legacy of Empowerment From the Inside Out
For Nylaaj’a Wilks, Build-A-Bra represents far more than a product; it’s a movement toward confidence, representation, and body acceptance. By addressing an everyday challenge many women face, she is transforming a deeply personal struggle into a powerful platform for empowerment.
As Women’s History Month reminds us, change often begins with one woman deciding that something can and should be better. Through Build-A-Bra, Wilks is proving that when women are supported at their foundation, there is no limit to how confidently they can show up in the world.
To learn more about Nylaaj’a Wilks and Build-A-Bra, visit the official website and follow the social media page on Instagram.
Media inquiries and publicity requests can be sent to publicist Desirae L. Benson
