Code B swimwear: Bree McCann on her body-positive, sexy swim label

Queensland model Bree McCann is taking her body-positive message to the beach with her new swimwear label catering for sizes 10 to 20.

For years Bree McCann struggled to find fashionable swimsuits in her size.

And she knew she was not alone.

Now the size 12-14 model is hoping to change things up with the launch of her own label that caters for sizes 10 to 20.

Bree, who lives at Noosa, is aiming to bridge the gap between skimpy and plus sizes, saying her Code B brand is the first of its kind to attempt it.

Bree McCann wears the Code B Yuni bottoms in black ($90). Picture: Russell Shakespeare/AAP

“The standard size in most labels is very skimpy, it then drops off in the middle sizes before you get to the conservative daggy plus-sizes,” she tells Brisbane News.

“I want to bring curvy cool fashion forward and make swimwear a little bit sexy for bigger bodies. We have four tops and four bottoms and a one-piece, all in different colourways.”

The collection has been a long time coming, with Bree having fought on the body positivity frontline her entire career.

When she started modelling 10 years ago after leaving a promising basketball career, she found it difficult to book jobs because she was considered “too small” for plus-size jobs and “not quite small enough” for mainstream shoots.

Lanzarote leopard one piece swimsuit, $180, Code B. Picture: Russell Shakespeare/AAP

However, in recent years she’s noticed a change in attitudes.

As a result her Instagram following has climbed to more than 200,000, and last year she landed campaigns with Seafolly, Dior and General Pants, as well as gracing the cover of Women’s Health magazine.

“I think that’s testament to the way the industry has changed,” she says.

“Now brands are actively seeking out diversity and looking for more unique people who are different shapes and sizes, which is cool.”

Atlas top brown, $100, Atlas bottom brown, $80, Code B. Picture: Russell Shakespeare/AAP

Now Bree wants people to stop debating bodies altogether and encourages women not to compare themselves with others on the beach.

“We are much harder on ourselves than other people are,” she says.

“I think it’s important to realise that not everyone is looking at you and also that we are all different shapes and sizes. I think when you start comparing yourself to other women in swimwear it’s a slippery slope in terms of self-confidence.

“Instead, focus on the positives about yourself and realise that all bodies are unique.”

Bree, 32, who has two degrees from the University of Queensland – in business management and journalism – will take to the beach herself this Christmas with new husband Mitch McCann and her family in tow.

Baja top stripe, $100, Baja bottom stripe, $80, Code B. Picture: Russell Shakespeare/AAP

It’s the first time she’s spent the festive season at home in recent years, having spent five years in New York and prior to that three years in London.

“I love a good Aussie Christmas,” she says.

“We don’t really have any traditions but we’ll spend time in the surf and eat some seafood.”

When it comes to new year plans, Bree is hoping to expand the Code B range in time for the European and US summer.

Lanzarote white one piece swimsuit, $180, Code B. Photo: Russell Shakespeare/AAP

She also wants to land a beauty brand or department store contract and feature in Sports Illustrated magazine – a rite of passage for bikini models looking to dominate internationally.

On the home front, she’s also thinking big.

“I also want to start a family – that’s coming soon too,” she adds.

Bree McCann wears the Yuni zebra top, $120, and bottom, $90, from her Code B swimwear label. Picture: Russell Shakespeare/AAP