Anna Paul photo earns lingerie start-up Chouchou Intimates $35k

A Sydney woman who launched a small business from her kitchen table has revealed how a chance photo dramatically changed her luck.

An Australian woman has revealed she earned $35,000 in just 48 hours thanks to an influencer’s sexy underwear photo.

Tina Grasso is the brainchild behind lingerie start-up Chouchou Intimates, a small business she launched from her kitchen table in 2019.

The self-confessed “underwear lover” from Sydney created the brand to bridge the gap between comfort and occasion lingerie after failing to find any sexy undergarments that were also enjoyable to wear.

Despite amassing almost 25,000 followers on social media and earning a loyal customer base, the Australian fashion label is still in its infancy.

But when Australia’s biggest influencer Anna Paul shared a series of sexy photos wearing one of Chouchou Intimates signature bras, orders suddenly started pouring in, earning Ms Grasso $35,000 in a matter of days.

Tina Grasso is the brainchild behind lingerie start-up Chouchou Intimates. Picture: Supplied

When Anna Paul wore one of the bras, she earned $35,000 in 48 hours. Picture: Instagram/AnnaPaul

“A influencer who has been a long time support of the brand actually sent me Anna Paul’s TikTok and shared she was wearing our pieces – I couldn’t believe it,” Ms Grasso told news.com.au.

“We’d sent a package as a gift as we have been fans of Anna. But to see her wearing it in multiple TikTok videos and Instagram posts was so exciting.

“I noticed more and more customers also tagging us.

“As a business owner you often never know if you are doing enough or getting noticed but to have people recognise our brand and want to tag or share in our success reminded me why I set out to start Chouchou in the first place.”

Ms Grasso, 28, and her team were so blown away, they took to social media to share their shock, writing: “When Anna Paul wears your product on insta!”

The post also featured several emojis, including the loudly crying face, heart eyes and a shocked face with an exploding head.

Many praised Paul, who has 2.3 million followers on Instagram and another 6.6 million on TikTok, for promoting small Aussie businesses.

“She’s such a queen always supporting Aussie brands!” one user commented.

“yess!!! iconic,” another added.

“Love this for you Team,” someone else wrote.

Anna’s post was also flooded with adoring comments, many asking where the bra was from so they could buy one.

“I ordered this set!!! TY,” one delighted fan wrote.

“Your bra is so cute,” another commented.

Paul also shared a video on Monday wearing the “Audrey Red Bralette”, which comes in a set with a matching G-string for $75.90, that has clocked up more than 4 million views in just 24 hours.

The delicate “vintage triangle-shaped bralette” can also be purchased on its own for $49.95 and made with satin and sheer mesh fabrics for a comfortable finish.

It’s available in sizes XS to 2XL and is designed with adjustable straps.

Anna Paul photo earns lingerie start-up Chouchou Intimates $35k. Picture: Instagram/AnnaPaul

Ms Grasso was just as shocked when US influencer Addison Rae purchased from the brand back in February 2022, stating she was in “disbelief”.

“When the order from Addison Rae came through I was in disbelief, part of me didn’t believe it was really her,” she told POPSUGAR Australia. “We are truly a small business – I still embroider and pack every order by myself.”

The order came through on a Sunday afternoon, with Ms Grasso explaining she initially panicked, worrying she was being pranked.

“We spent over an hour trying to research the address, checking the fraud filters, etc, to see if any of the details were flagged, but everything looked legitimate,” she explained.

“I could also see in Shopify that she came directly to the store via Instagram.

“But since we had under 8000 followers at the time, and don’t advertise in the US, I couldn’t (and still can’t) figure out how she found the page.”

Just like Paul, Rae also ordered from the Audrey collection, which was Ms Grasso’s first ever design for her brand.

“Obviously, I wrote her a personalised card and told her to DM us if she liked the products,” Ms Grasso continued.

“Shortly after the order was delivered, I received a message from her saying she was obsessed with the products. I couldn’t believe it.”

But the biggest surprise was yet to come when Rae shared them on her own socials – tagging Chouchou – and exposing the business to her following of over 40 million.

“I am a tiny Australian business owner. I literally work alone, pack every order myself and embroider all your knickers,” Ms Grasso wrote on Instagram at the time.

“This is one of the coolest things that has happen to Chouchou and thanks to everyone for their lovely messages!

“We really have a lovely little Chouchou gang here!”

Originally published as Anna Paul photo earns lingerie start-up Chouchou Intimates $35k