Breast cancer survivors now proudly flaunt a bikini. Some courageous women collaborated with Finnish fashion designers to introduce a swimsuit range for women in their post-mastectomy life. Elina Halttunen, who is a breast cancer survivor herself, is behind the innovation of Monokini 2.0.

Huffington Post quoted Ms Halttunen, "Swimwear is conventionally designed for women who haven't suffered a mastectomy." She talked about inciting a positive self-image for breast cancer survivors. "We want to incite a positive self-image of breast-operated women by showing that you can be whole, beautiful and sexy even with just one breast or with no breasts at all," she said. The Web site called the swimsuit range as "one of fashion's most powerful collaborations to date."

Halttunen also said that she would not want to hide her body. She does not want to stop swimming either, she said. On the other hand, she does not "want to undergo extensive plastic surgery operations." "I do not want to be forced to use the uncomfortable prosthesis on the beach," she said. She also said that she would want to "feel as free and active" as she did before she had cancer. Tärähtäneet ämmät (Nutty Tarts) and Pinja Valja are the artistic director of Monokini 2.0 that helps her do that.

Morgan Jones earlier reported that more women are getting interested in undergoing reconstructive surgeries after going through mastectomy. According to a new study, rates of breast reconstruction after a mastectomy increased suggestively during the period between 1998 and 2007. Around 56 per cent of women who had mastectomy also had a breast reconstruction surgery. Hollywood celebrities like Angelina Jolie underwent preventive double mastectomy and them had a breast reconstruction surgery. It is not common to flaunt a post-mastectomy body with pride.

That is exactly why it takes a lot of courage to do what Halttunen and women like her are doing. Fashion innovations like Monokini 2.0 are just a means of paying tribute to these gutsy women.

Watch the brave women in specially designed swimsuits HERE.

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