Recently, we had a chat with our inspiring medical advisor, Dr. Janine Ellenberger. She shared her journey to embracing her natural body and the importance of comfortable clothing.
What is Janine's "Boob Story?"
Dr. Janine Ellenberger’s story is all about self-acceptance and comfort. Growing up in a small town in South Africa, her breasts were never really a big deal. Everything changed during a beach holiday when she saw a woman named Flor confidently sunbathing topless. This moment transformed her view of breasts from just body parts to symbols of femininity and freedom.
"And I actually remember very clearly there was a woman called Flor and she was pretty much naked on the beach and fully comfortable with these massive boobs. And she had a flower in her hair and I was like, you rock woman, you're incredible, look at that."
What is her relationship with clothing?
Throughout her life, Dr. Ellenberger found traditional bras to be uncomfortable. She preferred loose clothing and often wore tank tops under her scrubs during her medical studies and work. This preference for comfort over conventional fashion became even stronger during her pregnancies when her breast size changed significantly.
"I didn't ever like being constricted in clothing. I always wore big t-shirts and big clothes... I don't change because I don't know what I want to wear. I changed because I'm uncomfortable in what I'm wearing and I don't like to be constricted. A bra is a particularly uncomfortable item of clothing."
What led her to her current passion?
Dr. Ellenberger’s professional journey is all about healing. Growing up as the eldest of four siblings in Bloemfontein, she experienced the loss of her brother at a young age, shaping her life's mission to heal and support others.
"Then, I wanted to fix people. Now, I want to help people learn to fix themselves."
How is she revolutionizing mental health screening?
What is Janine's #VKTORIsecret?
She encourages women to embrace their bodies and personal choices, sharing that she once felt self-conscious about her height and body shape but now proudly wears shorts and embraces her natural form.
"I'm very tall. I was the tallest person in the school growing up. So it was really hard to have a boyfriend or anything because I was really, really tall. I had very big feet. They didn't make shoes my size at school. I used to have to wear the boys' shoes, which are very unattractive.
I was often made fun of for what I looked like or what I was wearing. I used to never wear shorts, now I wear shorts! I embrace my body way more now than I ever used to."
Dr. Ellenberger’s journey is all about self-acceptance, dedication, and innovation. Her work with VKTORI and Behavidance shows just how committed she is to making a difference in both fashion and mental health. We’re thrilled to have her on our team and can't wait to keep empowering women to embrace their true selves with comfort and confidence.