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FOR the founder of iconic swimwear brand Moana Bikini, Karina Irby (pictured top right), 2017 has been an unbeatable year.
The young Gold Coast entrepreneur who started the business off an $800 loan from her dad has now moved into her first headquarters, shipping orders to thousands of avid Moana fans worldwide.
In addition to populating her very first factory, Irby is also riding the high from the launch of her new collection called 'Escape.'
Irby says her favourite thing about the Escape collection is that it is steering Moana in a different direction to cater for various new body types.
"The most exciting thing about this year is that we're now catering for more body shapes, which is something that I've really wanted to do for a long time," says Irby.
"I got very sad when I read e-mails from girls with bigger boobs or curvier hips that wanted something we just didn't have, so it's fantastic that we are now able to make those girls happy."
"Before now I was doing the pattern making for Moana, but now we've brought on a new staff member who is able to take over the pattern making and lift our designs to the next level."
Meredith Mickelson shows off Moana Bikini in Bora Bora
If Irby's 1.2 million plus followers on social media wasn't already enough to get the Escape collection off the ground, LA rising-star model Meredith Mickelson (pictured left) joined forces with Irby as the new face of the Moana Bikini brand.
Mickelson brings a further 1.4 million Instagram followers to the table.
Award-winning photographer Trent Mitchell was also brought on to shoot the promo material for the collection which featured Mickelson and Irby in Bora Bora.
Irby admits she doesn't quite know how to back up Moana's most successful year yet, but she says it's a good challenge to have.
"The Moana crew were in Bora Bora just lying there in the ocean at one point, just floating having a great time, when we just looking at ourselves and thought 'my god, how are we going to make this better next year'," says Irby.
"I always believe you should surround yourself with people who are better than you because as you learn, the business gets better. Surrounding yourself with cool people is the key."
In the coming months, Irby looks forward to launching her new nutrition guide as part of Moana's Bikini Body Burn division.
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