How To Breathe Confidence (In Just Your Calvins)
Finding your confidence is never a linear process, and rarely is it final—as model, DJ, and creative Lina Giselle would be the first to attest. Self-assuredness doesn’t come genetically and it isn’t discovered overnight—this is an ongoing, internal conversation that takes consistency and dedication. “I cultivate my confidence by dedicating time to myself and prioritizing my own needs,” Lina says, as well as through "community and shared experiences that make me feel supported and understood”. Self-belief is hard won.
Lina is one of three creators starring in The Confidence Chronicles, CK Shapewear’s visual manual to discovering your most confident self, produced by Highsnobiety. Alongside Deba Hekmat and Melissa Bon, Lina shows that the best shapewear should do more than sculpt the body—it should support your sense of ease, authenticity, and personal expression.
Naturally, clothes are not the only solution; but they are a large part of it. Finding the right outfit, the one that makes you feel grounded in your own body, can create a powerful shift in how you carry yourself. As The Confidence Chronicles launches, we pick Lina’s brains on where her own sense of self comes from, and why it’s important to look inwards, not outwards, when building a confidence practice.
Can you pinpoint an early memory when you really felt confident for the first time?
I don’t have one specific moment, because confidence for me was a slow and gradual process. My mother always told me, ‘People will see you the way you see yourself,’ and that line stayed with me. When I was around 19 or 20, something finally shifted; I began treating myself with more kindness and stopped trying to hide what I saw as ‘flaws.’ I had to choose between feeling sad about being different or embracing it, and choosing to embrace it changed everything.
Your freckles are such a defining characteristic, but you’ve said they were an insecurity of yours when you were young. Can you remember when you first started to embrace their beauty?
I think I started feeling confident about my freckles when a MUA friend and I decided to see what I’d look like without them. We covered them completely, and when I looked in the mirror, I didn’t recognize myself at all. That moment made me realize how much they were a part of my identity. I was around 22 or 23, and from that day on, I stopped wearing foundation.
How has finding your confidence helped to evolve your creativity?
It’s helped me a lot, because confidence is basically about trusting your own instincts, and creativity is all intuition. I’m not saying it’s always easy, but trusting my judgment and listening to what I need, even when everything feels uncertain, always helps me find new ways to express myself.
Everyone has days when they wake up and they’re not feeling so self-assured. What outfit would you put on for those days?
It really depends on the situation. Sometimes I go for something comfy like an oversized tracksuit, a hoodie, and a puffer jacket. Other times, when I need a confidence boost, I’ll put on a nice top, a maxi skirt, and an oversized leather jacket.
How should good shapewear make you feel?
Good shapewear should support you and enhance the parts of your body that make you feel good about yourself, so you should be able to move comfortably without feeling restricted.
When did you first come across CK Shapewear? What stood out to you about the brand?
I first came across CK Shapewear when I saw Coco Rebecca Edogamhe in the product. When I tried it for the first time, the softness of the material immediately stood out to me. I also appreciated that it doesn’t change the appearance of your body, but it gives a bit of natural structure.
And a last one for our readers: what’s your mantra for achieving total self-confidence, in one sentence?
Real confidence comes from taking care of your inner self before anything else!
Discover the full CK Shapewear range on Zalando here.
