Luxury Swimwear Brand Faces Backlash Over ‘Disrespectful’ $167 Rosa Parks-Inspired Bikini

A high-end swimwear company has been criticized for releasing a bikini named after civil rights icon Rosa Parks, sparking outrage on social media platforms.

DivinoSeas, a Guatemala-based luxury label, recently unveiled a two-piece swimsuit for their collection honoring historical female figures. The “Rosa” bikini, available in “Sea Salt” and “Light Pink” colors, is described on the company’s website as an “artesian-inspired salute to haute couture” and a tribute to Parks’ role in the Civil Rights movement.

The swimsuit’s top, priced at $90, is currently out of stock. The bottoms, originally listed at $72, are now on sale for $36, with limited availability.

Critics have taken to social media to express their disapproval, calling the product “disrespectful” and accusing the company of profiting from Parks’ legacy. 

One user on X, formerly known as Twitter, wrote, “Trying to capitalize off of a leading figure [of] the Civil Rights Movement & profit off of exploiting Rosa Parks’ legacy by using her name to sell a BIKINI… That’s just horrendous.”

Another commenter pointed out the irony of the situation, stating, “Nothing screams ‘rebellion against apartheid-style segregation in the US that sparked the Civil Rights movement’ quite like a non-black owned business charging $167 for this pink monstrosity.”

DivinoSeas defends the design, claiming it is “meticulously designed with divinity in the details” and possesses a “seductive yet stately gravitas.” The company’s website states the bikini is inspired by Parks’ “righteous rebellion against apartheid-style segregation in the United States.”