A swimwear brand has been criticized online for dedicating a $165 bikini in memory of Rosa Parks.
Earlier this year, Miami-based Divino Seas debuted the matching “rosa” bikini top and bottoms on their website.
In the description of both products, the brand outlines how they were inspired by “the woman whose righteous uprising against apartheid segregation in the United States sparked the civil rights movement of the 1960s.”
Rosa Parks was an American civil rights activist who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in December 1955 – leading to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which protested segregated seating on public transportation.
The description continues: ‘In honor of Rosa Parks, DivinoSeas has included this artesian [sic] inspired salute to haute couture in luxury swimwear.
In the photo: the pink bikini from Divino Seas, dedicated to the memory of American civil rights activist Rosa Parks
‘ROSA has been carefully designed with divinity in the details. Every element in the constellation of her composition contributes to the seductive yet stately gravitas of the sets.’
Both the bikini top and bottoms, made of polyester and spandex, are currently on sale for half price and available in sizes XS-L.
Earlier this week, the product description of the bikini caught the attention of Pauli Mia, the singer of the American band Twin Princess.
Stunned by the unlikely tribute to Rosa Parks, the musician posted screenshots of the website to X and wrote: “Can I show you something?”
The X-post has now amassed more than 11,000 likes and has been viewed by almost 300,000 users.
One follower replied: ‘LMFAO, we’ve reached millennial marketing peak.’
Another joked: ‘RIP Rosa Parks, you would have loved this stripper bikini top.’
“I don’t think Rosa Parks would wear this,” a third replied.
Pictured: American civil rights activist Rosa Parks after being arrested in 1955 for refusing to give up her seat on a bus
The musician’s X-post has now amassed more than 11,000 likes and has been viewed by almost 300,000 users
In the description of both products, the brand outlines how they were inspired by “the woman whose righteous uprising against apartheid segregation in the United States sparked the civil rights movement of the 1960s.”
Meanwhile, a fourth added: ‘This is hilarious! A complete separation between design and marketing.
“Did anyone put a prompt on ‘AI’, like ‘Write 100 persuasive words about the color rose’?”
Echoing this sentiment, a fifth said: “I really need to know which part screamed ‘stately gravitas’.”
Additionally, Pauli’s viral post brought others to the website, where they discovered there is also a bikini set named after former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Miami swimwear brand Divino Seas has also created a blue bikini set dedicated to former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
The product description for the £76 top reads: ‘Named after America’s most famous first lady, the honorable noble nominee Eleanor Roosevelt, who controversially condemned fascist dictatorships at a politically inopportune time’
Former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1960. President Franklin Roosevelt’s wife died in 1962
The product description for the £76 top reads: ‘Named after America’s most famous first lady, the honorable noble nominee Eleanor Roosevelt, who controversially condemned fascist dictatorships at a politically inopportune time.
‘This uniquely structured Legacy Line piece also goes against the zeitgeist and embraces the truth through body positivity through comfort and quality.’
After another customer saw the tribute to Eleanor Roosevelt, he simply wrote, “I can’t lol.”
“Oh my God, they’re real,” one person replied. “They’re both real.”
Femail has contacted Divonos Sea for comment.