On Tuesday 13th June 2023, breast asymmetry is going mainstream with a prime-time feature on BBC South News! Scroll to the end to watch the full feature.
Update! A few days later we also made it on to BBC Breakfast - watch on YouTube!
Breaking The Taboob Is Big News
Our founder, Kate Taylor, was thrilled to hear that the BBC wanted to help her in her mission to #BreakTheTaboob around breast asymmetry by shining a light on the topic and letting the millions of people with uneven breasts know that they are not alone.
The piece will include an interview by Linzi Kinghorn talking to Kate about her reasons for starting Evenly, the many challenges that people with breast asymmetry can face and some of the possible causes of breast asymmetry such as Poland Syndrome, breast-feeding and cancer surgeries. Kate also talks about the breast asymmetry support community she has built over in the private Facebook group The Uneven Titty Committee™ and the positive difference this has made to so many.
Most Boobs Are Uneven
Millions of women across the world (including Kate herself) have breast asymmetry – in fact 94% of women have uneven breasts in one form or another – from asymmetric sizes to a difference in nipple height and shape – breasts need to be thought of as sisters and not twins. However, with only perfectly symmetrical breasts being shown in the media, it is easy for women to feel like they are the only one with asymmetry.
Evenly is working hard to change that and currently is the only company whose sole remit is dedicated to providing products and support for breast asymmetry. In 2020 Evenly launched the Bra Balancer™ – a natural moving and feeling silicone breast form that sits within a bra or swimwear, to create symmetry and balance without the need for physical implants.
The perfectly weighted silicone of the Bra Balancer™ mimics the weight of the missing natural breast tissue on a woman's smaller side, meaning their bra can hold and distribute the weight of their breasts more evenly - restoring confidence and alleviating discomfort. These bra fillers are sold in a range of different thicknesses to suit varying levels of asymmetry from up to one cup size difference, one to two cup sizes difference, or two to three cup sizes difference between the breasts. The Bra Balancers™ within each thickness range come in different sizes to suit different bra cups and ensure a perfect fit.
Evenly Is Changing Lives, One Boob At A Time
In addition to the interview with Kate, the BBC program will also feature one of Evenly’s customers Natalie who says her confidence has soared since using the Evenly Bra Balancer™. Having spent her life trying to find something to tackle the issue of ill-fitting bras, including ‘chicken-fillet’ bra inserts and padding, and finally having sought medical advice from the NHS for her asymmetric breasts only to be told that there was little help available, she said finding Evenly was a brilliant moment.
Natalie, a trainee nurse, says: “Confidence is the first thing I noticed. I’m much more confident. I put the Bra Balancer™ in my bra and straight away the weight and feel was perfect – my bra instantly fit better. I sent a video to my friend, like, look it looks even! I think it makes you feel more confident and so you hold yourself better.”
After consulting with a private doctor, Natalie was told she may have Poland Syndrome, a condition that means the chest muscles are underdeveloped and this can also affect the shoulder, arm and hand muscles. She was given an estimate of between £7-8,000 for surgery and so she had been looking for alternatives.
For Natalie, she has used the Bra Balancer™ at the gym and at work and she said she doesn’t feel limited by clothing choice anymore. Natalie said that when she was a teen she wasn’t allowed to wear padded or wired bras and so she held herself differently to try and hide her asymmetry.
She says “What’s so important is that women realise they are not alone and having asymmetric breasts is totally normal. It’s something I have always been aware of – my bigger side is a DD and my smaller side is a B or C cup. I want other women to know that there are lots of us out here with breast asymmetry and it’s nothing to be ashamed of – you are amazing and beautiful.”
Normalising Breast Asymmetry, Not Its Impacts
As well as the pain of ill-fitting bras - pain from pinching of bra straps and ‘muffin top’ or cups digging in on the larger breast side -breast asymmetry can also lead to back, neck and shoulder pain due to more weight from the larger boob on one side.
Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr from the Research Group in Breast Health at the University of Portsmouth also features in the BBC piece, showcasing the University’s world-leading research and breast biomechanical measuring technology. Joanna says: "Breast asymmetry has the potential to cause significant biomechanical issues, particularly for women that exercise frequently. Having an increase in breast mass on one side of the body could change the way you move and even increase your risk of injury."
Uneven Boobs Aren't The Problem, Bras Are!
Kate Taylor created Evenly to help the millions of women like her who have asymmetric (uneven) breasts and to fix the real issue of asymmetry – the bra itself – and #BreakTheTaboob around breast asymmetry to empower women. Her work with Evenly has won Kate recognition from the UK Government with her winning the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award in 2021 – the judges recognised breast asymmetry as an area worthy of their support and investment.
Kate said: “Our aim is to make women feel more confident in their own skin without the need to resort to plastic surgery. Augmentation is a very personal choice, and we find many women in our community don’t want surgery for various reasons including health concerns over implants, or because their bodies are still changing, for example in the case of breast-feeding mums or teenagers going through puberty. (*In fact, many women find there isn’t a surgery option available to them – the NHS’s Integrated Care Boards decide what is or isn’t funded in an area and often non-cancer related breast surgery is considered a low funding priority.)
“At Evenly we believe it is the bra that needs fixing – not the person.”
“Bras need to be fixed to support real women and their unique and beautiful bodies. We have created a patent-pending new bra design for asymmetry which we’re now seeking the right lingerie partner to help us bring to market. However in the meantime, as symmetrical bras are the standard, we want to make them work better for women. Breast asymmetry can cause issues like back, neck and shoulder pain due to the uneven weight and mass of the breasts and the Bra Balancer™ helps to even this out.”
Unsure where to start? Try our Fit Finder to discover the perfect Bra Balancer™ size for you in 3 easy steps, or read our detailed guide to bra filler sizing.
Watch the full BBC South feature here: