After my double mastectomy, I turned my side hustle into a full-time business. We did $60,000 in one month.

• Bette Bentley invented Skimpies, an underwear alternative.
• She was hand-delivering the product to acquaintances and barely breaking even.
• After undergoing a double mastectomy, she fully committed to the business, and sales soon followed.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bette Bentley, founder of Skimpies. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My grandmother died of breast cancer at 40, so I went for my first mammogram at 36. I found out that I had a pre-cancerous growth. Because of my family history, it was very concerning. My doctor told me if I were her daughter, she'd be operating tomorrow. Within weeks, I had a double mastectomy and reconstruction.

When I woke up in my hospital room, I thought about the things that made me happy: God, my husband, my kids, and Skimpies, my business that I'd so far only been running as a side hustle. I was surprised that Skimpies made the list, but I knew then I should take it seriously.

Before then, I was hand-cutting Skimpies, single-use cotton underwear alternatives, at my kitchen table and delivering them to women I knew. I would say, "I can't wait to be in your pants," and we would laugh and hug. Connecting with these other women was pure joy. I knew, lying in my hospital bed, that I wanted to grow that feeling into a real, full-fledged business.

Making a major medical decision gave me confidence

I put down the deposit on a mold that would allow us to manufacture Skimpies on a larger scale, all before being discharged.

I had just made a massive decision for my health: getting the mastectomy and giving up my dream of having and breastfeeding a third child. I'd lost my breasts, which contributed to my femininity and self-worth, but I'd made it out the other side. Now, I had the confidence to dive into my business wholeheartedly.

The idea for Skimpies was personal

I'd come up with the idea for Skimpies years before. I'm in leggings all the time. I love working out, and being a mom is a workout in itself. And yet, I had an underwear problem anytime I put my leggings on. I didn't want visible panty lines, but no one wants to do yoga in a thong!

Most women I talked to were going commando, but that creates its own issues for grown adults. To cope with moisture, I tried using a panty liner in my leggings, but it always just balled up.

At the same time, I struggled with urinary tract infections (UTIs), which can be made worse by synthetic underwear. I wanted a cotton product that could give me coverage "from beep to boop" as I like to say, and keep up with my active lifestyle.

I had no background in manufacturing — I was a comedy writer who had most recently been a stay-at-home mom. But I'm the type of person who solves a problem when I see it.

I'm celebrating second chances

I officially launched my business in September 2024. I started promoting the product on TikTok. It reminded me of the early days of hand-delivering Skimpies to a few acquaintances. I felt a strong connection with my customers and community, and started selling on TikTok live. My comedy background was a great help in engaging the audience, and sales took off. Last June, we did $60,000 in sales in a month.

During the past year, I've also completed my undergraduate degree and a business certificate at Stanford Graduate School of Business. For a long time, not having a degree was a source of embarrassment and pain. It turns out I only needed to take one more class. Now I've healed that wound and grown from the challenge.

Today, my company has eight employees. I focus on hiring moms who have been out of the workforce while raising their families. They remind me of where I was when I first had this idea. Whether it's returning to a career after having babies or getting a new lease on life after a health scare, I want Skimpies to be a place where second chances are celebrated.