Christine McGuinness, a television personality, has fronted a new campaign for the sensory-friendly lingerie line Being Wear. The brand is designed with neurodivergent people in mind, a cause close to McGuinness's heart as she and her three children have been diagnosed with autism.
McGuinness, 38, modeled the collection, expressing a newfound comfort with herself, which she attributes to relaxing a fitness regimen she described as "borderline obsessive" at one point. She noted that as she gets older, she feels less pressure to push herself physically and is prioritizing comfort and relaxation.
"I do enjoy going to the gym but I'm not like a fitness fanatic like I used to be," McGuinness told the Daily Mail. "I think I probably was borderline obsessed at one point. Whereas now, I think I've been feeling a lot on my body as we do with women as we're getting older."
She explained that her children are now at an age where they are more comfortable and engaged in different experiences, which parallels her own journey. McGuinness described learning self-confidence as an ongoing process, stating, "It's not about [projecting] confidence, it's just sort of being comfortable with myself, just being me."
Previously, McGuinness admitted to worrying about being photographed, concerned with her outfits or being on trend. Now, she is more focused on comfort and authenticity. Her reflections on her own past struggles with sensory issues and communication in school have informed her approach to parenting her children, emphasizing that others' opinions do not define them.
Being Wear, founded in Australia by Andrew Whittle, was inspired by his daughter's challenges in finding comfortable and confidence-boosting underwear that accommodated her sensory sensitivities. The garments are made from modal, a soft, breathable fabric, and feature smooth waistbands and flatlock seams for a discreet feel.
McGuinness shared her enthusiasm for partnering with the brand for its British launch, highlighting its inclusivity. "Being Wear is an inclusive underwear brand and it's designed for people like me, like my children with sensory sensitivities," she said. "Just knowing that it's going to feel nice on my skin and my sensory issues aren't going to lead to me pulling and picking out tags, and it's really beautiful underwear."
She also sees the brand's gender-free approach as a step forward for inclusivity and representation. McGuinness publicly shared her autism diagnosis in 2021, followed by a BBC documentary, "Christine McGuinness: Unmasking My Autism." Her children – twins Penelope and Leo, 11, and Felicity, eight – also have autism, a topic explored in the documentary "Our Children And Autism," which she fronted with her ex-husband Paddy McGuinness.
McGuinness is contemplating a third documentary that would focus on her children's transition into teenage years and adult life with autism, noting the need for greater awareness and discussion around various neurodevelopmental conditions.