Sun Bum is launching the 'We Are Not Bananas' campaign on Saturday, May 1st—just in time for Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

The new campaign continues the message Sun Bum began to spread with its #BananaSuitChallenge in 2019—when the brand asked consumers to dress in a banana suit and take a photo. Athlete Isabella Nichols wore a banana suit on a motorcycle in the photo above (by @RYZphoto) and posted it on Instagram in May 2019.

This year, Sun Bum will continue to spread its message on social media by posting 'banana suit' photos—especially TikTok, where the brand will create content with original music to capture Gen Z's attention.

Statues in All 50 States, In a Banana Suit

Sun Bum will dress 50 statues across the U.S. in banana suits throughout May, to help spread the message that many forms of skin cancer are preventable. Skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. 

Why a Banana Suit?

Sun Bum's mascot is Sunny the Ape——and because bananas are protected head to toe, just like we should be, the brand explains. 

Russell Radebaugh, vice president of Marketing & International, Sun Bum, says, "1 in 5 people will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime. Sun Bum has always been a source of positivity and community...With our non-scare tactic approach of dressing statues in banana suits, we hope to create great awareness and virality to change the stat to 1 in 6 and remind everyone to use sunscreen daily."

Plus—the statues won't be in just any banana suit. Sun Bum recruited Hollywood costume designer Erik Dixon, who led a team of pattern makers, tailors, and local seamstresses in each state to create custom suits. Each statue required more than 20 fittings.

Which Statues Will Look Like a Banana?

Sun Bum says its team had hundreds of conversations with public art commissions, government agencies, city mayors, museum curators and more.

Stay tuned for the big reveal.

Sun Bum to Launch 'Summer of Love' Collection

Sun Bum will also launch 'The Summer of Love' Collection exclusively at Target this May.

The line of seven SPF products will showcase the universal symbol of love, a heart, on the packaging in place of the brand's iconic Sonny the ape logo.