🎀 From Grid Girl to It Girl: The Return of Motorsport Femininity

rosaliexfaith
Aug 27
2 min read

Pink flags waving, heels clicking, cameras flashing - the motorsport girl aesthetic is back, but she’s driving the narrative this time.

💋 The Grid Girl Era

Once upon a time in F1, the “grid girl” was a fixed part of race day - young women in short skirts, heels, and team-branded outfits, tasked with holding flags, umbrellas, or driver name boards. They were there for the look, not the lap times.

Critics (rightly) pointed out the outdated, one-dimensional role - it was decor, not representation. By 2018, Formula 1 retired the concept, signalling a shift towards a more progressive, inclusive image of the sport.

👠 The Aesthetic Never Really Left

Here’s the thing: while the official role disappeared, the motorsport-feminine look didn’t vanish—it evolved.

The thigh-high boots, glossy lipstick, and tight-fitting jumpsuits?
The perfectly waved hair and statement sunnies?
The unapologetic glam alongside high-octane action?

It all got reimagined - not as a role to be assigned, but as a style to be owned.

🎀 From Mascot to Main Character

Today’s “It Girl” in motorsport is not a prop - she’s a fan, a driver, a content creator, a team member, or a VIP guest. She dresses for herself, not for the pit wall.

We see it in:

F1 TikTok creators mixing team merch with mini skirts
Celebrities in the paddock rocking full designer looks with a nod to racing culture
Women in the industry wearing sharp tailoring, bold lipstick, and yes—heels in the garage

The same aesthetic elements that once felt restrictive are now used as tools for self-expression.

💖 Pink Pride in the Paddock

For years, pink in motorsport was rare - and often dismissed as “girly” in a negative sense. Now? Pink is everywhere:

BWT Alpine’s hot pink livery
Pastel pink paddock passes on Instagram feeds
Barbiecore-inspired race weekend fits

It’s proof that femininity doesn’t dilute motorsport - it adds to it.

🏁 The New Grid Girl Energy

The modern motorsport feminine aesthetic isn’t about appealing to the crowd - it’s about owning the grid. The hair, the makeup, the heels - they’re as much a part of the race day ritual as the national anthem or the tyre change.

She’s not waiting to be invited to the party - she’s arriving in pole position.