iBestTravel Celebrates Women in Lowrider Culture

Known for their hopping hydraulics, custom upholstery, and intricate paint jobs, lowrider cars are symbols of empowerment and freedom, along with celebrating the broader lowrider culture. To honor Women’s History Month and celebrate women who have played integral roles in lowriding culture, Mexican beer manufacturer Modelo partnered with MotorTrend Group (the parent company of MotorTrend and Lowrider magazine) to produce a limited edition of Lowrider.

The special, one-time reissue of Lowrider (which you can read in digital format here) champions the women of lowriding. It is crafted by women for women—from editorial direction led by Dr. Denise Sandoval, a professor of Chicana/o studies, to the photographers, creative directors, writers, and more. Modelo donated advertising space in the publication to women-owned businesses to further support and spotlight entrepreneurs driving the lowrider industry.

Highlighting Inspiring Women in Lowriding

The issue spotlights the stories of women who have cultivated and redefined the lowrider movement across the country, including:

• Tina Blankenship-Early (Los Angeles): Long before she was the first woman inducted into the National Lowrider Hall of Fame and Lowrider Magazine Hall of Fame, Blankenship-Early was known on the scene as “First Lady.”
• Jacqueline Valenzuela (Whittier, CA): Valenzuela is a Chicana artist whose art depicts what it means to be Chicana in the lowrider community. Moreover, she is also a lowrider owner and founder of the Prophets Car Club, which encourages both women and LGBTQ+ membership.
• Sandy Avila (Pasadena, CA): Avila recalls fellow women in the lowriding community who inspired and encouraged her to start the Lady Lowrider Car Club, which now raises thousands of dollars annually for charitable causes and redefines the role of women in the community.
• Angel Romero (Sunnyvale, CA): As the president of Dueñas Car Club, Romero encourages fellow female lowriders to be proud of their spot in the community and empower the next generation, while also underscoring the importance of philanthropy by organizing annual fundraisers for organizations that support breast cancer research.

The Evolution of Lowriding

The roots of lowriding trace back to the 1940s when car culture began to take hold across post-WWII America. As the hot rod trend swept the country, Mexican Americans began to alter their cars to distinguish themselves on and off the road. Consequently, the concept of lowriders and the broader lowriding culture extended beyond customizations and the Mexican American community.

Spotlighting Women’s Contributions

Historically, representations of women in Lowrider magazine were often limited to models on the hoods of cars. However, this limited-edition revival highlights the women behind the wheel who have fought for their place as drivers, builders, mechanics, painters, and welders in a male-dominated world.

Lowrider magazine ceased regular print publication in 2019. Fans in the Los Angeles area can be the first to get a copy of the magazine at the Lowrider Long Beach Super Show at the Long Beach Convention Center on Saturday, March 9, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pacific time. Furthermore, fans nationwide can access the digital version of the issue here.