For a long time, lowriders were a guy’s thing, but now women are cruising through Los Angeles in customized cars, too. Because they love chrome and deep bass—and want to make a statement.

“I didn’t want to just sit in the passenger seat. I wanted my own car, my own lowrider, and I wanted to drive it myself,” says Sandy Avila of Los Angeles. The 40-year-old mother of four not only built her own lowrider but also founded one of the few female lowrider clubs. “Back then, we were just the wives and girlfriends who dressed the kids up for the car shows and helped clean the cars,” explains Sandy. But today, more and more women in the heavily male-dominated scene are choosing to build and drive their own cars. These vehicles, often purchased as wrecks, are restored through years of meticulous, detail-oriented work. Expensive and rare spare parts go into the creations, which ultimately reflect the personalities of their owners.

On weekends, you can find Sandy and her fellow members at the many events in Los Angeles. Their candy-colored cars glisten in the sun as they cruise leisurely down bustling streets and through city parks, their deep bass sounds audible from afar. “We show off our cars, have barbecues, and talk about our passion,” she says. Like many other clubs, the Lady Lowriders are actively involved in the community: “We collect food for the homeless and toys for children. It’s about family, solidarity, and giving back.”

The lowrider movement, which emerged in Los Angeles in the late 1940s, was originally an expression of identity and creativity within the Mexican-American community and evolved into a symbol of resistance and self-assertion. These vehicles, regarded as rolling works of art, experienced a surge in popularity in the 1960s and 1970s through films, music, and the media. Nevertheless, lowriders continue to battle stereotypes and discrimination to this day. California’s decision to legalize cruising starting in January 2024 and lift restrictions on modifications is a milestone—a recognition of this cultural expression and a victory for the community that has been fighting for its rights and passion for decades.