She’s a New Yorker, she’s high femme, she’s for the girls, gays and they’s and she’s bringing speed to us. Today, we’re interviewing Tasia Johnson, founder of F1 Femme, an inclusive community for the women and LGBTQ+ people who love motorsport. Hosting events, connecting fans with each other and fostering a safe space, F1 Femme is offering a completely new perspective on motorsport fan communities.
The Start of An Era
With a background in women & gender studies, Tasia has been on a journey to bring inclusivity in motorsport in a way that feels true to her. In a male dominated space like the Formula 1 community, it can feel like a daunting, almost unachievable task to connect with fans that share our values and interests.
What would you say is the biggest inspiration behind the creation of F1 Femme?
"I was inspired by what I could and could not see. I could see that there were so many amazing fangirl hubs and fangirl communities, but I personally felt like something was still missing within that world. What I couldn't see: I wasn't seeing women that looked like me leading these fangirl communities. I didn't see enough inclusive language within these spaces. When I did see these things, they were not amplified ENOUGH. I wanted to do more. I kept telling my wife, “I wish I could do my own thing” or "I want to get more involved in motorsport but I'm scared" and not to mention, I was a full time lifestyle and travel content creator so making that jump to motorsport was super daunting.
I started F1 Femme in December of 2023 and at this point I had been a full time lifestyle content creator and freelance social media manager, but I knew that I wanted to merge my content creation skills and my love and longing for inclusive communities to create a space where women and non binary people felt comfortable learning more about the sport so that they can get more involved or just to have a space where they could unapologetically fangirl over the sport. I knew I had the vision but didn’t know where to start. My wife came up with the name “F1 Femme” because me being a femme queer person is a big part of me - after that it was full send from there. I literally worked on the branding and goals for myself and the community day and night. I think it's paid off!"
While fangirl communities are nothing new, especially not in sport, what F1 Femme brings is new. It’s nothing like we’ve seen. In motorsport, with a fan community where it often feels like women are tolerated at best, inclusion is still at its minimum. Fans are craving genuine connections. They want creators who look like them, who share their values and who will use their platform to defend their best interests. There can be a thousand fan communities, but only a few will be successful in creating a space that will accompany their members in the best way possible. This is exactly what F1 Femme does differently than other fangirl communities. It puts its members at the top.
What would you consider, so far, your biggest accomplishment with F1 Femme?
"100% the community. As a content creator of course I am proud of the partnerships, collaborations and content pieces that I've created, but this was always meant to be about community FIRST and foremost. I wouldn't have the amazing media opportunities and experiences that I've had if it weren't for this community. I don’t have followers, I have a community - and a pretty tight knit community at that. In just 3 months of building this community, we’ve traveled together for a race weekend, spent nights out together, attended watch parties together, confided in each other and so much more. I have so much pride knowing that I created something that has given everyone so much already and will continue on, it's more than what I ever could have imagined."
This rapid growth can only show one thing: that Tasia and her team are doing something right. They are offering a space that is long overdue. One that their community members needed more than ever.
A community that is here to stay
Joining a fan community for motorsport, especially for an elite level like Formula 1, can easily make some fans feel completely excluded from the action. With expensive subscriptions, merchandise items and even more expensive trips to live races, it is simply impossible for some to get the most out of their experience. Are fan communities a possible answer to this problem? Could they be the key to a future where as many fans can get opportunities to be into the action?
What are some goals you wish to achieve, short or long term, with your platform?
"I talk a lot about accessibility. At F1 Femme, we are super events based. We host events/plan on hosting events in many cities around the world. Events cost money, F1 Femme is 100% self/community funded (We have a $10 membership open and available to anyone that wants to see F1 Femme grow and tap into the community more but it is NOT required by any means). In 1-3 years my BIGGEST hope is that F1 Femme events are free for members that wish to attend an F1 Femme event in their area, or an event being hosted during a race weekend that they decide to travel to. I want to be able to bring a group of f1 femme members to a race weekend, fully funded. Attending motorsport events is a privilege and unfortunately costs a lot of money to some people, but it is something that I think more people should be able to experience. I want to be able to give back to the community that has given me so much. So who knows where things will go from here with funding but I only see good things in the very near future! Maybe people will say this is a long term goal, but I’ve always been a big time goals gal and it's worked out well so far. "
Tasia is on a mission to do so with F1 Femme. Making motorsport accessible is a challenge, and it is more than applaudable to take it on.
How should content creators go about building a community in 2024?
We cannot expect to grow and create meaningful connections if we do not foster an environment favorable to those who do not get a voice.
“No matter what it is - follow your passions and be so unapologetically you. Be kind & diversify the community that you surround yourself with (if you can only remember one thing that I've said this entire time, let it be this) - When you surround yourself with people from all different backgrounds, whether it be race, sex, gender, class, educational background, age etc. you will understand and see the world in a much better, more well rounded light.” - Tasia Johnson
See it, be it. It all starts with us.
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