Caramel Curves are a statement motorcycle club, and here is why. In the present, they are the only all-female African American MC in New Orleans. But they are not what you might expect…
These conspicuous rebels are about more than just riding bikes, they are also about challenging stereotypes. Most of all they deconstruct gender norms, breaking down expectations of women motorcycle enthusiasts and the association of riding a motorcycle with masculinity. You can ride a motorcycle in high heels and leave a pink smoke as you ride by. And still be cool. Caramel Curves prove it. What is more, they display a strong and wonderful sisterhood in a male-dominated universe.
The Foundation Stone
The Caramel Curves MC was founded in July 2005 by a few women, of whom Nakosha Smith and Shanika Beatty are still part of the group. They united under the fitting name to describe their skin color, luscious bodies, and skills as riders: “We called ourselves “caramel” because of the color of our skin, and “curves” because we’re curvy women, and we take curves on the bikes”. All members go by “bike names”, so, for example, Nakosha Smith is Coco, Shanika Beatty is Tru, and another member, Dezel Bell goes by First Lady Foxy.
Shortly after the foundation stone was laid, their beloved city was hit by Hurricane Katrina. The city had to rebuild itself, locals were moving out… it was hard on everybody and it was hard on the newly formed Caramel Curves. But a year later riding along with other women united by sisterhood became therapeutic for people looking to heal after such a disaster. So, the pink MC consolidated and still rides through the streets of New Orleans. What is more, they also amassed quite a following on social media with their Facebook and Instagram accounts. On Instagram, they presently have 25.1K followers.
High Heels and Hot Wheels
Who are these fierce riders? They are mothers, your neighbors, business owners, community leaders… united by their common passion for burning rubber, high heels, and the color pink. With slightly over a dozen members, they are a small, but tightly knit MC.
Whenever they are out and about, they like to leave an impression… there is no way you can miss them in their coordinating outfits as they ride into the sunset in a pink mist. The strong visual effect is achieved by using a pink dye that colors the smoke during a burnout. Another signature detail is the helmets ridged with pink Mohawk.
But it is one other fashion aspect that stirred great controversy around them, high heels. Some people expressed their concern for the potential risk of riding a bike in high heels. But the members expressed that they are very safety conscious even with their stilettos. As the co-founder Coco puts it: “I’m always riding in cute clothes. And you wouldn’t want to be with someone looking fly and you looking regular, you know?” Oh, we know…
How To Become A Member
So how does one become a Caramel Curve you ask? If you are a woman who loves motorcycles you can try out for membership if you pass trials that can last from 90 days to a year. But the most important thing is that you must possess your own bike. “Prospects” are expected to undergo several tests and not all are motorcycle related. As the MC has a strong root in their community, candidates are expected to contribute to local events or serve the community as they see fit. One of their more popular community service events was to raise money to buy bicycles for underprivileged girls.
Still, if you want to be part of the MC, you need to prove that you are a fierce rider. Skills can be tested in different scenarios, like ride-alongs that sometimes cross city or state lines, thus possibly opening less familiar roads. Caramel Curves might also take their candidates to bike gatherings such as Black Bike Week at Myrtle Beach, S.C.
But there is more, so make sure you keep some tricks up your sleeve. When completing their obstacle course, you will be expected to showcase some pretty practical maneuvers like avoiding crowds or broken glass, and jumping sidewalks in case the road becomes inaccessible. But it might help to throw in a couple of extra well-executed tricks.
Future plans
The spicy Caramel Curves meet every Sunday and ride through their beloved New Orleans as local celebrities. As Shannon Sims reports for The New York Times:
“Yasss, queen!” a young woman shouts out of her car window as she nods with a big smile. “All right now!” an older woman calls out from across the street while waving. A tourist grabs his friend by the shirt and points, stunned, watching the women go by.
New Orleans vibes emanate from them, as they are completely submerged in the beat of the city. This cultural immersion was one of the reasons they appeared on IGTV’s series Unexpected Tour Guides in 2019. In the episode, three members of the Caramel Curves are paired up with travel influencers who are shown a hidden side of New Orleans, off the beaten track. So, the tour is done by locals, and the episode was also filmed by local filmmakers Justin Zweifach and Zac Manuel, for a truly authentic experience.
Caramel Curves is keen on expanding and to have a chapter in every city near you. Some of the current members reside in Baton Rouge, which is an hour and a half away from New Orleans, and are hoping to bring the Caramel Curves to their hometown as well. These women riders bring a playful and feminine side to the motorcycle culture, that is still stigmatized and too often associated with outlaws. Caramel Curves bring a little glitter to the black, a little pink to the smoke, and pinpoint their political statement with high heels.