New Orleans’ Caramel Curves, an all-Black women’s biking crew founded in 2005 by Nakosha “Coco” Smith and Shanika “Tru” Beatty, has already enjoyed the limelight for a few years thanks to their head-turning, pedal-to-the-metal clothing. When the 10 active members meet on Sundays, the women dress up in strappy heels fit for a night out, rhinestone-encrusted jackets, customized T-shirts boasting phrases like “anything but basic”, and helmets sprouting with fuchsia mohawks. The color palettes are flashy: blazing hot pinks, radiating highlighter yellows, and searing nuclear greens. There is no shortage of high-wattage glamour. It was enough to catch Rihanna’s eye, and have her cast them to model in the newest campaign for Savage X Fenty.
