Empowering Women in the Off-Road Community: A Celebration of Badass Trailblazers

Admittedly, taking over as editor of TREAD in 2019 was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. I knew enough for some general water cooler chat, but not enough to give expert advice to the general public. Add to that the fact that I am an Asian-American woman in a predominantly male industry, and I knew I was in for a challenge. However, I quickly learned that I am my toughest critic, and I was entering a more welcoming community than I had ever imagined.

My first months as editor entailed taking over social media and getting a feel for the online audience. I would comment on posts and “bro out” because I was scared someone wouldn’t take me seriously as a female. In fact, when I got the opportunity to meet a few Instagram friends in person, they were shocked to see me—a woman. They were never disappointed, just surprised to see that Kelly was a chick and not a dude. Some of those meetings blossomed into solid friendships over the years and continue to be cherished. It was those early introductions and friendships that convinced me, “Yeah girl, you got this! Anything you don’t know, you can learn. No biggie.” And in I jumped with both feet, speed learning the world of overlanding.

After working on Tread for almost 6 years, there is still so much I can and need to learn. And what pushes me and encourages me to continue my growth is the amazing women I meet in the off-road and overlanding communities. Want inclusivity? It’s here. Want support? We got your back. Want encouragement? You got this! And not to be ignored are the numerous men who have helped us all along the way. You all rock, too!

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It’s been important to me to celebrate the fearless and adventurous females out there who blaze trails for themselves and continuously inspire and influence others. The way I can do it best is through our content. This issue brings together a few badass women who are making names for themselves and empowering others, whether they know it or not. It also celebrates ingenuity with a hybrid Jeep truck, only one of its kind so far, used for trail maintenance and clean-up projects. As we dive deeper into 2023, expect to see more amazing people and groups doing the unexpected. Allow their accomplishments to inspire you to reach your goals. And if you get a moment, dig into our archives for some stories of other badass women we’ve been lucky enough to feature.