Laura-Marie wears WATCH Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono, Carbon SUIT Magliano.
When Laura-Marie Geissler enters the racetrack, all eyes are on her. The helmet is matching to her car in a shimmering steel grey. The cream-colored suit is simple. No signs, no logos, no names of big companies. Plain, except for her initials. LMG.
Because Laura-Marie is no ordinary racing driver. In a male-dominated world full of big brands, of big money and extravaganza, the 24-years old, decided to kick all her sponsors and to – well, to fund herself. Through NFTs she managed to finance not only her sport, but also to set a statement on what it means to empower yourself through innovation – what it means to be independent.
SLEEK met Laura-Marie on the set for our shooting with Tudor.
LEFT Laura-Marie wears WATCH Tudor Black Bay Chrono, Edelstahl FULL LOOK Balenciaga RIGHT Laura-Marie wears WATCH Tudor Pelagos FXD, Titan DRESS Prototypes.
SLEEK: For your sport you have to present yourself a lot. Are you nervous standing in front of the camera?
Laura-Marie Geissler: Not at all! I know that motorsport is super expensive, so I have to present myself. I couldn’t finance myself any other way. But I also enjoy it. After all, I think it’s nice to try on new things and see myself in a different make-up. Otherwise, it’s something you never do.
S: Do you sometimes feel that you have to hide this passion for fashion and makeup, because you are a woman in sports? Because you’re afraid of being reduced to that?
LM: Yes, absolutely. I mean, when you go to the racetrack as a woman, you get a lot of attention. People ask themselves, what is she doing here? Is she the assistant? The escort? And I don’t feel like justifying myself all the time. I want to do my job and drive. That’s it. That’s why I make sure that I don’t stand out in any way with special make-up or clothes. Even if I would like to wear some in my private life.
LEFT Laura-Marie wears WATCH Tudor Royal, Edelstahl DRESS Celine by Hedi Slimane TIGHTS Falke RIGHT Laura-Marie wears WATCH Tudor Royal, Edelstahl DRESS Celine by Hedi Slimane TIGHTS Falke.
S: With the designs of your race cars, you really stand out on the track. Why do you do it that way?
LM: The car is mainly there to show that I don’t drive with sponsors. I don’t let myself be whipped through the laps like an advertising pillar. My cars are more a sign of independence. A sign that you – whether you’re a man or a woman – don’t have to submit to the social system. My car design this year, for example, is wrapped in leather straps. Through a QR code, the car frees itself from the shackles and thus also from social expectations.
S: How did you come up with the idea of financing yourself through NFTs?
LM: It all started with the fact that I was no longer interested in sponsors. They only wanted to talk about the reach and the publicity that I automatically had as a woman in motorsport. Not about my performance. As a protest, I kicked them and published my first car design: pink with cut lines to draw attention to the objectification of athletes. All of a sudden, my design was totally polarising. People could identify with it. When the whole Web 3 Ape story came about, I had the idea of selling my designs as NFTs.
S: Internationally, there are also other women in racing. Do you see other female racers as allies or competitors?
LM: Competitors. Whether man or woman, we are not friends on the track.
LEFT Laura-Marie wears WATCH Tudor Black Bay 58 18K, Gelbgold TOP MM6 RIGHT Laura-Marie wears WATCH Tudor Black Bay 58 18K, Gelbgold FULL LOOK MM6 .
As featured in SLEEK 79 – MOTHER. Available in print and digital here.
CREDITS
Photography: Joseph Kadow
Styling: Hakan Solak
Hair and Makeup Artist: Helena Narra @Liganord Agency using Elf Cosmetics and Balmain Hair
Talent: Laura-Marie Geissler
Creative Production: Claude Gerber, Kamal Emanga, Jule Nötzel
Photography Assistant: Eric Terrey
Styling Assistant: Ksenia Kovelina