Influencer Sessions: Get To Know @lady.harley.883

We caught up with biker beauty queen Michelle, better known as @lady.harley.883 on Instagram, to talk all things motorcycles and beauty pageants. Read on to discover how Michelle has successfully broken into such a male-dominated industry and is now set to make her love for riding a full-time gig.

Where did the initial attraction to motorcycles come from? 

Why I ride – I was 15 the first time I went on the back of my stepfather’s motorcycle and I fell in LOVE! He and my mother would always go to Vegas and bring me merchandise from the Harley store, joking one day he’d bring me back a Harley Davidson.

Sadly in 2011 he got diagnosed with cancer, and passed away in 2012 … but before he passed away, although I had never ridden a bike before my CBT, I promised him I’d pass my test, buy a Harley and ride Route 66 in his name. In 2013 I passed my test, and bought my dream bike, a brand new ‘HD superlow Sportster 883’. All I have left to do is the 66. Passing my test was the best thing I have EVER done.

Tell us about your background and how you started to build your following.

I am a former LLB law student of Swansea university (Wales) who was selected as a model student of the Welsh assembly & lucky enough to debate in the house of commons (UK parliament) on subjects such as university education/tuition fees.

I use the skills acquired during my studies to help advocate for organisations supporting mental health & the encouragement of women In predominantly male activities. I am a pageant girl-turned-biker, competing & winning awards in numerous national pageants such as Miss Wales, most recently winning the title Ms United Empire 2023. This experience has allowed me to transfer my modelling ability into the motorcycle industry. I created my @lady.Harley.883 account specifically for me to post ‘bike content ’… engaging only with fellow moto-enthusiasts, this has allowed me to authentically build my account with like-minded followers/brands. 

Which platforms do you predominantly use?

Instagram is my main platform I use to post  with over 107k followers.
I also have a Facebook @ladyharley883 (currently in review as someone has been impersonating me on a separate account for over a year). I have a TikTok account, @lady.harley.883, and a YouTube channel, @ladyharley883. 

Which is your favourite for posting and which is your favourite for community engagement?

Instagram, I have a loyal following who engage and enjoy my content.

What type of content do you create (video/static etc), and which type works best for your audience?

I utilise IG posts, Reels and Stories, with the occasional live. I always try engaging with my followers whether it be through comments or polls/reactions on IG Stories.

In your own words and experience, how would you define “influencer marketing”?

Influencer marketing is having the ability to share and promote products/venues/ experience via a social media platform. Platforms like IG are effectively a billboard used to provide advertisements in the form of personal blogging. People don’t like being sold to knowingly, so social media platforms are a great way for companies/individuals to gain exposure in an ‘authentic’ way. 

Why do you think influencer marketing is so powerful today?

Social media is an incredible tool, individuals and brands are able to get world wide exposure from the comfort of their own home, not needing a large budget, marketing firm or hired help. We have the power to control how we present ourselves, our brand, with no need to conform to anyone else’s desire or time constraints.

Have you worked with brands before? How do you decide which brands to work with?

Yes I regularly work with big brands in the motorcycle Industry, I usually have first-hand experience with the company or products prior to the collaboration. It is important to have a genuine relationship and viewpoint on what you promote. People will use products, visiting locations based on what I post, so it’s important that it’s something I truly have faith in and trust in.

Having an honest opinion is vital to building that trust between you and your followers. 

How do you think influencer marketing will change over the next 12 months?

I think it will continue to grow in the next 12 months. Social media is a powerful tool if used correctly, & we have a generation coming through who haven’t known life without it… it is the new ‘norm’. 

How has influencer marketing changed since you began working within social media?

It’s more personal. People enjoy sharing huge parts of their life, and finding like-minded individuals to engage with, & importantly people have realised that you don’t have to be the carbon copy of what came before, individuality, personality are the unique advantages of the creator, it is their biggest strength.

Do you use any software to help create and edit your content?

I would say 100% of the content I create is edited, on my iPhone 14. There is no longer a need to have thousands of pounds worth of software to create high quality content… it is as simple as utilising our personal handheld devices. That’s why social media/influencer marketing will continue to develop… because we have the ability literally at our fingertips. 

How do you balance your online and offline lives?

I find that I have a healthy balance between my on and offline life, because I have a niche in the sense that ‘motorcycle’ content is what my followers expect and want based on how I built up my account. Anything else I choose to share is an added bonus for them. I am full of personality and I show that when I’m doing Stories documenting what’s going on, when relevant…. it’s important to have that ability to know when not to overshare… for example, for me, people don’t need to know what meals I eat everyday or what type of shampoo I use.

Which influencers inspire you?

There are lots of influencers and I don’t follow or engage for the sake of it, I tend to appreciate the effort and quality of the individual’s content. I don’t always find the need to follow a ‘trend’ just because it’s the done thing, this gets very repetitive. I like @vongasphalt’s page because it’s authentic & inspires me to want to get out, ride & create.

Where would you like to take your career as an influencer?

I would like to be in a position where I could utilise & monetise my platform,  full-time. Being a content creator is what I love and people who enjoy what they do, do it better. I want to use my education and my life experience to pave the way for women in a male-dominant community, to be visible, and to show that you don’t have to conform to traditional expectations to fit in. I take pride in being an educated, van-driving, tattooed, biker, beauty queen.

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@ Socially Powerful