Michele Smith, from the famous television series American Thunder on SPEED Channel and then from Two Wheel Thunder on Discovery HD Theater, is by far the most recognizable female face in the motorcycle world, she is the Celebrity we all know and love . If you’ve been to a big motorcycle rally anywhere in the country, you’ve surely seen it. She makes public appearances, signs autographs, and her fans take a photo with her wherever she goes. How did this happen? How did you become a celebrity in the motorcycle community? Michele has been a dear friend of mine for the last 4 years when we met at the American Thunder production, and I have produced several other videos with Michele as a subject of admiration. I wrote to her the other day and asked if I could write a story about her and she gladly agreed and said, “Ask Shannon, anything for you, love.” So I did it.
I, like many others, want to know how she came to be that size of First Lady of Motorcycles. While talking to her, I told her several times that I was a celebrity and finally she stopped me and said, “First of all, I don’t consider myself a ‘celebrity’, I’m just someone who became a recognized figure in the motorcycle industry. “. So from there, the word “Celebrity” was left out of the conversation. So to begin with, I asked him simply “Where did it all start for you and the motorcycle?” His answer was this (Michele Smith): “My first step to being part of the motorcycle world was taking the motorcycle safety course in California because of a foreign video I was working on. They had hired a stuntman to I was driving and when this little 90 pound girl showed up I almost fell over! heck with this I will never let this happen again so the next day I signed up for the motorcycle safety course and ordered a brand new 883 Sportster. This is how I started riding. My first ride was in Southern California called “The Love Ride.” I had so much fun. Not long after that, I went out to audition for “American Thunder” and the rest is history.
That explains the beginning of his passion for motorcycles, but he wanted to know more. This is the woman, who is in “The Know” of the motorcycle world, where she has been for the last 10 years and where she is going in the next. This is a brain I just had to choose, now if I could get through those beautiful golden locks of hair that fall like a waterfall of pure gold … ~~ Oops sorry, finish the dream sequence, I’ll just ask. . Michele, how have things changed in the last 10 years, more appropriately, in the last few years? (Michele Smith) “. I think what has changed since I became a part of motorcycle culture is the fact that there are a lot more women riding today than 10 years ago. When women see other women riding, they think ‘wow. If she can do it, so can I. “Women are no longer satisfied sitting on the back of a man’s bike. Look at me, I went from posing next to these bikes in my early modeling years to riding a motorcycle, something that I thought I would never be able to do it until that 90 pound girl showed up in the video shoot. I wish I could find her just so I can say thank you! It’s funny, I guess my style has changed a lot since the first few days before me. I got into the motorcycle business. I was going through my closet the other day and looking at some of the designer clothing pieces (now vintage like me) that I managed to hold on to and thought now what it would look like to ride a bike in a! tr aje de Chanel! Yes, I dressed very differently back then, but I also spent a lot of ime abroad and it was a completely different lifestyle. I’m so much more comfortable these days in a pair of ripped jeans and boots! “
Now one thing I’d like to mention here is that Michele is also a huge advocate for female riders to get on the bike in the front seat, grab onto the bars, and embark on the adventure. I have seen and met many women who have said that they would never have gotten on the front of a bike if they had not seen Michele at Daytona or Sturgis or on TV at some point, she is their hero. Michele is obviously not the first woman to swing her leg over an American Iron, look at Margret Wilson, who has ridden over half a million miles on a motorcycle and is a Golden Life member of Motor Maids, Inc.But what Michele has accomplished is this, she has brought him to the Main Stream, he used his talent and beauty to change the hearts and minds of people around the world when it comes to the riding position of women on a motorcycle.
Moving on, I wanted to know where Michele thought she would be if she had joined the motorcycle industry.
(Michele Smith) “Let’s see where I would be if I weren’t in the motorcycle industry. That’s a tough question. I started in the entertainment industry and that’s pretty much everything I know except lingerie design (www.jeweledgs.com For a while I was so busy with the lingerie line that at one point I thought about quitting the TV show. Thank goodness I stayed! “Michele is the designer of the Jeweled G thong line that beautifies the back of the female figure. Michele has also designed the “No Needles Tattoos” t-shirts that make your arms look like you have these amazing tattoos on your arms. You can find them on their website.
Now you hear all these stories of famous people having trouble with the Stalkers or Weirdoes behind them or the paparazzi just making life miserable, but Michele feels perfectly safe in the motorcycle community. She said: “I have met some weirdos in my day, but that is to be expected, but no one has stalked me or done anything that really causes any alarm. I feel very safe among the motorcycle community, there are so many bodyguards who have received hugs while having more fun. “
Now that we have learned how you became the most famous woman on a motorcycle, what are you doing now? (Michele Smith) “I’m still making personal appearances. Rhode Island was the first stop of the New Year. I will be making appearances mainly in the East / Northeast, as that seems to be the market for many of the events I book. Even in the months of winter there are many indoor events. Please note that most people are not able to go out and ride in snow covered areas, so indoor events give them a chance to see what’s new on the market. American Thunder exited the air late 2009. In 2010 I did a new show for Discovery HD Theater. We did about 10 episodes and now that too is gone. We really need another good informative motorcycle show. I have a number of viewers who love to see something new, Everyone misses American Thunder and Two Wheel Tuesday. The problem is that Reality TV took over and it seems now all the shows are based on reality. “
Going back to the brain hunt … Ooohhh, silky. ~ Sorry I got lost in the golden flow again … I have personally seen a lot of changes in the motorcycle world in recent years, and I was sure Michele would have an opinion on the subject as well, so I said this. Michele, tell me where do you see the motorcycle world in the next 5 years, from the rides to the enthusiasts and how they ride. (Michele Smith) “In recent years, I have seen the industry sink. Many builders and suppliers went out of business and moved on. But I see positive change coming and things are slowly improving. They will always be motorcycle enthusiasts and As long as you have people who like to ride, you will also have people who will buy bikes, parts and accessories. They may not be spending a lot of money on a custom anymore, but the desire to have a motorcycle for some is still there. Motorcycle enthusiasts at events all the time telling me they don’t have one but two or more bikes in the garage, and now they’re just taking good care of them and putting little extras on them to keep theirs running.
From what you see or don’t see on TV, it would seem like Michele Smith’s tour is coming to an end, but I know Michele quite well, if there is anyone who can take a lemon and turn it into lemonade, she is the one. The motorcycle industry has been driven in many ways by Michele Smith and many people, including manufacturers, owe it to her for spreading the word about their products, events, or even simply giving them the confidence to get on a bike for first time. She is a celebrity to us, even if she doesn’t see it that way, we look up to her, we admire her, and of course we can’t stop staring at the Twins. So Michele, thank you for taking the time to enlighten our readers with your story, it’s one we all wanted to know about and we certainly hope to see a lot more of you in the future, maybe something like your July / August 1991 work. those who are true fans of Michele Smith. Until next time, I’ll see you on the way.
More information about Michele Smith, including booking information, can be found on her website, www.michelesmith.tv
