AWMN in Profile: For The Girls

It didn’t begin with a business plan or a mission statement.
It began with curiosity.

After importing a car from Japan, Monica Monteleone found herself wondering how many other women shared the same passion. That question became a conversation. The conversation became a gathering. And four years later, For The Girls has grown into one of Sydney’s most recognisable female-led automotive communities.

For The Girls is not defined by a single discipline. Cars, bikes, motorsport, casual meets, workshops — it exists in the overlap. Women of all backgrounds and skill levels come together not to prove themselves, but to belong. What matters most is not how much you know, but that you’re willing to show up.

The earliest events were modest by design. The very first For The Girls meet, held in a library carpark in July 2022, was intended as a simple catch-up — a chance to put faces to usernames and share space with likeminded women. Instead, the carpark filled. Completely.

“That moment confirmed there was a community waiting,” Monica reflects. “It was overwhelming in the best way — and it’s what motivated us to keep going.”

That sense of validation — not external, but collective — continues to shape the initiative today.

As the events have grown, so too has the responsibility. Navigating scale without losing intimacy is a constant tension. Logistics, permits, sponsors, safety plans, schedules — the unseen work compounds quickly. On event days, Monica is often everywhere at once, sometimes forgetting to enjoy the very thing she’s created.

Yet it’s the small, unscheduled moments that linger. A quiet thank-you. A conversation that starts with cars and ends with confidence. A woman trying something new for the first time, surrounded by people who want her to succeed.

Those closest to the initiative feel its impact deeply.

Kerrie, Monica’s mum, describes watching her daughter create something that reaches beyond the cars themselves — a space that brings women, families, and the wider community together through shows, drift events, workshops, and fundraisers. Time-consuming, yes. But meaningful.

For many, For The Girls becomes a turning point rather than just a calendar entry.

Maya speaks of moving from small-business acquaintance to genuine friendship through the car scene, describing FTG events as safe spaces where confidence grows — whether you’re behind the wheel, in the pits, or simply finding your place.

Jess has watched the evolution firsthand — from underground meet-ups to full-scale events at Sydney Motorsport Park. What stands out to her is not just the scale, but the intention: supporting women’s motorsport journeys, championing female-focused charities, and building something that remains fun without ever becoming frivolous.

Behind the scenes, For The Girls runs on commitment rather than convenience. It is not Monica’s full-time job. Events are hosted roughly every two months, with interstate travel each year to expand the network and connect with broader communities. Late nights and after-hours work are part of the rhythm — sustained by the encouragement of friends and family who understand why it matters.

That effort has translated into tangible milestones.

In 2025, For The Girls hosted its first Drift x Khana event at Sydney Motorsport Park — a sell-out with a waitlist, every passenger seat filled, and an atmosphere that set the tone for a more track-focused future. The annual For The Girls + Friends car show continued to bridge communities, welcoming male allies alongside the women who anchor the movement.

Support has also extended beyond events. In 2025, For The Girls proudly backed women making their mark in motorsport — including drifter Jess Schembri at multiple competitions and the “Yeah The Girls” Drift Demo at World Time Attack Challenge, and Isabel Woodside, who made her debut in the 600cc class of the St George Motorcycle Club Summer Night Series.

Partnerships with brands such as Bendix, XForce Performance Exhaust, and Macarthur Motorsport & Mechanical have helped enable that growth — relationships built on shared values rather than surface alignment.

What motivates Monica to keep showing up is not momentum for its own sake, but people.

“The community is the reason,” she says. “Seeing their confidence grow, watching connections form — that’s what makes it worthwhile.”

Looking ahead, the vision remains grounded. More events. More experiences. More opportunities for women to participate in automotive and motorsport spaces without barriers or gatekeeping. Growth, yes — but never at the expense of warmth.

For The Girls is not about doing it alone. It’s about doing it together. And as more female-focused initiatives emerge across the country, Monica’s advice is simple: build community, support one another, and don’t forget to enjoy the ride.