Rock and Roller Derby

This video isn't about food or crafts, but it is about community, passion, and DIY spirit (all of which definitely fall under the Pink of Perfection umbrella). The fierce athleticism of the Gotham Girls is certainly admirable, but that wasn't the whole of what made me want to profile them for Elastic Waist. I was responding to their camaraderie, sense of fun, and can-do attitude. And these women have some serious know-how: they compete and sweat in the rink, the serve on the board of the League, they make their own super-stylish uniforms, and they are their own marketing and PR machines. They attend to practices and workouts as well as administrative minutiae with equal panache, all while maintaining a devilish sense of humor and a wonderful community of women.

So of course I had to have a t-shirt, proudly proclaiming myself a supporter of the Brooklyn Bombshells. Walking home from a workout in my new t-shirt, a woman came up to me. "Hey, I'm a Gotham Girl. I skate for the Queens of Pain." "I love you guys!" I exclaimed. "It is so cool you are wearing that shirt," she said. "So cool." She was beaming, and that made me beam right back. I have a certain soft spot for unexpected moments of connection, like when you have a totally charming interaction with your favorite barista, or realize that you and the person sitting next to you on the bus are loving the same band right now. This woman had so much pride in what she does, and in the really special, almost intangible thing that roller derby represents, that it was a really powerful feeling to be part of it, even as an admirer with a microphone. My skates are definitely off to them.

Roller derby leagues are active all over the country. To find one in your area, click here.