E.L.F COSMETICS MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST-EVER BEAUTY BRAND AS PRIMARY SPONSOR IN 108-YEAR HISTORY
Katherine Legge made history by becoming the fastest woman to ever qualify for the Indy 500 this past weekend. Despite a dramatic qualifying session where she brushed the wall on her final attempt, she secured her spot in the field during “Last Chance Qualifying” alongside Marcus Ericsson and two other drivers. Katherine clocked in at 230.092 mph in her No. 51 e.l.f. Cosmetics Honda, earning the distinction of being the only woman among the 33 drivers in the 2024 Indy 500 lineup.
Her partnership with e.l.f. Cosmetics began at the 2023 Indy 500, where she set record-breaking qualification speeds for a woman in the history of the race. Winning on the Streets of Long Beach in 2005 marked a significant moment in Katherine’s career, leading to her induction into the Motorsports Walk of Fame in 2024. She advocates for equal representation of men and women in motorsports, highlighting the financial challenges faced by female athletes in securing sponsorships and pay parity with male counterparts.
The lack of primary motorsports sponsorships from advertisers targeting female customers has been a historical trend, with companies like JCPenney backing Lyn St. James in 1992 and more recently, e.l.f. Cosmetics supporting Katherine. The Indy 500, in its 108th year, boasts impressive race day attendance of 400,000, surpassing major sporting events like the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and NCAA Final Four combined. In a sport where financial backing often equates to success, Katherine Legge’s achievements and advocacy serve as a beacon for aspiring female racers seeking to break barriers in the world of motorsports.