Athlete Beat
On this recurring franchise, we communicate with beauty-forward athletes about their game-day routines. From the merchandise they use and their pre-game rituals to the perfect magnificence ideas they’ve acquired from teammates and the way they unwind after video games, we discover out every little thing there’s to learn about how your favourite athletes prepare and un-ready.
Tune into ESPN on a Sunday morning and also you’ll hear the roaring sounds of Components 1 engines competing for the World Championship. For many years, the motorsport has attracted a gradual viewers the world over, however ever for the reason that debut of Drive to Survive on Netflix, the fandom has grown tenfold. There was only one factor lacking—feminine drivers.
Enter F1 Academy, a female-only racing collection created in 2023. Because of the managing director Susie Wolff, girls acquired a combating likelihood on the podium. That is the place racing driver Chloe Chong noticed her alternative.
Whereas some folks dream of changing into a musician or a film star, Chong has been desirous to get behind the wheel ever since she was a pre-schooler. “It’s a protracted story of how I acquired into racing, but additionally fairly a easy one,” she explains. “My ardour for motorsport got here from watching F1 throughout the weekends with my dad. As a child, I absorbed loads of the sounds and visuals from the lounge. It acquired me very concerned with racing. By the age of 4 or 5, I used to be simply begging to offer it a go. In order quickly as I used to be sufficiently old, we went to the native go-kart monitor and that is the way it acquired began.”
Quick ahead to at present, Chong has turn into one to observe on the monitor. She was the youngest driver to compete within the inaugural F1 Academy season and reveals no signal of slowing down. This yr, at age 17, she is able to proceed to interrupt obstacles behind the wheel.
Forward of the 2025 season, Chong not solely confirmed her spot with Rodin Motorsport but additionally a sponsorship with Charlotte Tilbury—the primary feminine founder and sweetness model to sponsor F1 Academy. “I am nonetheless a bit in shock. I most likely nonetheless don’t perceive the true depth of the entire state of affairs and the way superb it’s,” says Chong. “However I am over the moon to be a part of Charlotte Tilbury household for this yr and to be driving their Sizzling Lips automotive.”
Forward, Chong talks about navigating the wonder house for the primary time, how she will get into her pre-race headspace, and her objectives for the F1 Academy season.
Her Evolving Relationship With Magnificence
To be utterly sincere, I am new to the entire magnificence world. Earlier than [my partnership with] Charlotte Tilbury, I most likely wasn’t the individual to ask for magnificence recommendation. However all of my mates are into it, so I take in off of them. Once I was youthful, we might watch magnificence makeover movies on YouTube and Charlotte Tilbury was one of many manufacturers that got here up probably the most. So after I met her group, I used to be like I’m gonna ask each query I’ve and get them to show me.
I did be taught a bit of bit after [spending the day on set]. I’ve seen what make-up can do and the magic of confidence personified. Now I need to be taught extra. I believe it’s turn into form of an obsession [laughs]. It’s been fairly troublesome to search out the time to dedicate to this new ardour, however with the Tilbury group providing to show me, it has been such an awesome alternative.
On Making Her Personal Future
One of many largest [challenges] in my racing profession was the final stereotype of it being a sport for males and being categorized as an old-money membership. At this stage, we should always be capable of have entry to all folks in any sport. Most sports activities are costly, and there are excessive obstacles to entry, not just for girls however for minorities or folks with completely different backgrounds. It is crucial to push for extra folks to have the chance to compete, or break into the game as a driver, engineer, or mechanic.
Making my very own future is essential to me, and I am very proud to have it on my go well with, and to have it as a slogan for this Charlotte Tilbury marketing campaign. I would not be the place I’m at present with out this sponsorship or F1 Academy. Charlotte is giving each lady the chance to dream up no matter they need to do—and have the fervour, the braveness, and the backing to imagine it and do it. That is what Make-up Your Future means to me, each on the monitor and off the monitor. It simply provides me extra energy to proceed doing what I am doing and to imagine in myself and maintain pushing for extra.
Charlotte Tilbury
Her Current Magnificence Discovery
[Learning] a skincare routine was simply mind-blowing to me. Going via puberty and my teenage years in racing [I faced many skin issues]. Not many individuals know this, however the contact of the helmet towards your pores and skin makes you get away. I’d get again from a cart race weekend and be like why is that this taking place? However now I’ve the right information of skincare and use it in my every day routine. It feels easy in some methods. As somebody who’s not probably the most knowledgeable in magnificence, it’s modified the sport for me and is well worth the 5 minutes each single time.
How She Preps Her Pores and skin Earlier than A Race
The 2 merchandise [I reach for the most] are Charlotte’s Magic Serum and the Magic Cream. These two simply appear to work in a pair. Earlier than each race day or testing session, it is only a easy [routine] that I do. I’ve been experimenting with skincare and seeing what works and what doesn’t. I really feel like a child at a sweet store.
Her Pre-Race Routine
My pre-race routine modified loads this yr. I am fairly a easy individual and do not imagine in rituals—I simply waft. However one factor that makes a distinction is an effective warmup and an energization zone. [One thing that helps me feel energized is] listening to loads of pump-up music and skipping. That is my hidden curiosity, simply with the ability to skip to the rhythm of the beat and do my factor to get into my very own headspace. I’ve a pre-race playlist on Spotify of exhausting rock music. I really like a little bit of ACDC or Eric Clapton.
I gained’t discuss to anybody earlier than moving into the automotive. I’ll simply stroll round and usually tempo a bit. It’s not nervous pacing, it’s simply because I’ve loads of built-up vitality in my system. As soon as I get into the automotive, every little thing quiets down and I’m in my completely happy place.
@chloechongracing/Instagram
Her Go-to Hair Type on the Observe
Since I’m somebody who likes to put on my hair down, [my race day style] must be one thing fairly easy. Once I was youthful I experimented with a excessive ponytail which didn’t work [with my helmet]. I’ve additionally tried doing one single braid, however once more that wasn’t my factor. So I simply maintain my hair down till I’m able to heat up, after which I throw it in a low ponytail, get into the automotive, and ensure every little thing is tucked in.
Her Should-Have Merchandise
Skincare has at all times been a should this yr. I have been sporting the Charlotte Tilbury Wholesome Glow Tinted Moisturizer. It adapts to your pores and skin tone and blends proper in. I’ve additionally been utilizing the Magic Hydrator Mist. It feels superb in scorching climate and offers your face a pleasant refresh.
I additionally love the Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray on and off the racetrack. It locks every little thing in place, and you do not have to fret about
. You examine again in and your make-up seems to be precisely the identical. So that might most likely be my primary product from Charlotte. It’s simply bliss.
Her Objective For The F1 Academy Season
I am most wanting ahead to with the ability to put the Charlotte Tilbury automotive on the highest step of the rostrum and having the chance to be in entrance of F1 crowds in China, Canada, and my house races.
Chloe Chong’s Magnificence Necessities