Today we’d like to introduce you to Coco and Dee aka Roller Baddies. Them and their team share their story with us below:
For cousins Dee and Coco, inline skating has been more than just a workout; the sport has increased their confidence, strengthened their relationship, and taught them how to become businesswomen. They document their experience on social media as @rollerbaddies, which they also use to share educational content and highlight underrepresented skaters.
They were introduced to the sport in 2020 after seeking a physical and mental outlet. Dee bought a pair of roller skates and had a bad accident in the first week. Although Dee decided roller skating wasn’t her thing, she still wanted to give another form of skating a try. So, she purchased inline skates and had a better experience. Shortly after, Coco purchased a pair and joined Dee.
Dee is four years older than Coco and has always been a daredevil. Dee credits her courageous attitude to her upbringing with two older brothers. “As an only child, I grew up admiring Dee and would mimic her when we were little,” Coco recalled, describing a fun childhood in Los Angeles. “This pushed me to do things I didn’t think I would be capable of, and I see this play out today as adult skaters. I often think to myself, ‘If Dee can attempt difficult moves and skate treacherous routes, so can I.”
They firmly believe Dee’s fearlessness, Coco’s willingness to try, and the hype they provide each other played big roles in their ability to pick up the sport as quickly as they have. “I wouldn’t be able to do this without Coco,” said Dee. “She motivates me to become a better skater and role model for prospective skaters. The best part of this experience has been the opportunity to share this with her.”
After five months of inline skating, the cousins started the @rollerbaddies account on Instagram to archive their journey. They later turned their hobby into a business and co-founded Roller Baddies, LLC and trademarked “ROLLER BADDIES.” Dee expressed how fulfilling it is to co-own a business with her cousin. “I never thought I would own my own business,” said Dee. “I always imagine how proud our younger selves would be.”
As Roller Baddies grows, so does their bond. It gives them a reason to have daily interactions as they frequently exchange ideas and consult with each other on business inquiries. “I am proud of our accomplishments especially considering we were raised by immigrant parents and never had anyone teach us about business,” said Coco.
Both Dee and Coco were born and raised in L.A. and have lots of love for the city. Street skating and participating in events like TNS – The Night Skate Los Angeles and CicLAvia have offered new perspectives of their hometown. “CicLAvia is amazing! There is something so special about having the streets blocked off during the day just so that people can safely bike, skate, and walk through it,” added Dee.
As L.A. natives, they have lots of love for their hometown and enjoy sharing location reviews for skate-friendly spots. Additionally, they take pride in using their platform to inspire others to start their inline skate journey, share tutorials/educational content, elevate small businesses, and shed a light on those who are typically underrepresented in the skating industry, including women, people of color, skaters over the age of 30, and LGBT individuals. “It’s really rewarding to get direct messages from people who say they were inspired to start skating because of our videos,” said Coco.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like many beginner skaters, Dee and Coco found it difficult to learn the basics of inline skating, including how not to fall, how to get up, and how to stop. The challenges increasingly became fun, especially as they leaned on each other to overcome obstacles. Landing moves were huge accomplishments that showed them they could do anything as long as they put in the work and time. “I apply these principles into my daily life,” said Dee. “I’m grateful for the confidence I have gained from inline skating.”
The Roller Baddies decided to formalize their training and earned their teaching certification through Skate Instructors Association. “Because we are self-taught, getting certified to teach made us hone in on the principles of skating,” said Dee. “The course was humbling and made us realize how beneficial it would have been to know the basics at the beginning of our skate journey. Now that we are equipped with the tools to teach, we are so happy to share the foundations with our followers and future students.”
They are currently teaching close friends and family and look forward to opening it up to the public in 2023. “Stay tuned on our social media to know when we start offering quad and inline skating lessons,” added Dee.
Another struggle includes working through injuries. “Over the summer, I had a bad skating accident that left me with severe road rash on my forearms, hands, and elbows. After a month of recovery, I got attacked by a neighborhood dog and received seven stitches. My wound became infected and I was on antibiotics for a long time,” Coco said.
These incidents took place right before their first contracted entertaining event. Not knowing if Coco would be healthy enough to skate, she mentally prepared Dee to do the event on her own. “Dee and I didn’t want to go that route because the responsibilities were a lot for just one person to take on,” recalled Coco. “Fortunately, I was cleared by my doctor three days before the event, put bandages over my wounds, and put on a great show.”
Dee has also had her share of injuries, especially in the beginning when she scraped her chin and sprained her wrists. “Skating is inherently risky. As much as I try to protect myself, I accept the potential risks because the joy I get out of skating is so worth it,” said Dee. Since every skater will fall at some point, she emphasized the importance of investing in protective gear.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
“We are working women by day and Roller Baddies by night,” said Dee. “In addition to maintaining the Roller Baddies brand, we have demanding 9 – 5 jobs.”
Although their full-time jobs take priority, they aspire to advance the Roller Baddies brand as their schedule allows. Most of the time, this means shooting footage on their days off and editing after working hours throughout the week.
Also, Dee is a mother of a teenage son. She told VoyageLA she enjoys dedicating time to this passion project even though it is difficult as a mom and working professional. “There are not many moments where mothers can focus on themselves and their needs,” said Dee. “When I skate, I really appreciate the few hours I get to exercise and simply enjoy a sport that I find freeing.”
Coco’s career has lent itself to supporting the brand’s growth. As a digital marketer by trade, social media is second nature to her. To Coco, managing the account is a fun and easy creative outlet.
“Dee and I are in our 30s and want to continue excelling in the careers we’ve worked so hard for. So everything business related to the Roller Baddies brand is just an extra adventure to add to our lives,” said Coco. “I think one of the benefits of being professionals first and influencers second is that our livelihoods don’t depend on the brand’s success or whether a post gets zero likes. This makes maintaining the social media presence low stress.”
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
In addition to skating, Coco is passionate about animal welfare and community service. She dedicates most of her weekends to volunteering at her local animal shelter and has served 195 hours this year so far.
Another hobby that Roller Baddies followers might find interesting is Coco’s love for gardening. She recently became certified as a University of California Vegetable Gardener and documents her journey on Instagram as @gardenheaux, which has more than 45K followers.
Also, their followers may be pleasantly surprised to know about their newly acquired partnership with Powerslide, an inline skating company co-founded by Matthias Knoll, a world-renowned, award-winning speed skater. “It’s an honor to be backed by Matthias and my favorite inline skating brand,” said Coco. “We thank Powerslide for supporting the Roller Baddies’ mission to share the love of skating by providing us with skates, protective gear, and other accessories we need to keep rolling.”
Powerslides can be purchased at Knight Skate, Roller Baddies’ favorite skate shop. It’s a small business in San Bernardino owned by a skater in his 30s living his dream of owning a skate shop.
Follow Dee and Coco on Instagram and TikTok at @rollerbaddies. Check out their business offerings at rollerbaddies.com. For business inquiries, email [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rollerbaddies.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rollerbaddies/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rollerbaddies
Image Credits
Select photos credit to Ryan Beatty.
