How a horse-loving Australian teenager went from rodeo to bikini cowgirl
A horse-loving Australian teenager who competes in rodeos and rides racehorses has set the internet on fire.
But it’s not Storm Hogan’s horsemanship that has garnered her millions of views and more than 116,000 followers.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: The Australian ‘Bikini Cowgirl’ is taking the world by storm.
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The 19-year-old has made waves with her heavy Australian accent – and the fact that she also posts videos of herself in a bikini.
“There was no intention of blowing up at all – it just happened,” Hogan, who lives in south-west Victoria, told 7Life.
“One day I got bored and decided to make a video and show myself there.”
Hogan has garnered attention around the world after sharing what life is like when he competes in the barrel race rodeo event, where horse and rider try to navigate around barrels in the fastest time.
She also writes about life as a train driver, breaking in and training racehorses.
The “cowgirl” has shared several clips of her plying her trade in horses, saying, “When I work I wear jeans and a shirt.”
But it’s her habit of wearing bikinis after work that draws fans in.
“Actually, I don’t wear a bikini when I ride. I do it after work because it’s so hot,” she explains.
However, Hogan quickly realized that her Instagram and TikTok followers had merged the two ideas — her horse skills and bikini attire — and searched her online using the term “bikini cowgirl.”
“People kept typing that, so I just changed my username to that,” she says.
“It makes me happy and I know it makes a lot of people smile and that’s my goal.”
Thousands have viewed Hogan’s reports, with many commenting on her Australian accent.
“All of a sudden I’m really into barrel racing and track racing,” commented one person.
“Every time I watch her videos I feel like Marlin from Finding Nemo: ‘Listen you’re really cute but I have no idea what you’re saying,'” wrote another.
While a third joked: “As an Aussie, I nominate you for the Aussiest Aussie to Ever Aussie award.”
Hogan says it makes her laugh reading the comments.
“The amount of love and support I’ve seen from people is amazing, it’s so amazing,” she says.
“They’re just total strangers… and that makes me so happy.”
fight trolls
But success has attracted the inevitable trolls.
“As much as I want to ignore them, they will always be there,” says Hogan.
“When I answer them, I like to focus not just on that person, but on mental health and how it can affect people.
“I care deeply about mental health and want to raise awareness and do something about it.
“So I’m using that to raise awareness and say it’s not okay.”
Hogan once hit back after a TikTok troll posted a “goodless” comment.
“You don’t say things like that,” she said in her video.
“If you don’t have anything nice to say, you just don’t say shit at all.
“You don’t know what people went through that day, so that might just be something that sends them over the edge.”
Hogan’s horses
Hogan was only eight when she started riding horses.
Now she has six of her own: Sandy, aka the Golden Girl in barrel racing, Nobel, Elvis, Malibu, Starlight, and Donny.
Bikini Cowgirl now spends her days with racehorses – breaking them in, training them, grooming them, and generally caring for them.
“It’s such a rewarding job,” she says.
“I get a lot of horses that are abused and I help regain their confidence and health.
“It’s just a passion, I love it and it makes me happy.
“(Horses) are my world. They are everything to me, they make me so happy and make my day so much better.
“Without her I would be lost. You made me the person I am today. I learned so much from them.”
Hogan has started her own clothing brand, Bulls Broncs & Barrels Apparel, and now plans to relocate to regional South Australia to continue barrel racing.
Having competed in many barrel racing competitions, she hopes to spread her passion for the sport across Australia and encourage others to join in the fun.
“Just do it!” She says.
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