A young girl who was told she would never be a mechanic because of her gender has received a rallying cry of support from female mechanics and drivers.
Mia Hosking, 7, has always wanted to work with cars, but came home from school upset when someone told her she couldn’t because she was a girl.
Her dad, 32-year-old David, runs his own garage and races bangers, and quickly took to social media and called on his friends to find women who worked in the industry.
Mia and David were quickly inundated with messages from female racing drivers and mechanics telling Mia to chase her dreams.
David, from Torpoint, Cornwall, said: “Mia told me that she was sorry that she couldn’t become a mechanic or banger race driver.
“She said someone at school said she couldn’t do that as she’s a girl.”
David, who owns his own garage, said that Mia has always been brought up around racing and that motorsport is a “big family thing” for them.
“She knows what she wants, bless her,” he said. “It’s great she’s got an interest.
“When she gets something in her head, she’s very focused.
“I always tell her, if you dream it and work hard for it, you can achieve it.”
David had posted on Facebook: “Ladies and gents help is needed my seven-year-old princess has been told the career she would like to do she cant because shes a girl!
“Mia would like to be a mechanic and banger race just like dad.
“I’m asking the power of Facebook and my oval family to tag female mechanics and racers so Mia can see she can do what she wants to do and gender means nothing.”
After the post, dozens of women responded, assuring Mia she could do whatever she wants to do.
Liz Dicken said: “Tell her not let anyone stop her dreams.
“I was told things like that, I’m 15-years-old and already earned myself a job as a mechanic on a prestigious race team and pit crew for cooper mini’s/BMW touring cars.
“I also work on my own bangers at home too”.
Sophie Fasey said: “My dream was always to race and to qualify for the biggest meeting of the year.
“I also spend all my life with cars, vans and mechanical, as my job.
“Follow your dreams and I can guarantee they will come true.”
Donna-Marie Cottrell added: “I’m no champ, but enjoy being on the track. I’ve been racing myself for 11 years and loved every minute, so do my two little ones.
“Go chase your dreams sweetheart.”
David said that Mia was “excited” after seeing the pictures and comments from the other women and has realised that she can pursue her career.
David added: “I don’t know why people have got to be so judgemental, it’s such a shame that there are some people out there who say that she can’t do it.
“Thankfully, the post proved to Mia that she can do it.
“I’m a great believer in girl power.”
