By SEMA News Editors
Content Creator Spotlight: Marlia Arnett
Instagram: @buckets_co2passions and @dmv_auto_alliance
Facebook: DMV Auto Alliance
YouTube: @bucketsmissjdm
Follower counts: 3.3k on Instagram; 331 on Facebook; 1.2k on YouTube
Focus: Preserving and growing the automotive community as founder of 501(c)(3) non-profit, DMV Auto Alliance. Fan of anything with wheels and an engine.
Marlia Arnett (left) and DMV Auto Alliance President Torian Richardson (right).
SEMA News: How did you get into the automotive industry?
Marlia Arnett: Like a lot of people, "Fast & Furious" pulled me in, and after that it was a wrap. Cars were already around me growing up: my dad, grandfather and brother were all into them, just not as much as I was. My grandfather loved his '87 Monte Carlo, and my dad introduced my brother and me to RC airplanes, RC boats and boats in general. My brother gravitated toward the driving and racing side of cars, but for me, it was always about the art. I love the creativity behind vehicles--the ability to take something stock and transform it into an extension of your own personality. Being hands-on, learning to modify things yourself and seeing your vision come to life is an amazing feeling. It's also one of the best forms of stress relief I know.
SN: What's your biggest motivator?
MA: Knowing how much I've gained from the automotive community motivates me to give back, so others can experience the same support, creativity and connection. Hearing that I've inspired someone makes it all worth it.
SN: What's been your favorite part of being a part of the automotive community?
MA: FAMILY. (In Dom's voice) Coming from a very small "blood" family, being introduced to the automotive community changed my life. Friends became family. We've attended each other's weddings, baby showers, watched each other's kids grow up and have seen our cars and our lives evolve together. It's been more than 20 years of growing with this incredible community, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
SN: Why is advocacy important to you?
MA: I've been part of the car scene for almost 20 years, and like many enthusiasts, I've watched the community change. While it's not always auto enthusiasts who are responsible for the negative behavior, we often end up bearing the consequences. I reached a point where it felt like if someone didn't step in, we were going to lose the fun--and possibly the future--of being true automotive enthusiasts. Going to a car meet shouldn't feel unsafe or stressful. Enthusiasts shouldn't feel followed by law enforcement or viewed as a nuisance to the community simply because they own modified vehicles. No one should worry about an event being shut down, especially after traveling long distances to participate. What's the point of building and modifying our vehicles if we can't enjoy them responsibly and openly? That's why I founded DMV Auto Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since July 2024, alongside our board and the local car community, we've been working to bridge the gap between automotive enthusiasts, surrounding communities and legal authorities. This isn't about one person or one group, it's about collaboration, accountability and coming together to protect and preserve our hobby for everyone.
SN: What's been the biggest moment of your career thus far?
MA: Before DMV Auto Alliance was created, I actually asked another car friend in 2023 if starting an organization like this was a good idea. He told me it would be a waste of time. I let it sit, until real life made it impossible to ignore.
In 2024, someone close to me was shot at a car meet. Just weeks earlier, there had been another shooting at a separate automotive gathering. Around that same time, I was also targeted at a gas station simply for pumping gas near a show I hadn't even attended. News coverage then repeatedly mislabeled dangerous "takeovers" as car shows, unfairly placing blame on responsible automotive enthusiasts. Many in the auto community said they stopped attending events altogether because they no longer felt safe or felt constantly harassed for simply enjoying the hobby. That was the breaking point.
We brought together local automotive leaders, car club leadership, track owners, show hosts and legal authorities all in one space to communicate openly, share perspectives and work toward solutions together. From the beginning, we knew we wanted to expand beyond the DMV, but we also knew we had to focus on fixing things at home first.
Along this journey, I was honored to win Ms. Motorama 2023, a pageant dedicated to women involved in motorsports, which further amplified my platform and strengthened my passion to advocate for meaningful change. I also attended the SEMA Show for the first time, where I had the chance to meet with the SEMA/PRI Government Affairs team, representing DMV Auto Alliance and the work we are doing within the automotive community. Attending the SEMA Show had always been a personal goal, but being there to advocate and engage directly with SEMA/PRI Government Affairs made the experience especially meaningful.
