Women in Vanlife: 10 Creators, Builders and Adventurers to Follow
International Women’s Day, marked every year on the 8th March, is an opportunity to look at the communities we are part of and ask who is being supported, who is being heard and who is shaping what comes next.
In the vanlife and overlanding world, women are not standing on the sidelines. They are building businesses from their vans, leading expeditions, running workshops, converting vehicles, creating practical resources and opening doors for others who are just getting started. They are also the ones answering questions at events, sharing hard-earned lessons online and encouraging someone who is wondering if they are capable of doing this on their own.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Give To Gain, is rooted in generosity, collaboration and shared progress. It is the idea that when we actively invest in women and back their work, the entire community grows stronger. That feels particularly relevant in a space like vanlife, where knowledge-sharing, recommendations and peer support are often the difference between someone dreaming about it and someone actually setting off.
This is me, Jo - Vanlove’s content writer, in the van I built myself.
In this post, we are highlighting ten women across the UK and Europe who are helping shape the vanlife world in meaningful ways. Some have large platforms. Others are making a powerful impact at community level. All of them are contributing something that moves this community forward.
Many of these women are not just names to us. They are people we have personally shared campsites with, spoken on panels alongside, collaborated with at events or had long voice notes and DMs with over the years.
When I (Jo) was converting my own van and preparing to take to the road solo, it was women like these who made it feel possible. Watching their builds, seeing their honesty about the hard parts and witnessing them navigate this lifestyle on their own terms was hugely motivating. This piece is as much a thank you from me, as it is a celebration.
Alongside them, we also want to acknowledge the women we meet at our Vanlove events, on campsites and in our inbox. The solo travellers navigating their first season on the road. The women redefining family life in a campervan. The creatives, tradeswomen, adventurers and first-timers who show up, share openly and take steps in doing life on their own terms. The culture we are building within the Vanlove community is stronger and more representative because of them.
We hope you feel inspired by these women, but there are so many more - we’d love to know who else you’d add to the list!
Josie Rose – Bus Off 👉 @bus.off.josie
Josie is the face behind Bus Off, and if you’ve ever dreamed of turning a vehicle into a literal tiny cottage on wheels, she’s probably already on your radar. Her bus is all soft neutrals, wood textures and thoughtful details, and it feels more like stepping into a countryside snug than a typical van build.
She spent three years building it herself and shared the whole process, including the doubts and the struggles. Now she documents solo life on the road with her dog, Winnie, in a way that feels calm, creative and very down-to-earth. What makes Josie stand out is that she hasn’t followed the usual vanlife aesthetic or pace. She’s built something that genuinely reflects her personality, and we think that sense of permission to do it your own way is a big part of why people connect with her.
Louise & Emily – Camper Vibe 👉 @Camper_vibe
Louise and Emily from Camper Vibe bring a completely different energy. Their channel started with van builds and travel, but it has grown into something broader and more lifestyle-led. They’re currently renovating a cottage in Ireland alongside converting an old fire engine with loads of character into a camper, which tells you a lot about their appetite for ambitious projects.
What’s refreshing is how open they are about the realities of taking on big ideas. You see the progress, the pivots and the problem-solving. There’s always humour in it (and snacks!) and a clear sense that they genuinely enjoy the process, not just the finished result.
Laura & Jacqui Fiddes-Brown – Brown Bird & Co 👉 @brownbirdandco
Laura and Jacqui are the founders of Brown Bird & Co, a UK-based van and Land Rover Defender conversion company known for beautiful builds that feel both refined and rugged. Their work has a distincy style: clean lines, quality materials and layouts that are clearly designed by people who understand how these vehicles are actually used.
They are not hobby builders documenting one personal van. They run a growing team and have turned their skills into a respected business, creating bespoke conversions for clients who want something thoughtful and hard-wearing. Alongside the workshop side of things, they share their own adventures and love of the outdoors, which grounds their work in lived experience. They represent women leading confidently in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, building seriously good vehicles.
Eva Zu Beck 👉 @evazubeck
Eva Zu Beck sits at the far edge of adventure. Her work is rooted in remote expeditions, extreme environments and pushing herself into places most of us would only ever see in documentaries. While not exclusively vanlife, vehicle-based travel and overlanding form a large part of how she reaches some of the most challenging landscapes on earth.
What makes Eva compelling is her depth. She doesn’t just show the adventure; she talks about fear, resilience and what it means to test yourself in extreme environments. Her content feels philosophical as much as physical. She represents a version of road-based travel that is less about lifestyle and more about exploration and self-confrontation. For women who feel the pull toward bigger, bolder adventures, Eva expands the frame of what is possible.
Kat – Wandering Bird 👉 @wanderingbird.adventures
Kat, known as Wandering Bird, is the person many people quietly credit with giving them the confidence to get started. She focuses on practical motorhome and van travel advice, breaking down routes, paperwork, logistics and the realities of touring in Europe in a way that makes it all feel manageable for those just starting out.
She has written books, give talks and built resources specifically to help people feel prepared rather than overwhelmed. There’s a strong emphasis on self-sufficiency and capability in her work. Kat’s approach is calm, clear and solutions-focused. If someone is on the edge of taking the leap but held back by the “how,” you could say she is the bridge between dreaming and actually doing.
Luci Norris 👉 @vanlifewithluci
Luci’s vanlife stands out for how hands-on and capable she is. Having converted her van herself she regularly shares practical insights into the systems that make full-time life on the road throughout the UK and Europe work for her.
Alongside the travel content, there’s a strong thread of outdoor adventure and curiosity about places. Hiking, paddleboarding, exploring historical sites and landscapes. She also housesits for pets around the world as a break for exploring in her van. It feels less about chasing the most photogenic spots and more about using the van as a base for genuinely exploring the world around her.
Siobhan Daniels – Retirement Rebel 👉 @theretirementrebel
Siobhan Daniels chose vanlife at a stage when many people are told to slow down. After retiring early, she moved into her motorhome and began travelling solo around the UK and beyond, documenting the experience as Retirement Rebel.
Her story challenges assumptions about age and independence. She speaks candidly about loneliness, courage and rebuilding life after major change. There is warmth and honesty in the way she shares the emotional side of solo travel later in life. Siobhan’s presence is important because she broadens who vanlife is for. She shows that it is not just a twenty-something dream. It can also be a powerful reset and a reminder that adventure does not have an expiry date.
Beth Johnstone – She Is The Lost Girl 👉 @sheisthelostgirl
Beth Johnstone, known as She Is The Lost Girl, blends vanlife with a strong connection to nature, creativity and slower travel. She has lived nomadically for 14+ years across the UK and Europe, in vehicles of all sizes.
Her content often centres around wild landscapes, mindful moments and the feeling of being small in big places. She is open about mental health, self-discovery and the less glamorous parts of life on the road. Rather than chasing constant movement in this season of her vanlife journey, Beth is leaning into presence and connection.
Ashima Anand 👉 @ashminaanand
Ashima Anand brings a distinct voice to the van and overlanding world through her blend of storytelling, travel and cultural perspective. Her journeys often extend beyond simple road trips, exploring identity, belonging and what it means to move through different countries as a woman.
She currently works full time as a Civil Engineer, reminding us that you don’t need to be working remotely to make vanlife work for you.
Ashmina’s content weaves in thoughtful reflections alongside the practical realities of life on the road. Her presence broadens representation within vanlife and overlanding, encouraging women to claim space in environments where they may not always see themselves reflected, and to shape life and travel in a way that honours their full story.
Ro Marshall - British Adventure Mum 👉 @britishadventuremum
Ro shares vanlife as part of a wider sense outdoor travel through the lens of motherhood. Her content centres around exploring the UK and beyond with children, proving that adventure does not need to pause when family life begins.
She is practical and encouraging, offering insight into how to make road travel work with kids in tow, from packing and planning to embracing the inevitable chaos. There is realism in her storytelling. You see the joy, the learning curve and the value of raising children outdoors. Her presence is important because she expands the narrative of who vanlife is for. It is not just solo travellers or couples. It can also be families choosing a more adventurous rhythm of life together.
Here’s to the Women Shaping the Road Ahead
Of course, ten names can never capture the full picture. The vanlife world is being shaped every day by women whose impact might not always be visible from the outside. It is in the late-night chats at meet-ups, the advice offered to a nervous first-timer and the stories told honestly online.
That spirit of Give To Gain lives in those everyday moments. When someone shares what they have learned instead of gatekeeping it. When they recommend a campsite, pass on a contact, offer a cup of tea or simply say, “you’ve got this”. Those small acts ripple further than we realise.
So while this list celebrates ten women making waves in their own way, it is also a thank you to every woman who turns up to a Vanlove event, messages us about her build, asks thoughtful questions or encourages someone else to start. You are part of shaping this world too.
If someone comes to mind as you read this, send them a message. Share their work. Invite them along next time. The more we recognise and support each other, the stronger and more welcoming this community becomes for everyone.
That is the kind of community we are committed to building at Vanlove, and it is one worth investing in together.
We hope you feel inspired by these women, but we know there are so many more - who else would you add to the list?
Chime on our socials or tag them in a post, so we can share more inspirational women in vanlife with the community!
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Vanlove is the heart of the UK vanlife community - bringing together campervan owners, weekend adventurers, and full-time travellers through festivals, gatherings, stories, and practical resources. What started as one festival has grown into a space for connection, inspiration, and real life on the road.
If this post resonated, you’ll find many more voices like this across the Vanlove blog, newsletter and events:
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Wherever you are on your journey, we’re sending you #peaceandvanlove 🚐 💛
