Emily Corson likes the cars, and mostly, the cars that go boom. She is the type of woman that you can take out of the automotive scene, but you cannot take the automotive scene out her.

Known as Emily ICX across her digital platforms, she is always on the go. Whether shooting with the world’s finest exotic vehicles or rallying up and down the coast, Emily is eager to expand her skill set.

On the heels of a frenetic holiday season, Emily was overjoyed to share some of her story with PLAYBOY’s Gabriel Santiago. Buckle up as the two have a conversation on Emily’s experiences navigating the ever-dynamic car scene.

Playboy: Let’s start at the beginning—where are you originally from?

Emily Corson: I’m originally from Minnesota, but I don’t do snow. From there, I grew up in Spain for a couple of years before moving back to the States. Now, I live in Arizona!

Playboy: How did you initially fall in love with motorsports?

Emily Corson:  I didn’t grow up around it as much as I wish I had. I got into it during COVID by street racing because there was nothing else to do in Minnesota.

Playboy: What was your first car?

Emily Corson: It was a Mk5 Volkswagen Jetta! It was an amazing car for road trips.

Playboy: As a car model, what have been some of your favorite vehicles to shoot with?

Emily Corson: I think my peak photoshoot would have been my first time in California. I got to shoot my friend’s Pagani Huayra BC Tempesta and that was like a dream come true. Really, that’s what got me into exotics and hypercars because you don’t get stuff like that in Minnesota.

Read More: Playboy Drives: 1988 Vigilante Jeep Hellcat Grand Wagoneer

Playboy: In 2024, what were some of your most memorable rallies that you attended?

Emily Corson: So, I work with Club Dodici. They are a Lamborghini and exotic group out of Northern and Southern California. I always love our Bay-to-LA rally. This year, we did a “Cars and Castles” rally by going from LA up to Napa. Once in wine country, we rented an entire castle out for a really fun dinner experience!

Playboy: In your opinion, where is America’s best car scene?

Emily Corson: SoCal is obviously on a different level. I’ve seen some cars there that I’ll probably never see anywhere else in my life. From there, the second biggest would be Miami. I’m slightly biased, though. That’s where We Are Curated is and they’re one of my favorite companies. They do a lot of classic exotics and those are some of my favorite cars.

Playboy: I see you’re also quite passionate about coffee. How do you take it?

Emily Corson: Since I grew up in Spain, my go-to is a cortado. Not a lot of places know how to make that in the U.S. It’s basically straight espresso with a little foam—I like to taste my coffee!

Playboy: Whether modeling or going out in the city, what color do you think looks most beautiful on you?

Emily Corson: Either red or black. The majority of my closet is black. Can’t really go wrong there! But I’m very particular when I’m shooting with a colored car. In those cases, I always try to do black or white because if what I’m wearing doesn’t complement the car, I get very bothered.

Playboy: Can you tell me about your experience as a female thriving in male-focused industry like automotive?

Emily Corson: I love this question because we all share very similar experiences no matter what state or region we’re in. It’s definitely a universal struggle. You’ll get your opinions rejected, not taken seriously, all kinds of stuff. But I like that the girls are all united and try to support each other as much as we can.

I feel very underestimated in the car scene, especially as a model. That’s why I’m trying to learn more about the marketing side. I’ve had so many owners be very cautious about me touching their cars or respecting their builds. Once I start asking them questions, they realize I’m a car enthusiast before I’m a model. That’s when they start to trust me more and the relationship gets built.

Playboy: Do you have any New Year’s Resolutions? If not, what are you most looking forward to in 2025?

Emily Corson: I do want to learn more behind the camera while getting away from modeling. I want to learn more marketing aspects and more editing skills. If I make my skill set more well-rounded, I can be handy both in front and behind the camera, and incidentally, attend more events. Also, I’m really looking forward to going to Goodwood Festival of Speed for my first time this year!

Playboy: Going forward, what should PLAYBOY readers look out for from Emily ICX?

Emily Corson: I’ll keep it simple—a lot of new adventures!

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