It is really difficult for Hannah Semrow to be anonymous on campus. And when she needs to honk her horn? Then it is even harder.
The sophomore elementary education major from Prospect drives a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle. The vehicle is light blue, nicknamed: Charlotte.
It is decked out in tons of coquette accessories. The horn makes a quirky beep, and a spinner on top makes it look like a wind-up toy.
Needless to say, Semrow and Charlotte are pretty identifiable.
“It’s basically impossible to sneak anywhere in my car. Also, I get texts all the time, [from] people, ‘Oh, I saw you’. And then they didn’t [because] I was at home. People will constantly think they see me when they don’t, if there’s a similar car. So that’s kind of fun,” says Semrow.
Semrow always wanted a Beetle; the iconic car caught her eye, despite not being a car person.
“I’ve never really been into cars. I can identify ‘oh, that’s a cool car’. I like looking at cars, but honestly, Beetles are kind of really the only car that I know anything about,” says Semrow. “I always wanted a colorful car that just always stuck out to me. I’ve kind of always been, like a little eccentric.”
“First produced in 1945, the Beetle has long been one of the most iconic vehicles in American history. Also known as the bug, the car is a staple of pop culture. Semrow’s was one of the last editions produced before Volkswagen ceased making the model in 2019,” according to VW website.
Her love for the bug started young, inspired by her aunt’s Beetle. A lover of all things colorful, eccentric and unique, Semrow knew she had to have one.
“My aunt, Amiee, had a Beetle when I was little kid. She still does. It was a light green sparkly Beetle, and I always thought it was the cutest car ever. And I always wanted one, so I think that inspired it,” says Semrow. “She actually got me some of the decorations in here, because we both have Beetles, and it’s kind of cute.”
Finding “Charlotte” online was a dream come true. Being light blue, with a quiet honk and shiny silver hub caps, having it shipped to Connecticut from Arizona took a while. So, in high school, she got to work picking out decorations that matched her dream aesthetic.
“Honestly, when I found out I was getting the car, I was really excited. And I just went online and just searched car accessories, and then just got anything I thought was remotely cute and just stuffed it all in my car. And I’ve kind of just been collecting things over the years,” says Semrow.
Her chosen aesthetic for the car can best be described as adorable. Drawing inspiration from the popular coquette aesthetic, which features light colors and feminine aspects, Semrow decorated as much space in and on her car as possible.
Little Volkswagen flowers are clipped to the air vents, a toy goose dangles from the indicator switch, and bows decorate the windows. Semrow has also added seat covers, flowers, air fresheners and more. She gets most of the supplies to decorate her car from Amazon, but she has also received some as gifts.
“I have a few from friends, so I don’t know where those came from, but most of them were from Amazon, because they were the cheapest. As far as [where] decorations and my bumper stickers are from, various places,” says Semrow. “I’ve had them for years, and have had no problems with any of them.”
In the upper dashboard compartment, she has also created a little home for some of her childhood Calico Critters. The popular dolls resemble various animals, and Semrow switches out the resident Critters periodically. She uses various household items to decorate the Critters’ home, and it is one of the most popular and unique features of her car when people go for a ride with Semrow.
“It’s a work in progress currently, but I have grass in there, and I have my little family in there. So, it was always kind of something I wanted to do if I was given the opportunity,” says Semrow. “It’s a little goat family. They’re really cute. The baby matches the dad, so that’s why they’re in here right now. But they were there for springtime, and they have their little grass, which is actually like a little scrub head.”
Having her car brings Semrow lots of attention. She’s known on campus and among friends, for her decorations, and wherever she goes, her style and aesthetic are noticed. In parking lots and on the streets, the bug gets plenty of looks. Despite initially being wary of the attention, Semrow has embraced the curiosity she gets from onlookers.
“A lot of people walking by will stare. They forget I’m in the car, and they just stare at me, which I think is funny. It’s kind of grown on me. It used to weird me out, but now, I think it’s funny. People punch each other a lot because [it’s a] punch buggy. And a lot of people say, ‘Oh my God, she’s so cute’. That’s the general reaction to my car.”
With so much attention and work going into crafting the car of her dreams, Semrow is very careful not to damage it. While she loves to give friends rides, she is cognizant of any dangers that could befall the car or ruin her hard work. After a minor fender-bender last year,
she became hyper aware of her driving.
“It’s really a good car. It’s like my baby,” says Semrow. “It also makes me a better driver, I think because I’m more cautious about damaging my vehicle, because I do love it so much.”
