You’ve seen her. If you’ve spent any time in Los Santos since 2013, you know exactly who I’m talking about. She’s the girl in the red bikini, holding an iFruit phone, flashing a peace sign. She is the face of Grand Theft Auto V.
But here’s the thing. Almost everyone gets her story wrong.
People spent years arguing over who she actually was. Was she a real person? A digital creation? A lawsuit waiting to happen? For a while, the internet was convinced she was Kate Upton. Then, it was Lindsay Lohan. The reality is actually much more interesting and involves a messy legal battle that went all the way to the highest courts in New York.
Let’s get into what actually happened with the GTA 5 bikini girl and why she became such a flashpoint for celebrity culture and gaming history.
The Mystery of the Red Bikini
When Rockstar Games first started rolling out marketing for GTA V, they didn't lead with Trevor Philips or Michael De Santa. They led with the vibe. The "Beach Girl" artwork set the tone for a satirical, sun-soaked, and cynical take on Southern California.
She appeared everywhere. Bus stops. Billboards. The physical game box. And, most famously, on the loading screen that took forever to finish on the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Because she was so prominent, people naturally wanted to know who she was based on. In the early days, the rumor mill was working overtime. Most fans pointed to Kate Upton, who was the "it" girl of the moment around 2012 and 2013. The resemblance was definitely there—the hair, the pose, the beachy aesthetic. But Rockstar didn't hire Kate Upton.
They hired Shelby Welinder.
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Rockstar actually commissioned Welinder to pose for the artwork. She even released a photo of her paycheck from Rockstar Games to prove it because people on the internet were being, well, the internet. They didn't believe her. She had to show the receipts just to claim her own likeness.
Why Lindsay Lohan Sued Rockstar Games
This is where things get weird. Despite Shelby Welinder being the actual model, actress Lindsay Lohan was convinced the character was her.
In 2014, Lohan filed a lawsuit against Take-Two Interactive (Rockstar’s parent company). She claimed that the GTA 5 bikini girl—and another character in the game named Lacey Jonas—were unauthorized uses of her likeness. Lohan’s legal team argued that the character’s clothing, hat, sunglasses, and even the "peace sign" gesture were all ripped directly from her life and image.
The lawsuit wasn't just a quick "no." It dragged on. For years.
It went to the New York County Supreme Court and eventually reached the New York State Court of Appeals. Lohan’s team was adamant. They felt the game was profiting off her persona as a "troubled starlet." If you remember the Lacey Jonas side mission in the game, the character is hiding from paparazzi and complaining about her weight. It was a clear parody of Hollywood culture, and Lohan felt she was the specific target.
Honestly, it was a bold move. But it didn't work out.
In 2018, the court finally shut it down. The judges ruled that the character was not Lohan. They described the GTA 5 bikini girl as a "generic artistic representation of a twenty-something woman." More importantly, they ruled that even if the character was a parody of her, Grand Theft Auto is a work of fiction and satire, which is protected under the First Amendment.
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Basically, you can’t sue someone for making a joke about a "type" of person, even if you think you’re that person.
The Art Style That Defined an Era
The artwork itself was created by Rockstar’s internal team, spearheaded by Stephen Bliss. Bliss was the man behind the iconic GTA aesthetic from the early 2000s until he left the company in 2016.
The goal wasn't just to draw a pretty girl. It was to create an archetype.
When you look at the GTA 5 bikini girl, you’re looking at a specific brand of digital illustration that mixes realism with heavy, stylized line work. It’s what makes GTA look like GTA. It’s "Vinewood." It’s the fake version of Hollywood that feels more real than the actual place sometimes.
The character is actually a police officer.
Wait, what?
Yeah. If you look at the full promotional art, she’s actually being frisked by a female police officer in one version, or she’s holding a badge in another. She’s part of the game’s commentary on the "glamour" of Los Santos being a thin veneer over a world of crime and corruption.
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Why We Are Still Talking About Her in 2026
It’s been over a decade since the game launched. We are now looking toward GTA 6. So why does this one image still matter?
It’s because it represents the peak of Rockstar’s cultural dominance. That loading screen is burned into the retinas of over 190 million players. It’s more than just marketing; it’s a piece of pop culture history.
There's also the "Mandela Effect" aspect. People remember her being in the game, but she isn't a playable character. She’s not even an NPC you can go talk to. She exists purely in the artwork and the loading screens. She’s a ghost in the machine.
Common Misconceptions
- She’s Kate Upton: Nope. Just a similar vibe.
- She’s in the game: Only as a 2D image. You won't find her walking down Vespucci Beach.
- Lohan won the suit: She lost, twice.
- She’s an original character: She’s based on model Shelby Welinder.
The Legacy of the Peace Sign
The GTA 5 bikini girl changed how developers think about key art. Before GTA V, box art was usually just the main character looking tough. Rockstar turned their promotional art into a lifestyle brand.
It’s also a reminder of the legal boundaries of satire. The Lohan case set a massive precedent for the gaming industry. It protected developers from "right of publicity" claims as long as the work is transformative and satirical. If Rockstar had lost that case, the gaming industry would look very different today. Developers would be terrified of making fun of anything or anyone.
So, next time you see that loading screen—assuming you’re still playing the expanded and enhanced versions—remember Shelby Welinder and the four-year legal battle that followed her peace sign.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re interested in the intersection of gaming and law, or just want to see how Rockstar builds its worlds, here is how you can dig deeper.
- Check out the court documents: The Lohan v. Take-Two ruling is public. It’s a fascinating read for anyone interested in how "likeness" is defined in the digital age. It’s not as dry as you’d think.
- Follow the artists: Look up Stephen Bliss and Anthony Macbain. They are the architects of the GTA visual style. Their non-Rockstar work is equally incredible and gives you a sense of where that "gritty-but-clean" look comes from.
- Compare the marketing to GTA 6: As the new trailers and art for the next GTA drop, look at the character designs. You can already see how the "bikini girl" archetype is evolving with the new female protagonist, Lucia. The satire is still there, but the lens has shifted.
- Verify the credits: Don't rely on forum rumors. When a new game drops, look at the actual model and voice actor credits. It saves everyone a lot of unnecessary legal drama.
The era of GTA V is slowly winding down, but the images it created aren't going anywhere. The girl in the red bikini remains the ultimate symbol of a game that defined two generations of play.