Crossword Genius

Free-living type broad in the beam? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

hippy

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'free-living type broad' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'in the beam?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'in' could be 'hip' (both can mean fashionable) and 'hip' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hippy that I've seen before include "Big-bummed" , "beatnik?" , "Flower child?" , "Rebel" , "Lover of the 60s" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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