Interview by MARIA MOTA

Thriving on charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent, Gabrielle’s core is creativity. When Gabrielle Duchese steps on stage, Duchesse Divine takes the stage, creating and performing lip sync performances, with a twist. Her shows are a combination of music and body exposure and positivity.

“I have a sickening amount of confidence in my shows. The love for your own body is everything.”
— Gabrielle Duchesse

You just recently started your DJing career congratulations! How is it going? What sparked your interest to start this journey? 

Yes it has been fun!! I’m stil in the beginning stages but my love for music is so overwhelming that I had to explore how to use it even more. When I do performances it’s only about 15 minutes tops, so I felt the need to really bring my taste of music out there, because I usually don’t really hear it anywhere. I like to play bangerz from like Megan thee Stallion but  also Queen,The Prodigy, Peaches and of course the inspiration to my stage name Divine.

You are a multifaceted artist, you perform, DJ, model, act… I assume creativity is very rooted in you. Would you agree? Tell me about it.

Very much so, it’s my life, im extremely creative and thrive on Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent 😉 

I knew very early in my life that there was never gonna be a 9 to 5 situation… I grew up around my dad creating in his atelier and soaked up all the talents and insights there to grow as a fully committed artist.

Who or what inspires you the most? 

Music and my body, my shows are a combination of music (I always make a mix for every show) and body exposure and positivity, it’s very important for me to show my body in a certain way because I want all the women in the audience to know its ok to show whoever you are despite how you look, and to feel FIERCE. I have a sickening amount of confidence in my shows and I know that what I do.. nobody else really does (especially in the Antwerp scene). The love for your own body is everything and the love from the audience is a huuuge motivator.

If you could go back to the beginning of your career, if you could have a conversation  with your younger self, what would you say to them? 

I am now 38 and I started when I was around 24. I was an extremely wild and traumatized young woman, my shows were very dark and heavy because I was channeling my inner demons. So I would tell my younger self to not be so hard on yourself and step out of the darkness a bit earlier (still to this day I have to tell myself that), and be kind to everyone backstage.

What would you like to see coming to fruition in your life? What is next for you on a  personal and professional level? 

I had the privilege to work with Jonas Govaerts on his latest film H4ZARD and it was amazing! I would love to explore more acting and play some more amazing DJ sets.

I survived cancer 3 years ago and am still on the path of recovery, but nothing, not even cancer, will make me stop doing the activism i’m doing right now.

‘BELGAIN FORCES’ from our latest print issue ‘Genesis’ feature Meyy, Sylvie Kreusch, Gabrielle Duchesse, LEVS, Stef Van Looveren and Bolis Pupul <3 Read all the interviews exclusively on our website

Photography @marie_wynants
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