Born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gisele Eboma is a mother and entrepreneur. Gisele is the founder and creative director of Surfing Queen™, a lifestyle brand inspired by her love and passion of surfing waves in the ocean.  Gisele has a Bachelor’s in International Business from the Business School of Wichita University and a Certificate of Social Impact Strategy from the University of Pennsylvania.  She is the author of a children’s book series currently in production, entitled, Surfing Gabi, inspired by her daughter surfing the waves.  A designer and seamstress, Gisele loves cooking, playing the piano, and is currently working on a Surfing Queen™ House of Pottery line. 

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Since an early age, Gisele always wanted to learn how to sew and design. Buying clothes and accessories from a third party, didn’t feel authentic to Gisele, she felt she was not in control of the quality and the design.  Having a vision and wanting to be a part of the garment construction is what lead her to learn to sew and design her own clothes. When Gisele started learning how to surf over 10 years ago, she realized how few women of color were in the sport and almost nonexistent surf brand owned by women of color.  As a result, she launched a brand that reflected both the surf culture and the African culture.  That is how Surfing Queen™ was born, a brand authentic to her philosophy.  Her mission for Surfing Queen™ is very simple: to create truly unique and magical items inspired from the beautiful and action-filled world of surfing and the excitement of blending African-themed elements.

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Gisele is currently the Studio Apprentice at SoHarlem. SoHarlem is a Designers’ Studio in Harlem serving as an incubator for fashion designers, and training for the Harlem community. SoHarlem’s mission is to support racial equity and employment in Harlem by incubating creative enterprises that incorporate sustainable business models. Since its founding in 2011, SoHarlem has assisted in launching more than 25 micro businesses from custom-made, couture garments, urban streetwear, fashion accessories, and other businesses. Its Creative Economy Training Institute started in 2017, has trained more than 50 unemployed and underemployed residents. On September 12, 2024, Gisele participated in the I Am So Harlem Annual Benefit honoring the icon Bethann Hardison. The Benefit featured a Fashion Show and a three-day Pop Up Shop. Gisele showcased one of her handmade designs, modeled by Tiffany Collins, and they walked the runway alongside her fellow collective designers from SoHarlem. 

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