GABRIELLE MORRISON
Gabrielle Morrison is a dancer, actress, and online personality from Florida and is of Jamaican and Trinidadian descent. She has 3.7M followers and more than 200M likes on TikTok, 340K followers on Instagram, and nearly 65K subscribers on YouTube. She is a trained dancer and rose to fame posting dancing and lip-syncing videos on TikTok. She shares vlogs of her everyday life, travels, and beauty/health/fitness content.
Orange Set by Elliatt
How do your Jamaican and Trinidadian roots affect your identity?
My Caribbean descent definitely affects my morals and how I carry myself a lot. I was raised by my Trinidadian grandmother who lived with us as I was growing older, so I feel her influence as well as my parents’ influence on a daily basis. I value and respect my parents' opinions so much that I definitely can see how the way I was raised and my descent affects my life.
What inspired you to start dancing? What do you love about dance?
Music has always moved me. Since I was young, my parents would cheer me on as I gyrate my body in my costumes and put on little shows for them. So, of course, by the time I was 3 my mom brought me to the closest dance studio in our neighborhood.
I love how dance makes me feel. I can feel the music and easily express my emotions through my love for dance. I feel like I also have a n expressive face, so you can really see my joy in my expressions as I dance.
Left:
Red Dress by Helen Anthony London
Right:
Pink Set by Helen Anthony London
Black Platform Boots by PR Solo
Tell us the story of your TikTok. What inspired you to start posting? What kind of community have you created on your socials?
As soon as I downloaded the app TikTok, the concept of different sounds would bring out the same creativity and urge to dance in me. I posted my first video lip syncing to a sound not even two days after I downloaded the app. I’ve created quite a diverse community of people who love similar things as I do. Beauty, Hair Care, and Dance have brought together the most caring, supportive, and sweet community a person can ask for.
You’re quite the world traveler. What do you love about traveling? What are some of your favorite trips?
I’ve loved to travel since I was very young. Every time I travel my horizons grow and I feel grounded in a new way. It opens my eyes to how much beauty is in the world. A little escape from your own problems, and your life is always peaceful. Honestly, my recent cruise vacation in Europe with “Virgin Voyages” has been replaying in my head for months. Getting to visit so many countries in Europe and sail through different seas was life changing.
You have an impressive platform. How do you dream of using it in the future? What inspires your online presence?
I dream of using my platform to further inspire younger audiences to pursue their dreams. I love helping my younger audience with which they need help. Whether it’s relationship advice or feeling too nervous to pursue their passions. I dream of being a virtual shoulder to cry on (or via my socials). As a community we will do wonderful things.
Left:
Blue Dress by Harry Halim
Right:
Pink Set by Helen Anthony London
Black Platform Boots by PR Solo
What inspired your body care brand Lagoon?
My struggles in finding body and skin care products safe for sensitive skin inspired my body care brand. After many hives, allergic reactions, and self-misdiagnosis I really felt like I should share my journey and help others find more products they can use to achieve their skin goals without problem.
You’ve dabbled in acting as Kit in Rooney’s Last Roll and Attaway General . Is this a path you’d like to continue to explore?
Yes, I am actively pursuing my acting career now. I take acting classes here in Los Angeles throughout the week. I feel like these classes have not only helped me further my acting skills, but also helped me become more in touch with my emotions. I have always been a performer at heart, and I love developing creative skills. Especially a skill where I have to be so open and vulnerable, which can be different from dance where I became a bit of a perfectionist.
What is your favorite type of dance? What is your favorite type of music to dance to?
My favorite genre of dance is ballet. I grew a deeper love for ballet as I fell in love with classical music. I love that classical and instrumental music can tell so much of a story but then you can also write a lot of your own story with your dance. I also said earlier that I am a perfectionist and I grew to love that ballet has a certain way to do it and that’s that. I have moments where I like to be stylized, but I used to love knowing that I was doing something the right way.
Left:
Red Dress by Helen Anthony London
Right:
Blue Dress by Harry Halim
How does your online community inspire you?
They inspire me so much. They inspire me to get up and make content for them because I feel like it’s one of the best ways for me to thank them for being there for me. By being there for them as much as I can. They all believe in me so much, and it really drives me to tears so often.
What challenges have you faced as a social media personality?
I struggled a little to be authentic at times. I would get so stuck in the fact that I’m making videos that I want my audience to like that I would struggle to make videos that I really like. I would also struggle opening up in negative situations, such as breakups. However as soon as I would close up or sensor myself for the sake of my private situation, I would start to have content block ups because I felt like I couldn’t be authentic about what was consuming my mind at the time.
What is your favorite type of content to share with your followers?
Oh, this is a hard one. I love sharing all of my content. However, my favorite type of content to share with my followers at the moment is either travel content or relatable content. I love travel content because I am genuinely so fascinated by what I am filming as well. I also love posting relatable content because it feels so good to write down your inner thoughts and have other people say they also have the same thoughts or issues.
Social Media.
Instagram: gabby.morr
Snapchat: Morrison or Gabby Morrison.
TikTok: gabbymorr.
YouTube: Gabby Morrison
CREW CREDITS:
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer + Producer: Mike Ruiz + @mikeruiz.one
Talent: Gabrielle Morrison
Fashion Stylist: Melvin Sanders
Hair: Ana Estela
Makeup: Raquel Moreno
Photographer’s Assistant: Ozzie Gutierrez
Fashion Styling Assistant: Kaij Fashion & Styling
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Associate Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Sienna Ropert, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Location: FD Studios
SHOP THE LOOK: GABRIELLE MORRISON
LOW END:
DOMDRICH Stylish TPU suit
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