Steph Gabriel is a 26 year old true beauty of the Sunshine Coast. She has naturally been drawn to the ocean from a very young age and she lives and breathes the barefoot and salt water lifestyle. Steph is an adventurer who has travelled to over 47 countries around the world as well as having lived in the Caribbean, where she handled and fed wild stingrays while taking thrill-seekers on snorkelling tours. Steph has also spent four months living in the pristine Galapagos Islands where she conducted marine research while swimming with sharks and sea lions. As if this beach lover hasn’t done enough, she is now completing a Bachelor of Environmental Marine Science and building her very own Bikini Empire… OceanZen!
Liquidlife was lucky enough to meet Steph and hear her story…
‘OceanZen bikini represents a lifestyle that carefree, ocean lovers can easily relate to’.
‘In today’s society there is so much pressure to look a certain way, and it can not only feel intimidating but also a little overwhelming. I want to steer away from the commercial, heavily made-up model look and inspire women to feel fearless with their smiles whilst feeling sexy and embrace their natural curves’.
‘It’s important that us women break away from how society says we should look and feel stoked about the skin we are in. Apart from just bikinis, my heart truly lies with the wonderland of the
marine world’.
OceanZen also raises awareness with marine conservation projects and environmental updates via social media. ‘The ocean is our last true wilderness that we have left to explore and it needs to be protected. It’s not just about bikinis with OceanZen, it’s also about an environmentally conscious brand and my dream combing both of my passions; marine conversation and swimwear together’.
OceanZen represents the life of a girl who dwells between ocean and land, the gypsy that travels the earth, the ocean addict who thrives off ocean vibes, the barefoot wanderers who have more bikinis then bras and the yogis who are in search of zen.
‘We see the exquisite beauty in all living things, we take too many leaps of faith and we choose to take the road less travelled. We smile, we laugh, we are fearless, we are wild at heart and we are water-born creatures.’
When she hears the fierce ocean, she runs down to the shore, her bare feet folding into the sand, she dives in, opens her eyes, and feels at home. She smiles with the ocean. She is OceanZen. She is you.
