GABI SPARKL GETS REAL

THE FAIRY ARTICLE

Interview by Kimberly Mortensen (Founder, Narcissist Magazine)

What's your name in this lifetime and what's your zodiac sign saying about you right now?

I'm Gabrielle Sparkl or Gsparkl for short. I'm a Libra through and through, ruled by beauty, balance, and big dreams. Right now, my sign is screaming: "It's happening." All late nights, the struggles, the reinventions—it's all about to pay off. Money. Success. Fame. I can feel it.

Where'd you grow up—and how did that place mess you up or make you magical?

I grew up between Kauai and Maui, in a world that felt like it was built out of magic. Rainbows, waterfalls, barefoot wonder... I didn't know it at that time, but I was living a fairytale. And like most fairytales—it ended. But that ending planted the seeds for everything I've built now.

Baby Gabi with childhood friend

Baby Gabi with childhood friend

Gabi with her mother and sister.

Baby Gabi with her dad.

Do you remember the moment you realized "Yeah... this is it. I'm meant to build my own universe in fabric and sparkl?"

That moment when I was three, standing in my yard in Hawaii, looking into a flower next to what we called the fairy gardens—that's when I first felt the spark of my destiny with Sparkl. There's even a picture of it. It wasn't just a moment, though—it was a thousand tiny ones. Every time I felt like I didn't belong in the real world, I escaped into color, texture, creation and light. Sparkl became my survival, rebellion, and my freedom—all stitched into one.

✧ ROOTS + RESILIENCE ✧

Maui. Art. Magic. Nature. Did your childhood feel like a fairytale—or were you already stitching one together to survive?

It was a fairytale... until it wasn't. I went from living in Kanaplai Hillside and the Westin Hotel, dancing in the ocean, to witnessing my family lose everything they had worked for their entire life to build. That's when I started laser-focused, stitching my own story—thread by thread, rhinestone by rhinestone. Creating magic became my way of coping, and eventually just fed my calling.

Gabi's family home in Maui.

When your family lost everything in the recession, how did that shift your fire?

It broke me—and built me. I learned that nothing is guaranteed, but everything is possible. It didn't make me dream smaller. It made me dream smarter. Louder. Brighter. I decided I'd never rely on anyone else to hand me my future.

Why L.A.? Was it destiny, delusion, or a bit of both?

A little sparkl, a little chaos. Definitely both. But deep down, I knew the magic I was creating couldn't stay hidden in the south. L.A. called to me in a way I couldn't ignore. It was like the universe was saying, "this is where your dreams will have room to soar." I had visions of something bigger, something more than the small world I knew. I needed a place where creativity could collide with ambition, where the impossible felt possible. L.A. wasn't just a location; it was the next chapter in my story, a place where my destiny would unfold, and every move felt like stepping into the future I had always envisioned. It was meant to be.

✧ THE SPARKL UNIVERSE ✧

What was the first piece of clothing that made you feel like, "This is Sparkl. This is me?"

A reversible, pastel hologram-covered bikini I sold it on a little stand I made in Venice Beach. I had no money—but I had vision. It made people stop. I made me seen.

Your world is dipped in purples, pinks, and shimmer. What do those colors feel like to you?

Freedom. Femininity. Fantasy. True self-expression. It's softness with power. It's a dreamy rebellion.

"Being your true-self" is your fairy mantra—has that meaning changed since you launched Sparkl?

It's deepened. At first, it was just a vibe. Now, it's responsibility. I want every girl who wears Sparkl to feel like she's allowed to take up space—to be cute, fabulous, and strong as hell.

Where's the line between fantasy and function for you? Is there one? Should there be?

Honestly? The line doesn't exist. Fantasy is function. You move differently when you feel magical. And that energy changes your whole day.

Was Sparkl always meant to be a full-blown lifestyle—or did it slowly possess your world like glitter in carpet?

"Yes, that was always the vision from the very beginning. I saw it all."

I was at a festival, and someone handed me a spinning Cinderella light-up toy. The sun was just beginning to rise, and suddenly I remembered the

joy I had as a little girl—just so happy and

carefree.

In that between moment, as the sky turned

pastel and the stars faintly visible, I saw

it.

The entire vision of Sparkl.

Spelled out across the sky in what felt like another language—something ancient, glowing, magical.

Like celestial hieroglyphics only my heart could

read. I didn't just understand it—I felt it. It wasn't words, it was download. A memory from the

future.

Since then, Sparkl has been in everything.

In how I dress.

In how I talk.

In how I dream, love, and live.

Even in how I smell.

It's never left me. It was never just a brand. It was

a promise I made in that moment—to make her proud.

✧ INDUSTRY VS. INSTINCT ✧

You dipped out of FIDM because of the corporate vibes. What would you say to students feeling the same way—but scared to walk?

I'd say your intuition is divine. If it doesn't feel like your path, it's not. The system isn't built for all creatives. Don't shrink your sparkl to fit in a gray box. Drop out, dive in, build the world you wish existed. Trust me, the real education begins the moment you choose yourself.

How has the LA scene tested your sparkl?

LA will chew you up and glam you down. It's beautiful and brutal. You'll meet everyone you dreamed of and if you're not careful can lose parts of yourself trying to keep up. But if you can stay grounded in your magic—your true vision—you'll rise. My sparkl became stronger because it had to survive the shadows, fakes and scammers. The true mantra - never give up!

You opened a pop-up at 23... then covid said "surprise." What did surviving that teach you about yourself as a businesswoman?

That I'm build for the storm. That magic is nothing without resilience. I had to pivot overnight, learn new skills on the fly. It taught me I can make it work even when everything crumbles. I'm not just a dreamer—I'm a fighter.

Selling bikinis on Venice Beach in your teens—give us a wild memory. A moment that's stuck.

One day, I was just doing my thing—selling bikinis I designed on the Venice Beach boardwalk—when a woman literally screamed down the board walk and ran to me. She turned out to be one of the directors of Beautycon LA. She said she'd never seen anything like my bikinis before.

She fast-tracked me into my first tradeshow, and that weekend, I made real money for the first time.

Like serious money.

That moment changed everything.

It was the first time Sparkl went from dream to business. And from that point on, I knew—this was bigger than me.

I was creating transformation. That moment lives in my heart forever.

Be real—was there ever a point you thought this dream might not work?

Never.  Not once.

I've cried a million tears.

I've been so close to losing it all—more time than I can count.

But deep, deep inside me... I knew.

This wasn't just a dream.

It was my destiny.

There was never a Plan B—only Plan Sparkl. ✧

HOW IT ALL STARTED!!!

✧ THE FAIRY CIRCLE ✧

Why are so many Sparkl girls mermaids? What's the deeper obsession? Do you think mermaids are real?

Mermaids don't belong to the land or the sea—they live in between. They're sensual, mystical, powerful, and untamed. That's the Sparkl girl. And yes, I fully believe they're real—maybe not in the way we expect, but in the way they move through us.

Sparkl isn't just a brand–it's a portal. Where does it take us?

It takes you home—the most magical, radiant, empowered version of yourself. The girl who wears what she loves, dances in daylight, and believes her dreams are worthy, and never gives up. Sparkl is the portal to the best version of YOU, the person you were always meant to be.

✧ CELEBRITY GLAMOUR ✧

Paris Hilton on the cover of Galore wearing Sparkl.

Paris Hilton wore Sparkl on Galore's cover. What went through your head when you saw that?

I literally screamed.

Paris was always that fun, inspiring, free-spirit I admired growing up. She was a real-life fairy—glamorous, iconic, and completely herself.

So seeing her in Sparkl? That was like my teenage dream stepping into reality.

And then... she followed me. And Sparkl.

I was like—okay, this is real magic.

Were you a Paris girl growing up? Was she part of your Y2K fairy awakening?

100%. Paris Hilton taught me that femininity is a power move. That you can wear pink, carry a puppy, and still be the boss.

Megan Fox and Megan Thee Stallion in Sparkl—how did that happen, and what did they each bring to your designs?

Both came through stylists who believed in the vision. Megan Fox gave dark fairy siren energy—elevated, edgy. ethereal. They didn't just wear the clothes, they embodied the fantasy.

Do celebs elevate the brand—or are they just catching up to your dreamworld?

Let's be honest—they're stepping into something I've been building for years. The dreamworld was always here. Celebs amplify it, but Sparkl was already glowing.

✧ PARIS FASHION WEEK ✧

Paris Fashion Week. Let's go. What happened behind the scenes? Meltdowns? Miracles? Both?

Oh—both. Definitely both.

My luggage was lost. I cried like 20 times. The weather was moody and rainy, my room wasn't right... everything felt like it was going sideways.  But somehow—like fairydust in motion—it all came together.

The looks. The magic. The people. The energy.

It was total chaos that turned into total perfection.

Like the universe wanted to test me first... and then said, okay, she's ready.

You gave American denim a fairy twist. Why denim—and how'd you make it feel enchanted?

Denim felt like a challenge. It's so rugged, so classic American. I wanted to soften it with pastels, rhinestones, and shimmer—make it feel like something a fairy would wear but still giving a western-inspired fashion.

After Paris, what changed? In your vision, your confidence, your closet?

Everything changed. Everything clicked.

Paris flipped a switch in me—I stopped asking for permission. My confidence leveled up. My vision sharpened. My designs got bolder, dreamier, more me. The craft, the dedication, the long nights—it all started to show.

I stepped fully into my CEO energy, built the right team, and suddenly all the cylinders were firing.

And my closet? Couture. Fabulous. One-of-a-kind.

The kind of pieces I always dreamed of making... back when I didn't have quite the skills yet. Now? I make them.

✧ GIRL BOSS GRIT ✧

What's the hardest part of being a girl running your own empire?

Carrying the weight. Being the visionary, the boss, the artist, the accountant, the cheerleader, and the therapist—all at once. And still showing up in fabulous af and making it happen.

Have you ever felt underestimated—like people weren't ready for a woman this sparkly and powerful?

Every single day.

Sparkl is often dismissed as "unserious"—

bubblegum, airy-fairy fluff. But what they don't

realize is that this is our power. The sparkl, the whimsy, the mermaid magic—it's layered with

depth.

If you're not looking beyond the shimmering

exterior, you'll miss the truth.

Sparkl is a movement. It's about dreaming boldly, dressing fabulously, and most of all—being fully yourself.

The Sparkl Fairies? They're strong. They're

visionary. They want more out of life.

And I'll never dim down or water it down just to be taken seriously.

Because this is serious. It's revolutionary joy and happiness.

How do you protect your softness and creativity in a world that wants women to play small or play hard?

I honor rest. I make space for nature, sleeping, and slow mornings. I treat softness like a superpower—because it is.

What would you tell every girl who's been told she's too much?

You are. And thank goddess for that.

You weren't born to be beige—you were born to shake rooms, shift energy, and shine.

Keep being "too much." Because if someone thinks that of you, it just means they're not enough for you.

That's your magic.

Own it. Amplify it. Never apologize for it.

The world needs your sparkl, loud and unfiltered.

Do you think fashion is finally giving women their flowers—or are we still building ladders out of broken glass?

We're getting more flowers, yes. But many of us are still bleeding from climbing. That's why I create softness—in clothes, in spaces, in culture. We deserve silk ladders and rose petal runways.

✧ LEGACY + LIGHT ✧

What would your 13-year-old self say if she saw you now?

She'd cry, laugh, and dance around. Then she'd say, "I knew you'd do it." Then she'd ask to try on every single piece.

How do you define success today—without using the word "money"?

Success to me is peace—knowing I've stayed true to myself. It's the impact I make, seeing girls light up when they wear my designs. It's feeling proud of what I've built, even on the tough days, and finding strength in resilience. Success is about the journey, growth, and the magic in every step.

Do you still hand-make your clothes—or has your spellcasting evolved into something bigger?

I still sew sometimes, especially for samples or custom pieces. But the magic has definitely evolved. I've trained a team, built systems, and now production and creation happen on a whole new level. My design process is more digital now—sketching and passing it all along to my team to bring it back to life.

What do you do when the glitter fades and the world feels heavy?

When the glitter fades and the world feels heavy, I go to the ocean. I let myself cry, journal, and rest. Then, I remind myself that diamonds are forged under pressure, and there's nowhere to go but up from here. And just like that, I rise again.

✧ FAIRYTALE FINALE ✧

If you could dress the entire planet in one Sparkl piece, what would it be and what would it say?

Our UR Famous Fur coat and sparkly boots. It would say: You are iconic. Your fabulous magic. Never forget it.

Finally, random question: Name three movies that best describe you.

Titanic (for the passion and resilience).

Legally Blonde (because underestimated girls always win),

and 13 going on 30 (for the journey of becoming your true self).

Interviewer: Kimberly Mortensen

Designer: Gabi Sparkl

Photographer: Sabrina Kennelly

Makeup Artist: jjayluxx

Go get your SPARKL FAIRY COUTURE here!