‘Born to do it’ is a fitting adage for British boxer Caroline Dubois who just so happens to come from a line of boxing champions. Or how about the inspiring pop culture quote: ‘Pressure makes diamonds’, after all it’s a weighty heritage to uphold, but one she shoulders with pride, as the young champ affirms that her family is her biggest support – particularly her brother, Daniel, who became the IBF Interim world heavyweight champion in June of this year.
However, while Caroline’s lineage may play some role in her world-class talent, there’s no denying that the southpaw worked hard to build a career as a professional boxer in the face of gender discrimination within the sport. Having emerged into boxing during a time when young girls were turned away from gyms, she’s thankful to see that times are changing, and to be a part of that transition as a role model for young female athletes, stating, “I’ll be someone that a girl can look up to and think, I feel I am represented by Caroline Dubois. She’s doing what I’m doing. She looks exactly like me. She acts like me.”
Having become Youth Olympic champion, World Youth champion, IBO lightweight champion and BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year, the 23 year old has achieved so much, so soon in her professional career. But she’s far from throwing in the towel. Here, she talks about the bright future that lies ahead, the gender pay gap in sport, and how the phrase ‘look good, feel good’ applies in the ring.
You first entered the ring as a young girl pretending to be a boy to fit in. Can you tell us more about that story?
I started boxing at Repton Amateur Boxing Club. It said on the door that it was a boys boxing club, and a lot of clubs in London and England were the same. There were no national competitions for women or girls. So, when I got started at nine years old, I couldn’t go to the club and reveal that I was a girl. My dad came up with the idea to pretend that I was a boy, and I told them my name was Colin. After the session, while I was still disguised as a boy, the coach came up to me and said, “you’re talented. You’re going to be a world champion”. I left because I had to get a medical done for a fight, but when I came back, that same coach said I couldn’t return to the club.
Since then, as a woman in a predominantly male sport, has your gender ever been a barrier for progression in your career?
Maybe more so earlier in my career. At Repton, there were no female boxers at the time, and even when I went to the next club, the coach was still unsure. He wondered who I could spar with and if I could even keep up with the training. But then I trained and sparred at that club for the first time, and he became a believer. A lot of times [the prejudice] comes from ignorance and not having experience with girls in the gym. There was a lot of “I wouldn’t let my girl box”. But I feel like the times are changing with the likes of the Olympics, and female headliners like Katie Taylor, Natasha Jonas and Claressa Shields – they’re doing amazing things to change that. Now, we see dads and mums bringing their daughters to the gym!
When it comes to losing a fight in boxing, there’s mental as well as physical pain – how have you dealt with the mental side of losses in the past?
I went through the Europeans, Schools, Juniors and the Youth Olympics, and won them all. I didn’t lose my first fight until I was 19 years old, and I must have had around 45 fights. It was a massive shock and I was disappointed in myself. You know, it hurts. No one ever prepares to lose. You always train to win. And when you’ve been winning for so long, you expect it to come easy and you expect to win. My first loss taught me about how being an athlete, not just a good boxer, is very important. I didn’t have it easy, but I was naturally gifted. I heard a lot of people say I had natural talent. It made me think that I didn’t need to put in the overtime, and I didn’t need to work doubly hard as a Youth and a Junior. But as soon as I hit Seniors, suddenly making the wave was a little bit harder. Training was harder. It taught me a lot and I feel like I’m still using those lessons today, now that I’ve turned professional.
What are your tips for maintaining your mental wellbeing amidst the pressures of competition and training?
My brother and sister are always around me. We’re very close. My sister has always supported me in everything I do, and I feel like we’re very open with each other. We talk to each other a lot and I think that helps with staying grounded. It’s about having someone that you can chat to and really open up, especially when you’re going through a hard time.
What is your ideal self-care day?
It definitely involves going out to eat with my brother and sister. I like to pamper myself and get my nails and hair done. I like buying clothes. I love shopping – which probably isn’t the best thing! But mainly I would spend time with people I can have a laugh with.
What is your go-to hairstyle that keeps you feeling great in the ring?
When I was younger, I used to get straight back canerows in my hair. But as I’ve grown up, I like to spice it up and just have fun. When I step into the ring, it’s all about putting on a show, from my outfit that I wear when I fight, down to the boots, and of course, my hair. I go to a hairstylist who makes sure that I’m looking good. It doesn’t necessarily matter what the hairstyle is, but it will always be braided – something nice and slick. If you look good, you feel good and you fight good. I really stand by that. I like stepping in the ring knowing that I look like a million dollars.
As boxers, we’re putting ourselves out there for the public to judge us, so you want to do it knowing that you’re at your best and that you are putting out the best image of yourself.
Sweat is a big cause of clogged pores and acne in athletes; how do you keep your skin looking and feeling fresh?
I think finding skincare products that are specific to your needs is very important. I don’t really do a lot, and I know I probably should. But I’ve got into a routine of using a few go-to, trusted products like Aztec clay, which I use as a face mask whenever I feel like my skin is getting too oily. I also like to wash my face with a nice cleanser and use a good moisturising cream straight after training just to get rid of all the sweat and the build-up. It’s so important because you don’t want to let the sweat sit on your face.
When it comes to fashion how would you describe your style?
I feel like I have a specific body type. I’ve got big muscles, and it can be very awkward sometimes wearing clothes that look good on my sister, who isn’t as muscular as me. I’ve really got into styling and wearing clothes that suit my body shape. I’ve got an athletic build, so I like to wear clothes that bring it out. You can see the muscle, but you can also see a touch of femininity. I like to wear dresses and I would say that I’m a girly girl outside of the ring.
Women’s sports are gaining more visibility and recognition, but there’s still a long way to go. What changes would you like to see in women’s sports over the next few years?
I think the improvement has been massive, and I think we’re on the right trajectory to continue to see an improvement, and continue seeing the gap shorten between the male and the female. I feel like pay is one difference that we can see with female and male boxers. For example, Katie Taylor is selling out arenas in Ireland and she’s a huge star out there. But if you compare her pay to a male boxer, it’s not the same and I would like to see that change. That, and the level of respect. It has come a long way, but I think there’s further to go.
Role models play a significant role in inspiring the next generation. How do you feel about being a role model for younger athletes?
It’s crazy, because when I was growing up, I definitely didn’t have a lot of female role models to look up to. I remember I used to watch Laila Ali, but I couldn’t really relate to her because she was so much older than me. She was a professional when I was an amateur. It wasn’t until Cressida Shields came onto the scene; she was a young 17-year-old Black girl just like me. It helped me so much in terms of confidence and feeling better about myself now that I had Cressida to look up to. Then there was Natasha Jones and Nicola Adams. And then people were calling me a role model, and I don’t know when that change happened for me. I was looking up to people, and now, people are looking up to me. I guess it’s just something you have to embrace. I can’t be a role model to every single young girl out there but I’ll be a role model somebody. I’ll be someone that a girl can look up to and think, I feel I am represented by Caroline Dubois.
What advice would you give to young girls aspiring to be athletes?
Obviously, train hard. I know that’s cliché, but it’s so important. Make it a lifestyle, whatever sport you’re doing, if it’s boxing or something else. Even in general, whatever you’re doing, make it your lifestyle, make it a part of who you are. When you do, it feels more natural. Make sure it’s something that you love, that you’re passionate about and that you care about. Surround yourself with people who are role models. People you look up to, who inspire you. I heard a quote that says, “show me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are”, so be surrounded by good people.
Finally, what are your future goals, both in and out of the boxing ring?
In the ring, definitely to be a multiweight world champion. It’s to be undisputed, if I can, at different weights. Change the game, change the way female boxing is viewed and hopefully do something that has never been done before. Sell out arenas. Create a wave of excitement in female boxing. Be involved in massive fights, and do something that I can be proud of. Outside of the ring. I want to change my life financially. I want to change my brother’s and my sister’s lives, and help my mom. And I want to travel the world and experience what it has to offer.
Sweat-proof your style
Curb a sweaty gym sesh with these buys:
Ruwa 3x Water Wave, 24 inches, £11.99 // Faace Sweaty Mask, £27 // Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Setting Spray, £29 // Ruwa 3x Pre-Stretched, 36 inches, £5.49
CREDITS: Photography by Desmond Murray; Hair by Aisha Ibrahim and Sabine Clough using Ruwa Pre-Stretched Braids; Make-up by Natasha Wright; Styling by Simone Sylvester; Art directing by Jemima Cousins.
FEATURED IMAGE: Dress – Bae x Adidas, White t shirt – Asos, Pearl necklace and gold collar neckpiece – stylists own, Pearl and malachite ring: Moushe
