Repair, recover, love: Resilience, self-image and body image in Afro-descendant communities
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The first talk of Douce. Conversations , organized at the Maquis NiNA as part of the OFF de Paris Noir, opened the way to in-depth discussions around our relationship to the body , self-image , and resilience .
An essential, sometimes taboo subject, that three inspiring women addressed with power, vulnerability and commitment.
Far from smooth or theoretical speeches, this conversation put words to silences: those that we keep to hold on, to move forward, to appear strong... but also those that we release, finally, to heal.
💬 Three women, three journeys, one common message: making the body an ally
Yelena Mokoka , a high-level athlete (specializing in discus throwing) representing the Democratic Republic of Congo, is also the founder of the YELS agency, dedicated to communication and digital.
At just 26 years old, she embodies a new generation of sportswomen who want to combine performance and introspection, high standards and kindness.
In this talk, Yelena shared her intimate struggles with the expectations of her body: "I am an athlete, but I am also a Black woman who has long been viewed through filters. Today, I am learning to see myself with gentleness."
View Yelena Mokoka's World Athletics profile
Nadège Ndjebayi , a physical and mental transformation coach, is known for her holistic and deeply human approach.
Creator of the 10-day program to change your body and mindset , she supports women around the world through work that combines movement, grounding, gentle discipline and empowerment.
Through her accessible and sincere approach, Nadège invites everyone to become an actor in their own well-being, in a world where the female body - and black in particular - is too often controlled, judged or made invisible.
Tine , founder of Les Rootines , offers body liberation rituals that combine dance, breathing, coaching and care.
Through this initiative, she reconnects Afro-descendant women to their bodily and emotional roots.
During the talk, she shared a gentle and powerful word about the importance of creating refuges for ourselves: “My body was my first territory, my first battlefield, and today, I want to make it a place of peace.”
🌿 Body, heritage and reparation: a collective reappropriation
Over the course of the discussions, one thing became clear: in Afro-descendant trajectories , the relationship to the body is political.
Whether it's the pressure to perform, aesthetic pressure, or the silent transmission of generational trauma, the body is often the first place where violence... but also resilience is recorded.
The speakers discussed:
how beauty standards affect self-esteem from childhood;
identity reconstruction after demanding journeys (sporting, professional, family);
the need to recreate a caring relationship with the body through movement, care, and speech.
🧶 A conversation embodied in a sensitive scenography
The space was enveloped in the sensory palette designed by Kézia Salona , a multidisciplinary artist.
Textures, natural materials, fragments of Caribbean herbariums, soft colors: everything invited us to slow down, to feel, to reconnect.
This environment allowed the conversation to exist differently — in silence too, in looks, in breathing.
See our article dedicated to the Ke zia sensory palette
✨ A space to heal and continue talking
This talk marks the beginning of a cycle of conversations that Douce. hopes to keep alive throughout the seasons.
Spaces where words circulate, where diminished experiences are placed at the center, where vulnerability is welcomed without judgment, and where care becomes an act of love, memory and transmission.
🗓️ See the official event listing on Eventbrite
🎟️ Discover the complete program of Douce. Conversations
🌿 Learn more about our wellness approach and our products at www.douceskincare.com