For some, soccer - or football, if you’re European - is the beautiful game. For others, it’s 20 men chasing a ball back and forth for 90 minutes.
There’s no right or wrong here - do what makes you happy - but what is wrong is assuming that any sport, especially one that has been male-dominated for so long, should remain so.
And that’s why we’re spotlighting Céline Dept - the Belgian influencer who is showing gender stereotypes the red card while running rings around other content creators.
Let’s kick things off - who is Celine?
Céline Dept is a Belgian influencer known for her YouTube channel and social media channels.
On YouTube, she has amassed over 43 million followers as of January 2025, and her 2.7 million plus followers on TikTok have made her the most followed Belgian on the app.
All of this because of… soccer? Yes!
It might not even be in the top 5 most popular sports in the States, but Europeans love it, and Celine’s captured this, sharing insightful, engaging and accessible videos around the sport.
She shares herself taking on epic challenges, meeting prominent players and making the sport more accessible to a wider reach of fans.
And she truly became the MVP (or as soccer fans often call it, the Man or Woman of the Match), in 2023. Céline became the first Belgian ever to reach 10 million subscribers on YouTube.
Even off the pitch, she’s never off-topic
Celine is living her dream, and she invites her fans along for it all. Away from her YouTube channel, she shares her passion for the game - and insights into her life - through her Instagram. Her feed is filled with posts of her alongside some of the biggest names in football like her fellow countrymen, Eden Hazard.
She’s also found a way to blend lifestyle and entertainment content in with the more detailed side, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend, Georgina Rodriguez.
This clever blend of content explains her wide appeal - she can talk shop with the best of them, but she can also show different sides of the game.
And this is evident in how she’s continued to grow her empire within just a couple of years.
Together with Michiel Callebaut, she launched the CEMI channel, further expanding her reach. That duo - something of a dream team - then ventured into the commerce world by launching an online shop selling their clothing line, and securing brand deals and partnerships with local stores across Belgium.
Kicking down barriers
Céline’s YouTube is a place for soccer fans who want to get into the details, but what she’s done well is branching out her brand to other social platforms like TikTok.
Still soccer-oriented, Céline switches up the content to best thrive on TikTok. Instead of deeper dives, it’s fast-paced and mostly fun. Think reflex challenges, ‘this or that’ games to generate discussion in the comments and hopping on the latest trending sounds and memes.
While this might seem more throwaway, there’s a subtle genius to this method. She is affirming her place as an avid soccer fan - and she’s showing others that they might actually be burgeoning soccer fans too.
Just because you might not be prepared for a full 90 minutes yet, her TikTok videos show that there are plenty of ways to enjoy the sport - and could inspire people to seek out her more detailed YouTube platform.
Should gender matter in 2025?
We’ve dribbled around the topic (yes, that’s a soccer pun) and we’ve avoided tackling this topic but it’s time to address the elephant in the room.
Why - in 2025 - are there still not as many women voices welcome in sports?
Let’s make one thing clear first. Celine hasn’t succeeded because she is a woman in a “man’s field.” She is not a token. She isn’t skating by being the only woman in the room.
She has succeeded because of her passion, her hard-work and her authenticity. Being a ‘token’ might get you in places to begin with, but it doesn’t keep you there.
And it doesn’t get you collaborating with world leading soccer stars like Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Gareth Bale.
Even if she’s one of the few women there, she’s still one of the most well-researched and well-respected voices.
No one questions when a male athlete or pundit is discussing the intricacies of the women’s Olympics teams. So why can a woman not talk about the skill and strategy involved in men’s team sports?
There isn’t really an answer, but Céline is most definitely on the frontline pushing for change.
Post-game analysis - what can we learn from Céline?
- Earned your place? Own it: Celine doesn’t make being a female content creator her USP - in fact, she barely acknowledges it. Because that isn’t why she’s earned her platform. Don’t apologize or minimize yourself when you know there’s a clear market.
- Use different platforms for different reasons: Celine’s brand centers on her - her interests, her knowledge - but she knows how to tailor content for the perfect audience. TikTok doesn’t want to hear in-depth chatter about strategy.
And perhaps the ultimate lesson is simple - any person can be interested in any subject.
From soccer to gaming to makeup and beauty content, should we do away with this idea of the target audience?
Perhaps, Celine proves, there are people just waiting for someone more like themselves to make it easier exploring something they’ve felt excluded from.
