Meet Chaselle (Chaz) Gazelle

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chaselle (Chaz) Gazelle. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Chaselle (Chaz), thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

For me, imposter syndrome came from the simple fact that we naturally look up to people who are better than us. When your examples are all ahead of you, it’s easy to feel like you’re always behind: less smart, less talented and less experienced. But the reality is, the time and effort I’ve put into studying and practicing my craft places me above the “average.” I was only comparing myself upward and forgetting how much progress I’d already made.

The shift happened when I reframed my perspective. Yes, there will always be people who know more, and that’s a good thing—it means I have mentors and inspiration. But I’ve also put in years of work, and I know enough to help people who are just starting out. Most people who come to me for guidance haven’t even hosted their first public event; maybe they’ve only planned a birthday or graduation. Meanwhile, I’ve produced multiple large-scale events. Even though I sometimes catch myself thinking, “Well, I haven’t put on a concert with 100,000 attendees yet, so maybe I’m not great at this,” the truth is I have far more experience than the people I’m teaching.

That’s the irony of imposter syndrome: I don’t feel like an imposter in areas I know nothing about, like astrophysics. I only feel it in the spaces where I actually do have authority. That realization was huge. If I know enough to even question whether I belong, that’s proof I’ve already put in the work.

So, overcoming imposter syndrome for me meant accepting two truths at once:
1. There are people further ahead who I can learn from.
2. I’ve come far enough that people behind me can learn from me.

Once I stopped shrinking myself and started recognizing the value of where I stand, I could own my expertise without downplaying it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m Chaselle (Chaz) — but most people know me as Jacksonville Bestie, literally the Duval’s best friend. My mission is simple: to debunk the myth that Jacksonville is boring and meet everybody in the 904. I grew up here, and for a long time I believed that narrative too. But what I realized is that I just wasn’t tapped into all the incredible things happening in our city. Once I started paying attention, I saw how much culture, connection, and community were right here. And now, not only do I share what’s happening, but I also create it.

Through Jacksonville Bestie, I host events every single week, often multiple times a week, so I can confidently say: there is always something to do in this city. My events are the kind of experiences I would personally want to attend, whether you’re a local or just visiting.

Our 2025 Event Lineup:

• Pose & Play (1st Sundays): Rooftop yoga, Pilates, dance, etc — always followed by a complimentary beverage, swag bags, and social connection.
• Our Sunday Best (2nd Sundays): A rooftop day party at Upstairs Lounge — DJ, food, drinks, and community vibes in the Florida sunshine.
• Bestie Babes Brunch (3rd Sundays): A creative brunch where women connect while painting, crafting, or trying new hands-on activities.
• The Reset (4th Sundays): A social wellness event that blends fitness, mindfulness, and community connection. It’s about having fun, but also taking care of our health so we can keep showing up for the long haul.
• Soft Life Sundays (5th Sundays, quarterly): Women-focused gatherings with intentional themes like Manifesting Marriage or Manifesting Business — designed to inspire women to create the lives they want.

• Weekday Mixers: Social Tuesdays, Wellness Wednesdays, and Women’s Wine Wednesdays bring people together after work for happy-hour style connection and midweek resets.

Beyond the regular cadence, we’re expanding into exciting new spaces:
• Porsche & Pilates (October 19): A luxury wellness event inside the Porsche dealership with a DJ, mimosas, workouts, and food trucks.
• Brushstrokes & Breakthroughs (Quarterly, 2nd Saturdays): A gallery-meets-marketplace that uplifts local artists, helps them sell their work, and flips the “starving artist” narrative.
• Live Music Saturdays (launching soon): A new series spotlighting local musicians and creatives in an energetic, community-centered environment.

Each month, I release a full Jacksonville Bestie schedule so people can always stay in the know.

What Makes My Work Special

What excites me most is that I get to both build community and teach others how to do the same. I’m not just hosting events; I’m also training people who want to break into the event world but feel intimidated. I’ve been in their shoes nervous about whether anyone would show up, unsure how to book a venue, land sponsors, or sell tickets. Now I help others overcome those hurdles, while also coordinating and managing large-scale events for brands who want someone to take the reins completely.

So whether it’s curating a rooftop brunch, producing a wellness festival, or designing a corporate activation, I bring authority, creativity, and strategy to every stage of the process. My brand is about creating spaces where people can feel connected, inspired, and proud of what Jacksonville has to offer.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Public Speaking & Presence (Theater Training)
Being in theater as a child gave me a foundation I didn’t realize I was building at the time. Getting up in front of people whether to perform, speak, or present an idea is intimidating for almost everyone. But theater taught me to practice that muscle early and often. Do I still get nervous? Of course. But because I’ve done it so many times, I know I can take a breath, move through the discomfort, and not let fear paralyze me. My advice for others: don’t overthink it, just go. The more you practice putting yourself out there, the easier it becomes to push past nerves and deliver.

2. Dedication & Discipline (Athletics)
In high school, I was an athlete, and I wasn’t naturally great at first. My sophomore year running track, I was so slow the coaches barely knew my name. But I kept showing up. I trained every day that summer and attended to every single preseason practice. By junior year, I made the state team and by my senior year, I was standing on the podium at state. That experience cemented for me that growth isn’t instant; it’s earned. You can excel in anything if you’re willing to put in the time and work. My advice: embrace the long game. Improvement comes from consistency and showing up long after the excitement wears off.

3. Spirituality, Mindfulness & Manifestation
It might sound unconventional and woo woo, but my belief in spirituality and manifestation has been a powerful anchor. What you believe shapes what shows up in your life. For me, that belief system fuels my patience, my sense of worthiness, and my trust that opportunities align when I’m in purpose. It acts as a sponsor for my energy and creativity funding my ambition with clarity and alignment. My advice: cultivate a mindset practice, whatever that looks like for you. Whether it’s meditation, journaling, prayer, or affirmations, connecting to something larger than yourself helps you move through challenges with more resilience and direction.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

For me, it’s better to go all in on your strengths. In high school, I was a 400-meter runner, part of the 4×4 relay, and a triple jumper. If I had split my focus trying to dabble in javelin, long-distance races, or hurdles, I wouldn’t have made the state team in triple jump and the 4×4. By diluting my attention, I would have been average everywhere instead of great where it mattered most.

That’s also where teamwork comes in. A strong team is built on different people excelling in different areas. It doesn’t benefit me or my team if I spend my time trying to be okay at something another teammate already thrives in. What helps everyone is me doubling down on where I can be excellent.

The truth is, the things we’re good at are usually also the things we enjoy. Focusing there not only improves the quality of our work, but also our quality of life. That’s why, instead of begrudgingly forcing myself into areas I don’t naturally gravitate toward, I concentrate on sharpening the gifts I do have.

Would we know Usain Bolt as the fastest man in the world if he had spent half his time studying astrophysics instead of sprinting? Probably not. And look at Katherine Johnson, the NASA mathematician whose calculations helped send astronauts into space. If she had divided her time across too many other pursuits, her brilliance might never have changed history.

You don’t get Nelson Mandela, Serena Williams, Albert Einstein, or Malcolm Gladwell by them dabbling in ten different things at a mediocre level. They leaned into their strengths, and that’s why they became legendary.

This doesn’t mean you can’t have multiple interests, I definitely do, but the key is recognizing where you excel and putting concentrated effort there. That’s how you build mastery, authority, and a lasting impact.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Tim Graves iii Photography (photos 1, 2, 7, 8, 9 & 10) Watermark should be in top left corner of most, if not all photos.

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