Cécile Irène Gelabale

Cécile Irène Gelabale, formerly Baroness Cécile de Massy, (born 1968) is a French-Monegasque socialite and philanthropist. She serves as the president of Ladies Lunch Monte-Carlo and as vice president of the Monegasque Federation of Contact Sports and Associated Disciplines. She is an ex-wife of Baron Christian Louis de Massy who is a member of the House of Grimaldi. Throughout her marriage she was known as Baroness Cecile de Massy, but upon divorce was required to give up the title and retain her maiden name.^[1]

Gelabale was born in 1968 in Guadeloupe, an overseas region of France in the Caribbean, to Denis Gelabale and Lucie Darius Denon.

Gelabale is the fourth ex-wife of Baron Christian Louis de Massy, the son of Princess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy.^[2] She gave birth to a son, Antoine Alexandre Denis de Massy, on 15 January 1997.^[3][4] She also has a son from a previous relationship who was legally adopted by Baron de Massy, Brice Souleyman Gelabale-de Massy, born in Les Abymes (b. 2 November 1987).^[5]

After a six-year separation, she and Christian made their divorce final in 2015.^[6] Gelabale started going by her maiden name even before the divorce was finalized.^[7] She, however, continued to be referred to as Baroness Cecile de Massy and wife of Baron Christian de Massy in some publications well after her divorce, such as when she was listed alongside Princess Angela of Liechtenstein, Princess Keisha Omilana of Ipetu-Ijesha, Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini of Swaziland, Emma Thynn, Viscountess Weymouth, Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen of Ethiopia, Princess Sarah Culberson of Bumpe, and Monica von Neumann as modern examples of black royal and noble women. A resurgence of articles about African royalty and nobles of African heritage, including Gelabale, occurred after the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.^[8][9]

In 2005, Gelabale founded Ladies Lunch Monte-Carlo, a charitable organisation focused on improving the quality of life for children and adolescents in Monaco.^[10] She currently serves as the organisation's president.^[11] She also serves as an honorary committee member and Vice President of the Monegasque Federation of Contact Sports and Associated Disciplines and the International Academy of Self-Defense and Combat Sports of Monaco.^[12] In 2013 she co-directed the first Monte Carlo Fighting Masters, sponsored by the International Academy.^[13]