Maria Gerhardt

Maria Gerhardt was born in 1978 and grew up in Dragør, not far from Copenhagen. After winning the player of the year award for Dragør FC in 1991, she moved to Copenhagen where she became part of the punk and feminist scenes that were flourishing i the now somewhat gentrified area of Nørrebro. During the 00s, she was the go-to name (under her DJ alias, Djuna Barnes) in the city’s nightlife. At the age of 34, Gerhardt was diagnosed with breast cancer, receiving the all clear (and publishing her first, bestselling book) the year after. Gerhardt suffered a relapse in 2015 and, less than a week after her third book, Transfer Window, was published to unanimous critical acclaim and commercial success, she died on March 16th, 2017 (aged 39). Gerhardt left behind her wife and son.