Derrian Gobourne uses her hands to mimic placing a crown on her head and waving to greet fans while “God Save The Queen” blasts through the speakers is an electric moment that leads her floor routine. Gobourne scored a 9.975, with one of the judges giving her a 10 during Friday’s victory against North Carolina State at home.

“When she gets on the stage, you’ve got to step out of the way,” Auburn head coach Jeff Graba said. “Really proud of how she can turn it on when her team needs her to turn it on. She’s a great teammate. She gives a flavor that we wouldn’t have without her.”

Thousands of fans at Neville Arena and millions watching at home or via social media know the best is saved for last when watching an Auburn gymnastics meet. Graba’s squad has a cavalcade of stars with Olympic Gold Medalist Suni Lee, Gabby McLaughlin, Cassie Stevens, Aria Brusch, and many more.

Talent abounds on the Plains for the No. 5 Tigers. Several champions and All-Americans are on the squad, but only one queen exists. Gobourne’s routine the previous week during the meet against Arkansas went viral. Several news outlets raved about her performance. Her infectious energy earned her a feature on NBC’s Today Show.

“I was kind of just shocked,” Gobourne told Al.Com, “Not because I didn’t think my floor routine was going to go viral, I didn’t know it was going to happen so soon. It was a good floor routine. And the next day, all these ESPN and Sports Center was picking it up and sharing it. And it blew up on TikTok as well. I was just shocked. I didn’t think it was going to happen that fast.

Gobourne is a busy woman who’s finishing her degree, thrilling crowds, and trying to enjoy her last season in college gymnastics. We caught up with her as she was preparing for the NCSU meet. Gobourne discussed several topics, including Name, Image, and Likeness, her journey, and Black Girl Magic. Let’s get into the exclusive interview with the queen.

Wilborn: When did you know, or have an idea, that you could be a star college gymnast?

Gobourne: Well, the funny thing is, I didn’t know how this would turn out for me. When I came to college, I was a pretty high recruit, but I just came to Auburn with an open mind and heart. It was very new to me. I just wanted to take in the experience. And my freshman year, when I won nationals, I was the first ever Auburn gymnast to win nationals; I knew that I was going to do something special here, and I just rode it out and saw how much I could get out of this experience.

Wilborn: Walk me through two or three of your top memories of being an Auburn Tiger.

Gobourne: First top memory, obviously winning nationals. That was very special. Nobody’s ever done it before. I went there without my team, and I was young and competing against Olympians who dropped down to do college gymnastics, so that was big time. And I was super, super proud of myself.

Second, I would probably be making the Final Four last year. It was truly unique. My teammates and I put in so much work, and to see our dreams come true right in front of us, was an extraordinary moment. Oh, I would also say my 10. Senior night, I got a 10; that was my first 10. I’ve been working so hard to get one. The funny thing is I wasn’t even thinking about getting a 10 that night. I wanted to have fun. It was senior night; I was just very loose and having a good time, and it happened. And that was just so much fun. That was something I’ll never forget. It was so loud and electric in Neville Arena. As I said, I will never forget it.

Wilborn: Your floor routine. How has that evolved over the years?

Gobourne: I am a dancer. My brother is a dancer. My whole family. My dad… Yes. We dance. We love music, and that’s something that has just been a part of me. I’ve never, even just when I’ve done any sport, I’ve just always… I’m always dancing. I’m off on the side dancing. That’s something that’s just in me, and it’s always with me, and it’s something that I’ve brought to college gymnastics. It just makes me feel so happy. It makes me feel relaxed. That’s something that I do to calm myself down. Before I perform my floor routine, I’m off on the side dancing and just grooving to keep me in high spirits, and just being able to bring that to NCAA and spice it up has been truly amazing. I use it to inspire and to have fun.

Wilborn: What is the most significant change since NIL?

Gobourne: The attention that it brings and the income. That has been one of the biggest blessings, honestly, in my life, just because I’ve already built a brand when I first stepped on this campus. I wasn’t making anything off of it. It was just something that was me. It was Queen. And so, being able to profit, expand the platform, and expand my brand from the name, image, and likeness has been one of the biggest blessings.

Wilborn: How have you been able to protect your finances and your resources?

Gobourne: I did run into some problems. I didn’t have a great agent at first, but I think having an agent is something you should do first. Get an agent because they’re going to help you with time management. They’re going to help you with finance, and they’re just going to help you with everything. I didn’t have a great experience with my first agent, but I do have a fantastic agent now, shout out to Raymond Representation. He is always making sure that I’m on top of what I need to be on top of. He’s always giving me deals and stuff and ensuring I’m good. That has just been important, just making sure that you have somebody that has your back and your best interest at heart.

Wilborn: Who are some of the most remarkable people you’ve ever met or heard from or that have maybe watched your routine or shared that you’re like, oh wow, this is pretty cool?

Gobourne: Last year, I did a routine that had Missy Elliot in it, the floor music, and she followed me on Twitter. She retweeted my floor routine. And that, I almost passed out. I was like; this is not real. Because my mom was in my room, I asked, “Is this real?” And we were trying to figure it out because you know how people do. But, We looked it up, and it was this verified account with tons of followers, and I was like, ” Wow, this is real. And so she tweeted at me and followed me, which was one of my biggest moments. It was so awesome.

Wilborn: What does playing Beyonce’s music during your routine mean to you?

Gobourne: Beyonce means a lot to me because I love her message. I love that she always exudes confidence. That’s something that I want to push onto others. Because I know how she’s made me feel listening to her music. And so my message is always, Queen is always about just being confident, really doing you, being you, taking up space, and being bold when I use Beyonce music; that’s what I feel, and I hope to push that out to whoever’s watching.

Wilborn: Wow, that’s awesome. Speaking of taking up space, what are your thoughts on Fisk and the HBCUs getting into the gymnastics game?

Gobourne: I think it’s incredible. I wish that I could’ve had that experience. I wish that there were HBCUs when I was starting college, but I’m super grateful for Auburn, and I’m super thankful for my platform. I’m using my platform to help make others aware that there is HBCU gymnastics. And it’s like I said, they’re taking up space; they’re here. And it’s just something that shows you how far gymnastics is coming. And I’m so proud of the sport for coming that far, and I’m rooting for Fisk. I’m also excited about the emerging program at Talladega College here in Alabama.

Wilborn: What does that mean to you to increase that representation?

Gobourne: It means a lot. I’m seeing so many other gymnasts in the NCAA that look like me, and we are killing it. And we are just, like I said, taking up space, letting it know that we are here. We do this sport too. When I go to a meet and see someone who looks like me, it makes me feel so comfortable. It’s special. It’s almost emotional because I didn’t have that growing up. I didn’t see a lot of girls that looked like me at meets. And so just knowing I have my sister out there on the floor with me is fantastic.

Wilborn: Is there a black girl gymnast group chat somewhere?

Gobourne: No, but there is an organization called Brown Girls Do Gymnastics. And so we all get together on there. They have Instagram and Facebook, so that’s how we have our little bubble there. That would be a good idea to start a group chat or something. That’d be cool.

Wilborn: How did you get involved with World Wrestling Entertainment’s NIL class?

Gobourne: When they announced the class, everyone went crazy. I wasn’t a wrestling fan at first. I thought it would be a great opportunity, and they contacted me twice. And I believe if things come to you twice that it’s meant for you. And so I took it with an open heart, open mind. I didn’t have any expectations, but I was like, “I hear you, God, so I’m going to take it.” But once they announced the second class, everyone went crazy. I didn’t know it was such a big deal. That got me excited to see that I’m a part of something huge. I’m a part of a big brand. I’m just excited. I don’t have a lot to say. I don’t know. It’s a big brand, and it’s going to be huge. So all I can do is keep taking steps to get there, and we’ll see what happens from here.

Wilborn: Have you found yourself watching more wrestling now?

Gobourne: I do follow them now. I know they have different parts of it. So I’m just watching little clips on Instagram, getting familiar with it.

Wilborn: I think you have a personality for it. I can see you cutting the promo. I can see you laying down the smack talk a little bit.

Gobourne: I can see myself doing it too. Before I signed, I wasn’t sure what it would be like. That’s why I turned it down the first time. Because I thought it was just rough and tomboyish, I just didn’t know. But now I know that you can be your own character. I can do my own outfits and amazing things that align with my identity.

Wilborn: You got Bianca Belair right now as the champion, so that’s got to be pretty cool.

Gobourne: I met her in Tennessee this summer at SummerSlam. She was so nice. We had similar majors, and she was somewhere in the fashion industry. I’m doing apparel merchandising. Got my degree in apparel merchandising. Yeah, it was just cool to connect with her on that level. She’s also an athlete as well.

Wilborn: What is it like just being at Auburn, being you in Auburn, walking around the streets down there?

Gobourne: It’s fun. Honestly, it’s great. You can tell people know who you are. They know your presence. It’s just cool. I don’t go to classes anymore. I take online courses. But last semester, people knew who I was walking to class. And anywhere I go, people recognize me. And that’s cool.

Wilborn: What is it like being teammates with Suni Lee?

Gobourne: It’s fun. She’s always good at setting me up on the floor; she is a great beautiful gymnast. It’s enjoyable going one, two, really hitting big twice. She’s just amazing. It’s cool to have her on the team because I admire her. I love greatness, and that’s what she is. She’s a great athlete. She’s an Olympic gold medalist. Yes, she’s a star, but she brings a lot of great attention to the Auburn gymnastics team.

Wilborn: And what’s it like with Graba in particular, working with her, working with your teammates?

Gobourne: I mean, it’s just great. He is good with working with her, and I like to listen to a lot of the corrections he gives her because I feel that’s very helpful for our other teammates and me. It’s just been enjoyable. It’s been an entertaining experience training with her. And Jeff is, like I said, just really good with being patient with us and coaching us through it all.

Wilborn: If an Auburn fan hasn’t been to a gymnastics event, what should they expect?

Gobourne: Loud. It’s loud. It’s just loud in there. It’s fun. They should expect to swag surf because we do that every meet. That’s our thing now. We’ll turn off the lights and swag surf before the floor routine because it’s like a floor party. And so get ready to swag surf. Just a lot of, I don’t want to say chaos, but it’s a lot going on. There are two different teams, and these scores are thrown up everywhere, and it’s just a lot, but it’s so much fun.

Wilborn: I call it 90 minutes, all gas, no brakes.

Gobourne: Yes. Literally, that’s what it is.

Wilborn: But now, one thing, and I’m going to leave you on this; I know you got a busy day, but can you get the people to slow down on the swag surf until the beat drops?

Gobourne: I’m like, come on, y’all. I’m trying to get them to slow down a little, but I think they’re anxious. They’re ready to go. I get it. I get it. They’re excited. I’m working on that. We’ll get that one in check.

Nubyjas Wilborn covers Auburn for Alabama Media Group.