A Muslim thrash metal guitarist who performs on stage wearing a niqab says she is breaking stereotypes.

Gisele Marie, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, is currently working on her new band's first album and studies music religiously for six hours every day.

The 42-year-old, who is the granddaughter of German Catholics, converted to Islam in 2009.

Scroll down for video

Breaking sterotypes: Gisele Marie pictured playing her polka dot guitar during a concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Gisele Marie, a thrash metal guitarist, walks past a poster after a rehearsal at her house in Sao Paulo

Gisele Marie is working on her new band's first album and studies music religiously for six hours every day

Gisele, who is a fan of the late heavy metal guitarist Randy Rhoads, played in her brother's heavy metal band Spectrus for several years before parting ways because of 'professional differences'.

Her new band, which she refuses to reveal the name until closer to the album launch next year, plays thrash metal.

She said some people are shocked to see a practicing Muslim wearing a niqab playing in a heavy metal band, while others find it 'interesting' or 'cool'.

Gisele pictured wearing her niqab and rehearsing at a studio in Sao Paulo. She converted to Islam in 2009

The musician looks at guitars in a shop. She fronted her brother's metal band Spectrus for several years

The professional guitarist says she doesn't care whether people look at her because of what she is wearing

Gisele, 42, is the granddaughter of German Catholics, and converted to Islam in 2009 after her father died

The musician told MailOnline: 'I do not care about people looking at me because I wear the niqab, but I hope that people understand that Islam is just my religion and music is my profession, and indeed these two things are only my personal characteristics.

'Music is my focus and the fact that I'm Muslim has no influence on the music.'

Asked whether she believes she is breaking a stereotype, she added: 'Yes for sure. And I hope that more people also do this.'

Gisele Marie pictured during a concert with her brother's band Spectrus. She has since left the band

Gisele looks on as her teacher Marcelo plays a guitar during a music lesson in Sao Paulo earlier this year

Wearing polka dot pink shoes, Gisele tests her wah pedal ahead of a concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil

'Music is my focus, and the fact that I'm Muslim has no influence on the music,' Gisele, 42, told MailOnline

Gisele, who converted to Islam in 2009, talks on her mobile phone before a concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Gisele converted to Islam several months after her father died six years ago, she explained.

'I come from a Christian family, but I had no problems in my family about the fact that I became a Muslim woman,' she said. 'In fact, they supported me.'

And questioned about any practical problems wearing a niqab while performing, she added: 'You know? I've worn the niqab for a long time.

'For me it's a normal clothes, my clothes, and there is nothing different about wearing the niqab on stage.

'I think I'm even able to climb a wall wearing my clothes, and I will not have difficulty with this.'

'I hope that people understand that Islam is just my religion, and music is my profession, and indeed these two things are only my personal characteristics,' she said

Gisele pictured carrying her guitar ahead of a rehearsal in a studio in Sao Paulo, Brazil, earlier this year

Gisele, who is recording an album for her new band, is a fan of Randy Rhoads. She is pictured here holding CDs in a music shop