We like the cut of Daisy Rinaldi's jib. Not only is she one of France's most successful techno DJs, but she's also had six articles on epilepsy published in scientific journals and has a PhD in neurogenetics. Look and learn, Mr Fatboy so-called Slim.

Daisy's been DJing hardcore techno for over 10 years, but, as you might have guessed, it hasn't been plain sailing. As with all dance genres, it's a heavily male-dominated area and the women who try and crack it are often dismissed as fluffy-bra-wearing wannabes.

"Sometimes being a girl has helped, and sometimes it has been a drawback," says Daisy. "Getting your first gig is probably easier. But after that, you really have to prove yourself."

Daisy also points out the problems jiggling a family life and dishing up banging tunes to sweaty ravers. "For the time being, my family life concentrates on my boyfriend. I don't want children. But if I did, I would have to stop this job."

Despite this, France has seen the arrival of two female focused dance music festivals: "Les femmes s'en melent" ("The Women Mix It Up"), as well as an annual rave called "Chiennes hi-fi", yet Daisy doesn't want to know – preferring to be booked because she's a pretty darn good on the olde wheels of steel, rather than just because she's got XX chromosomes.

Read about France's lady DJs here.