We recently had the chance to connect with Daphné Moore and have shared our conversation below.
Daphné, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Finding my true self has been a real challenge. I’ve spent so much time letting others speak for me or shape my thoughts, always caught up in worrying about what people might think. With all the changes I’ve been experiencing lately, stepping beyond what I’ve always known feels uncomfortable. Still, I know it’s the only way for me to discover who Daphné is truly meant to be.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, my name is Daphné Moore, and I was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. My father served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, and my mother has always been a natural nurturer and healer. I have the honor of working as a Constituent Services Liaison for Congresswoman Deborah Ross, and it has truly been a joy and a learning experience working under her leadership.
This year, I’ve realized that one of my gifts is healing. By that, I mean I have a deep openness to connect with others, no matter their background, culture, or identity, especially when they are going through tough times. This quality shows up in my daily work as I care for the people I assist, but it extends far beyond my job. My urge to help and support others doesn’t stop at the office doors. Supporting and advocating for constituents, in particular, veterans and people facing housing challenges, feels like a natural extension of who I am. Beyond my professional role, I truly believe in the power of helping and loving others, because I know firsthand what it feels like not to have that support. The generosity and kindness my parents, friends, mentors and people have shown me inspire me to give back and pour into others’ lives.
My passion is making a difference for others, helping them find their voices, and encouraging them to keep that kindness moving forward. I believe that’s how genuine change begins. What sets me apart are the challenges I’ve faced in life, they’ve given me empathy, strength, and the ability to show up for others, so no one feels alone when they’re struggling.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Reflecting on this question and the past few years, I realize someone close to me growing up, Benjamin ‘Benz’ saw me clearly before I could see myself. He acted like a mirror, showing me who I could be and my true purpose in the world, even when I was unable to see it. He helped me understand that what really matters isn’t how others or the world perceive me, but how I see myself.
He encouraged me to embrace both my faults and strengths and to use them as a foundation to grow into a better version of myself. I’m truly thankful for that awakening, though I wish I had realized it sooner. I’ve come to understand that everything happens in its own perfect timing.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
When I think about defining wounds, the fire in my home last year comes to mind immediately. I suffered second and third degree burns over about 25-30% of my body, and I’m still not completely healed from those injuries. The experience didn’t just affect me physically, it opened up old wounds I had buried, revealing emotional and mental pain I hadn’t healed from in the past.
During my recovery at the UNC Chapel Hill Burn Center, I found a new family in Chelsea, Michele, my nurse Elia and the whole UNC Burn Center team. They supported me not only through my physical recovery but also helped me begin to heal emotionally. They made sure I received the long-term care I truly needed.
Healing, I’ve learned, isn’t straightforward or simple. I used to think that healing didn’t involve pain. Now I understand that pain is actually part of the process. In some ways, it acts like a compass, forcing me to reevaluate and sometimes change my direction whenever I need to find my way forward again.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I believe the public version of me is the real me because I don’t turn off who I am. That’s something I didn’t arrive at overnight. Some people like it, some love it, some feel threatened by it, and some even dislike it. Through it all, I’ve been learning and continue to learn, that there is only one me, and I’m unique just like everyone else.
What helped me most was realizing that society creates this illusion of who you’re supposed to be versus who you actually are. You can choose to accept that or leave it behind. By society’s illusion, I mean the narrow picture painted of how a Black woman is expected to act and behave, from social media and the news to your job title, income, political views, even your clothes and car. All those external things try to define who you are and what you should be. I’ve learned to resist that because there is so much more to me than what the world tells me.
There’s no better way to show up in this world than as the real me. The world already has enough surface-level interactions and people playing roles just for their own benefit. I want to be genuine and true to myself.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What light inside you have you been dimming?
When I sit with this question and look at my life right now, I can honestly say I’ve spent a lot of energy dimming my own light—holding back my voice, my sense of self-worth, and my natural ability to love openly and be seen. Some folks still think I’m just trying to grab attention, but in reality, that’s never my goal. I truly believe that if what I do can lift someone up, help a cause, or bring some good into the world, then why shouldn’t I do it?
There have been times when I’ve tried to shrink myself be quieter, take up less space, and not show up as my full self just to make others comfortable or fit their idea of me. But deep down, my spirit is tired of that, and it’s honestly been a struggle to break free from it. Even in my professional life, I notice there are people who aren’t always comfortable when I put myself first and draw clear boundaries about what I will and won’t allow.
Still, the more I commit to being true to myself, the more empowered I feel as I continue on my own path.
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Cristina España
Photo Credit: Sana Siddiqi
