Rising Stars: Meet Donia Duchess

Today we’d like to introduce you to Donia Duchess.  

Hi Donia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Stamford, CT, with my 2 sisters, Mom and Dad, and tons of extended family. I always wanted to be in entertainment, so there were many nights spent watching music videos practicing dance routines with my sisters. Recording Disney shows to act out the scenes, and my mom being in the front row of the living room for all of it. I’m first generation Haitian-American and was taught very early on to be proud of my culture, skin, and the importance of education. I always knew that I wanted to host. I remember being a little girl and pretending that my hairbrush was a microphone. Like many, many hosts Oprah was my first inspiration. Seeing how she connected with her guests was and still is so inspiring. The way she made them feel comfortable enough to laugh and cry and go on this emotional rollercoaster with a happy ending sparked something in me that made me think, “Wow, I want to do that. I want to help people feel better, I want to help people smile.” Decades later, that thought has never left my mind, and I’ve listened to that voice and followed my passion ever since. I got into television working behind the scenes because I wanted to learn what it took to be good in front of the camera. After working for a few different shows as a Production Assistant, I thought I learned all I needed to and was ready to host. I didn’t have a reel or headshots; representation, and I had no experience. I just knew it was what I wanted to do. I remember quitting a show because I felt in my heart that I just needed to make that leap to focus on my hosting career and go for it, so I took a job as a Nanny and figured in my free time, I could go on auditions. I remember sitting in my kitchen venting to my mom and sister about how “I just needed someone to believe in me. I needed someone to give me my big break.” A few weeks later, I got a phone call from a Producer at The Maury Show. She said that the Executive Producer, Paul, wanted me to host a segment with Maury. That he wanted to give me a shot and give me my “big break,” I immediately cried and couldn’t believe that it was word for word what I had been praying for. I love telling this story for the simplicity of believing that what you want WILL come true if you just ask for it. I’ve found that my life has been full of things aligning exactly how they’re supposed to, INCLUDING this amazing new move to Charlotte. Whether that be good or bad, I take it for what it is and have faith that everything happens for a reason. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been easy, and if it where it wouldn’t have been worth it. I’ve faced all kinds of struggles, like most people trying to make it in this industry. From hearing no because of the size of my body or the color of my skin. To being told yes but arriving on a set where the hairstylist had no idea how to style my kinky, curly, natural hair. I’ve been in positions with zero dollars in my bank account, unemployed for 8 months at a time, and my unemployment running out. I’ve had moments where a girlfriend helped me pay my rent just to help keep me in LA during a time I was thriving in my career but not making any money. After having my son and becoming a Mom, I faced a whole new series of challenges. I dealt with postpartum depression, didn’t recognize who I was when I looked in the mirror, and fought the good fight to get back to who I was at the core. All of these things made me into the person I am. Driven, hyper-focused, and determined to make it. The struggles are all part of the crazy, beautiful, wild, and amazing journey we call life. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a two-time Emmy-nominated producer, host, model, actress, and motivational speaker. I landed my first job in television production with The Maury Povich Show as a production assistant. But by 2015, Maury’s executive producer approached me about appearing on the show to host a national segment, and my on-air career officially commenced. 

In 2016, I was hired by The Real as an Associate Producer and relocated to Los Angeles. Eventually, I was promoted to Senior Producer and granted the opportunity to host a segment titled “Steals on The Real,” That season, I ended up taping more than 19 on-camera episodes while garnering an NAACP Image Award and two Emmy Award nominations as a Producer for the popular American daytime television talk show! 

My career began took off when I began booking more and more modeling jobs with companies like BET, Amazon, ELF, Macy’s, and a national ad with American Express. I’ve also hosted numerous television jobs with various major news and entertainment outlets, including Buzzfeed, Celebrity Page TV, People TV, and NBC’s American Song Contest, I’ve conducted several one-on-one interviews with A-list celebrities, including Boris Kodjoe, Emily Blunt, Owen Wilson, and Katt Williams, just to name a few! 

In 2017, my husband Joey and I were featured on the premier episode of TLC’S I Want That Wedding, and we are known for our viral family Tik Toks. We moved back to Connecticut and got married in 2019, and by 2020, I earned my first Webby Award as host of the sensational game app Song Pop Live; that same year, we welcomed our son and light of our lives, Noah. Since then, I’ve Produced on shows like Dr. Oz, Pyramid with Michael Strahan, Password with Jimmy Fallon & Keke Palmer, and am currently a Supervising Producer for WCCB CW show The Edge. We moved here a few months ago, and it’s been such a joy learning about the beauties of what Charlotte has to offer! 

As a philanthropist, I’m an advocate for the underserved, and use my free time to support disadvantaged youth, mothers with difficult pregnancies, and issues concerning the Haitian community. 

Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are SO many people in my life that I would love to shout out and thank because they’ve all contributed to my success in one way or another. Whether it be giving me an opportunity in front of the camera, believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself, or just listening to me express my fears, hopes, and dreams when it comes to my career. My Mom is absolutely at the top of this list. I would not be where I am today without her listening to me when I was just a kid saying that I wanted to be in entertainment. She put me in acting classes, took me to auditions, had my back when I wanted to run for Miss. Haiti, Connecticut, and when it came time for me to move to LA, she took care of everything. She really is a great Mom that always told me to follow my dreams. I have to also say my husband; he is truly my better half. Meeting him was the best thing that ever happened to me for so many reasons. There really aren’t enough words or time to describe what he has done for me, but that man is my soul mate. We met online and were only dating for a year when it came time for me to move to LA, and without hesitation, he said I had to go. We did a year-long distance; he proposed to me, sold everything, gave up his apartment, quit his jobs, and moved to join me. I got let go a few months after he got there, and his response when I told him was, “Don’t worry, we’ll be ok; we’re not leaving LA until you’re a star” He is constantly in my corner cheering; me on and is the most amazing father to our son, Noah. My Sisters are a huge support for me. They make me laugh when I feel like crying and are always there to put a hand on my back to hold me up or tell me to keep going. They’re amazing. Lastly, my friends. I went 8 months without work recently, and it was extremely hard on me mentally. They kept me busy, smiling, and happy on the days where all I wanted to do was curl up and cry. 

It’s so incredibly important to have a strong support system in any field, but especially entertainment. You’ll hear a lot of nos and may find yourself in doubt of your own talent, so it’s vital that you have people with their hands on your back holding you up when you feel like falling down. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doniaduchess/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoniaDuchess/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donia-duchess-82a111a0
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0n0yZRAk7kmutiOaXZNXWQ

Image Credits
@PRINCE.NWAOHUOCHA