Today we’d like to introduce you to Domonique Zen.
Domonique, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am an artist. I bring people’s stories to life, whether it be acting, dancing, or modeling. I started acting when I was seven years old when my mom put me in the Broward Center for the Performing Arts summer program. I was timid at first because I had never experienced something of that nature before.
My first time on stage was one to remember, it was a performance of The Wiz, in which I was the flying monkey. I had to act, sing, and dance, which was already a new experience for me. I got such an adrenaline rush when I heard the audience’s reaction. It was something that I would never forget. From that moment on, I knew that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
I realized I couldn’t only do one thing and had to become well rounded. So, my mom put me in a dance class at Muse Center for the Performing Arts. I’ve studied dance at several studios from UCPA to Dancer’s Gallery to Showstopper Studio. I was a competition kid not gonna lie, but when I started training, I was pushed to become an artist by Susie Garcia owner of Showstopper Miami. I owe her a lot because not only did she teach me confidence but the art of performance and selling a piece. Susie was not the only great mentor in my life. I’ve been blessed to have been guided by the likes of Kerine Jean Pierre, Dexter Carr. Philip Kendrick, Natavia Holmes, and so many more I would love to name but that would take forever. I am now embarking on my next journey, Modeling.
This is a whole new arena for me, but after finally accepting the fact that I am 5’10” (I know) and curvy I’m confident that I have what it takes. I would always get a lot of questions like “do you model”, “have you thought about modeling,” etc… To be honest, I never thought about it until my mom exposed me to it. Now it has become another part of my artistic being. As time has gone by, taking pictures has become second nature to me. Quick shout out to one of my favorite photographers JP Cajina of Unmuted Brand; he gets it. So to wrap up how this got me to where I am today, with all these experiences and paths it has led me to a lot of self-discovery, some new-found success and happiness.
Throughout my journey, from age seven to eighteen, I had a lot of ups and downs, a lot of rejection, a lot of body shaming and getting passed over for opportunities because I was not in the “in crowd”. Living in South Florida, I see many opportunities that are afforded to a certain look, a certain complexion or a certain ethnicity; many missed opportunities because I didn’t “check the box”. Much of this also came with a severe critic. I’ve finally learned to become numb to the criticism. I knew that I needed to grow a thicker skin, so I did. I also knew that I needed to love myself, who I am and what I am an Artist.
Has it been a smooth road?
Well, I wouldn’t consider it smooth at all. When I first started, Miami considered black as biracial. There was a thing as being too dark. I remember having my hair nicely done for auditions and then going into the bathroom to see little biracial girls put water in their hair; I would watch as their hair went to a beautiful curl. I was watching to a point where I started to compare myself to them. I saw so many things wrong with myself at the time my hair, my height, my skin, Remind you I was about seven or eight years old when I had these thoughts.
I was very insecure when I first started because when you saw what would happen in those casting rooms, it was hard to have high self-esteem as a young dark skin black girl. You saw a lot of mixed or ambiguous looking girls being told they should stay back or they were pretty; I never use to get those comments back then. Sometimes I wondered if I would look better with lighter skin. Luckily as time went by, and I started to gain new talents and saw life differently. I decided to make my lane and to help girls like me flourish instead of fall into the state I used to be in.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Currently, I am working on building my brand. I have many aspirations like hopefully owning my own production company, playwrighting, and opening my own agency.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I like the culture of Miami, the artistry, the creative drive of Miami. We are that city that is known to have that energy. It’s just you are automatically enriched in culture when you come out here. I don’t have anything I dislike about Miami as of yet.
Contact Info:
- Email: xen524@gmail.com
- Instagram: domonique._zen_
- Facebook: DOMONIQUE ZEN
Image Credit:
JP Cajina @jpvzzn
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