Today we’d like to introduce you to Desiree French.
Hi Desiree, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am from Fort Worth, Texas. I’ve always been an artist at heart. I grew up watching my dad play instruments and sing. After his incarceration, I think I got closer to music to feel closer to him. Life was not always great. My mother moved around a lot but when I was 13, I moved in with my aunt and with a stable situation I found out how talented I was. I pushed myself in every way with music. Academics, dance, etc. Outside of winning competitions, I also became the lead role in a musical version of beauty and the beast, which was a shock but also a very important moment for me because I learned I loved acting and I was a huge Disney fan! Also…let’s be real.. I don’t look like “belle.” So fast forward 11 years later, I found out I was going to be performing that same role again but for television! The show “encore” streams on Disney+ and was a reality-based show about musical theater actors, their pasts and where they are now. We had five days in between to remember the entire musical and then perform it live in front of a crowd. Very exciting. It also sparked an old flame in me and although I’ve always been singing and writing r&b music, but that show gave me the opportunity to show people that I am more than just that! I’ve been in 4 movies since then and definitely want to make it mainstream soon! What some may not know about me is that I am also an entrepreneur. I am VP of operations for Blackwall St. We have a huge social media presence…We support and promote minority-owned business, services, entertainment, movements, etc, and have recently dived into the film industry as well as executive producers and investors. Funny how life works but it all comes together perfectly!
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?
Honestly has not been smooth at all. I was only 8 when my father was incarcerated for murder. It felt like my world was over. I was a daddy’s girl. Music truly connected us. My mother wanted a fresh start and moved my siblings and I to texas from Michigan and that was a big culture shock! Falling on hard times, we were living on the west side of Fort Worth, Texas and I was battling with my mom’s partner who was pretty abusive to myself and siblings, and bullies at school who just picked at me for being a mixed girl, emotional trauma from my dad, being broke and just the everyday traumas you get from living in the hope. At 13 I decided I didn’t want to go with my mother and her partner to Delaware so my aunt was big enough to take me in. That was a blessing because I was able to move to a nice side of Fort Worth and just be a kid for once. Unfortunately, I was away from my brother and sister for a year and that was hard on me. At 15 I needed to have a heart surgery and I think that made me realize I wanted to work on my relationship with my mom. They moved back and I was able to spend time with her more. I was 16/17 when we found out she was sick and it was long after that she passed from pancreatitis. At this point, myself and my siblings were all now with my aunt. Thank god we had here but it took years of healing for us all. Especially with me because of my resentment towards her when it all happened. Very heavy for a teen. A year later, we lost our grandmother to cancer. At this point, it just felt like I couldn’t get a break. I had just given birth to my son and although I was extremely happy to have him I was trapped in a abusive relationship with his father. I think I’ve always wanted the “family” life and I stayed to make that happen for my son. After only 3 years, I took my last 100 and moved to Houston to get away and start over. I faced homelessness, depression, anxiety and even alcohol abuse. In 2015 I dropped a song and I was out moving the song every day, going to events, shows, radio interviews all while sleeping in motel rooms and even sometimes a car just to save money and to avoid going back to my hometown. I refused to give up!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a singer, songwriter, actress, and entrepreneur. I mostly make r&b music, but I was classically trained. Theater became a part of my life in my late teens although I had always dreamed of being on broadway one day. I am most proud of being a part of the Disney show “encore”. Being a Disney princess was one thing but doing it as a black woman was huge for me. Performing in front of my family, my son, my 3 nieces was just a beautiful moment, I felt like Superwoman. And young girls actually looked at me like I gave them some level of hood, like they could be a princess too! Crazy feeling. I also enjoy being apart of BLACKWALLST, I get a chance to help build up others, meet and work with so many incredibly intelligent, forward thinking, cultured individuals. I love seeing our communities come together to make money and make a difference.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Believe in yourself even when absolutely no one else does!! Outwork everyone.
I think the thing I wish I knew starting out was to invest and educate myself more in finance. When you don’t understand the language of money, it is very easy to find yourself in a cycle of ups and downs! You could save yourself a lot of trouble by just educating yourself on these things. Find a mentor and listen to them! Doesn’t matter what you do there is always someone that you can surround yourself with that has been there and done that. Never be afraid to ask questions or get help. You cannot succeed in anything completely alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://go.nvisionu.com/four11ven
- Instagram: @four11ven
Image Credits
Recklesscreativ
Synopsis
