Dawntavia was born & raised in the inner city of Miami-Dade County, Florida, that exposed her to many experiences and traumas, but these humble beginnings were the catalyst for her perseverance and drive in the film industry. “I was raised by my grandmother. My mother was addicted to drugs and my father left when I was 9 years old. My grandmother’s love of soap operas was what introduced me to the idea of being an actress.”

The daily routine of watching soap operas became more than a bonding moment with her grandmother but helped her see a way out of poverty and into a better life. While themes such as abandonment, single motherhood, love, hopelessness, bravery, sisterhood, religion, are intricately woven into the fabric of her existence, she also possesses a mystical imagination that inspires her to create new worlds around her.

“The thing I love most about acting is my deep interest in self-exploration, human behavior and the
unknown of what’s really out there deep in the universe.”