Meet Goddess Donya of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Goddess Donya.

Hi Goddess, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey began in 2013 when I was experiencing various emotions but didn’t know how to express them. I would find myself constantly battling them internally and remaining silenced, until I realized in 2022 that I had a voice. Once I posted my first poem on Instagram in 2022, I went to my first open mic performance and felt the liberation I’ve been seeking since 2013. From there, I’ve posted more poetry on social media, with two poems going viral. I’ve also been blessed with performing at various events such as Trap Poetry Jam, the LA County Fair and DaPoetryLounge, encouraging others to use their voice as well.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This road to poetry hasn’t been the easiest but has definitely been rewarding. There are times when you’re posting your work for social media and people are relating to your work with shares, likes and comments. There are times when audiences at shows relate to the emotion behind your art and their responses of clapping and call backs reflect that. There are other times where you’re trying to book shows and people don’t know your name yet so they would prefer the most well known poet. There are also times when you’re having writers block and you have these creative ideas but can’t find the words for them at the time. Throughout all of it, this entire experience has been worth it and it doesn’t make me want to quit the journey.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a poet specializing in word play. I’m known for ordinary poetry topics like heartbreak and relationships relating to unordinary topics no one thinks of like TV shows and cereal. I’m most proud of my recent poem “Moonstruck” going viral last year. The poem was about the kind of love I wanted to receive but reflecting TV shows from the early 2000’s for reference. I think the wittiness of word play relating to these various topics is what sets me apart.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory was performing. Growing up, my parents had my brothers and I in a gospel rap group called 3K. Every weekend, we would perform at parks, churches, youth events and parades. The thrill of entertaining and connecting to an audience remained with me well into my adulthood, hence performing poetry. Being that I was the only girl in the group, people would anticipate when my rap verse came because some would doubt my ability based off how young I was at the time. This kind of doubt only ignited a fire within me to prove my skill was just as amazing as anyone else. This same skill set followed into my art now, showcasing that my poetry is just as amazing and deserves to be heard.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @goddessdonya

Image Credits
JG the Atlanta Photographer