Meet Mionne Destiny | Performer and Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mionne Destiny and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mionne, what role has risk played in your life or career?
“No risk no reward.” Everytime I’ve ever tried to play it “safe” or dream “modestly,” I’m left revelling in the fact that I could’ve gotten or done more. Now I’m operating from a place of high risk in order to gain high reward. I acknowlegde my spiritual journey in all I do and since I’ve started studying the Yoruba tradition of Ifa I’ve been drawn to the orisa Ogun and the idea “what are you willing to sacrifice to get what you want?” Now I operate from a place of “how much time and energry and how many relationships am I willing to risk for the greater good of my career?”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always been a creator. When I was in elementary school my brother, cousins and I would write produce and put on whole productions for the adults in the house. The adluts always knew we would be some artsy babies. Although I’ve always been acting, music was the one thing I wanted to do that I wasn’t good at. I think that’s one major thing that sets me apart from mainstream artists today: this is something I’ve been working on forever, always looking for ways to get better. I don’t just do music because it sounds good. I also come from a family of creatives and performers. My grandmother was the first African American woman to model for a major cigarette campign and my mother curatived the first hip hop museum. With mentors like this you HAVE to expect authentic material that will always get better. It will be my own destiny.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love to brunch! So make sure you include Sunday in your trip so we can go to 10th and Piedmont for bottomless mimosas and great music! I love food so we will definitely hit up Rocky Steady for some contempary Caribbean food and Afro beats music. Lastly, we can hit up Bestend Brewery for live music and good food deals and end the night at the bar Church with ping pong and shots of Jameson!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to first send a shoutout to my God. For without God I would be nothing. I also want to thank my mother Red Summer, brother Ismeal, father and grandmother Dear for their undying support of my dreams. No matter how big or small they are always front and center. I also want to thank everyone in my village. Thank you for assuming the responsiblity of my aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers and god mom’s. You all understand that it takes a village to raise a child and have poured into me more than I could ever ask, more than my blood relatives, and for that I love you all dearly and hope I’m making you proud.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mionnedestiny/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mionnedestiny_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mionne.destiny/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcU-1s_FXbTipd10C6TwoFg

Image Credits
Photographers include @Shamelmcclean @photoman062 and @hermancaesar