Today we’d like to introduce you to Desey-Ann Duke.
Desey-Ann, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am from Brooklyn, New York, raised by two Trinidadian parents in different households. I moved to Atlanta in 2012 with my mom, my little sister, brother, stepfather and stepbrother. It took a minute to get used to Atlanta because it is very different from up north. From the people, the food, the style, and the overall atmosphere, which made me quickly fall in love with the city. Seven years later, in 2019, I graduated from South Cobb High School. I got accepted into Albany State University, still indecisive of what I wanted to study and a few months later, I made the best decision of my life and dropped out of college. A year later, in 2020, I have a YouTube channel with over 75,000 subscribers and an upcoming boutique called “DeSelen Label.” I have a story to tell. My name was meant to be heard and I will live up to that. I will own multiple businesses, I will be in a movie and or tv show, and I will be successful in everything I do.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road at all. After I graduated high school, a couple of months later, I dropped out of college and reality hit me. High school prepared me for college but didn’t prepare me for the real world. I had to discover how to pay bills, do taxes, how to get a car, how to build credit, etc. It was like everything that I planned and expected for myself wasn’t going my way and I didn’t know what to do. I suddenly fell into a deep depression for a couple of months. One day I woke up and told myself that I am better than this and I knew that sitting there depressed wasn’t going to get me the lifestyle I wanted for myself. I always wanted to be an entertainer so I decided to make a YouTube channel. I made videos every day and stayed consistent. I hit my first million views and got my first big check three months after starting my YouTube channel. I also was scammed by someone in the process of starting my own lash line. I got offered to be on “Chrissy’s Court” with Chrissy Teigen but it didn’t fall through due to the person who scammed me not willing to be apart of the show.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
My name is actually my overall brand. I am most known for my presence on YouTube. I am an entertainer, so I have a YouTube channel named “DeseyAnn.” I do pranks, challenges, beauty videos, and the most popular storytimes. I recently established the name of my boutique “DeSelen Label.” DeSelen Label is a clothing brand but my goal is to have a business in each industry, such as hair, makeup, etc. “DeSelen” is a blend between my first name “DeseyAnn” and my middle name, “Selena.” I am most proud of how hard I have been working, seeing it all pay off, the amount of support I’ve received and how fast I’ve grown. What sets me apart from others is my personality.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
What I like most about Atlanta is the atmosphere. The city is so lively and has become a city that everyone now wants to be apart of. The people have that southern hospitality. There is so much art and black representation everywhere. The style and fashion is inspiring and the food is phenomenal. What I dislike most about the city is seeing all the unfortunate homeless people needing help. I make sure and help and give back when I can.
Contact Info:
- Email: deseyannduke.booking@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/deseyann?igshid=1f5zmhj4fljou
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0Ka7Bp6rh2xta2seEBHqQ
Image Credit:
Acerdude2_photography
@cuffincashvisuals_
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