Meet ZENA DALY

We recently connected with ZENA DALY and have shared our conversation below.

ZENA, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

As a dark-skinned Afro-Latina woman with a curvy figure, I have faced numerous negative stereotypes that made it challenging to believe that being myself could lead to success. I have often been subjected to racially charged jokes, discrimination, and violence because of my appearance. This prejudice has cost me jobs, opportunities, relationships, and financial stability, as people often perceive my skin color as a threat. Instead of recognizing my passion, sternness, directness, and honesty, they hastily label me as difficult, mean, and aggressive.

It wasn’t until I looked in the mirror at the age of 24 that I recognized my own beauty. Until then, I had never truly heard anyone say I was beautiful. When compliments did come, they were often backhanded, such as, “Oh, you’re pretty too,” or “You’re pretty for a dark-skinned girl.” These remarks deeply eroded my confidence, leading to intense self-loathing and shame over something beyond my control. I would even say, “I’m not Black, I’m Hispanic,” hoping this notion would distance myself from my skin color.

Growing up in Miami, Florida, during the 90s, being dark skinned but not African American meant you were either Jamaican or Haitian. Those of us with darker skin were often subjected to cruel taunts like “African booty scratcher.” Witnessing such cruelty in children, who clearly learned these behaviors from adults, was heartbreaking. As an advanced learner with a mature understanding of social behavior, I recognized early on that this prejudice was taught, which made me feel as if everyone despised me simply for being dark-skinned.

As a live entertainer, I have lost countless opportunities and significant income simply because I did not fit the narrow standards of being skinny or light-skinned enough. I was often told I wasn’t aesthetically desirable or marketable. The stress from these rejections caused my weight to fluctuate, either from not eating or overeating. It became an endless cycle of having my hopes raised only to be shot down by people unqualified to judge my worth.

Fed up with this, I decided to take control of my appearance and declare myself beautiful in my most natural form. It was like turning on a light switch; the realization came suddenly and powerfully. I changed my diet, started working out, started my band and made music. Soon, I lost 85 pounds and began living my purpose. Though I had been skinny for most of my life, gaining weight led everyone to make it their business to comment on my appearance, as if I were unaware. I internalized these comments, believing them and deeming myself unattractive and unworthy.

However, once I changed my mindset and embraced a new belief about myself, my entire world transformed. Men, women, and children began to go out of their way to tell me how beautiful I was. I realized that life reflects what we feel inside; our inner world shapes our outer reality. This is an ongoing process—some days are good, while on others, I revert to the feelings of my childhood. Now, when these negative thoughts arise, I quickly assess whether they are valid or not. Our mind is like a TV, projecting whatever channel it is tuned to. If you want to feel differently about yourself, you simply need to change the channel.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a classically trained singer, songwriter, and dancer from Miami, FL, now based in Atlanta, GA. While I’ve been performing Top 40, R&B, Reggae, and Motown hits, along with my own energetic original music with my band 11:59 for over seven years, I’ve been singing my entire life.

As a proud HBCU graduate from the illustrious Alabama State University, my cultural diversity and dedication to my craft keep me booked and busy. I enchant crowds from all walks of life with my spontaneous mashups and innovative arrangements. The industry may call me an ultimate powerhouse artist on my way to becoming a household name, but I’m simply a young woman diligently working to live out my wildest dreams.

I am in love with what I do! Singing and performing have been part of my life from the very beginning. It’s one of the toughest careers to find legitimate success in, but also the most rewarding for my spirit. There’s nothing else I’ve ever wanted to do. I’m blessed to be reaching new levels of achievement and, most importantly, helping people heal and raise their own vibration, just as the music I create has done for me.

This year, I was featured on a single that peaked at number 3 on the electronic charts, and we’re gaining momentum in the music industry. Of course, I’m working on music for my debut project while secretly writing for some of your favorite artists! Shhh!

In addition to my music career, I am launching A.R.M.O.R. O.N. (Advocacy for Resources, Mental health, and Opportunities to Reach Out and Nurture), an advocacy project aimed at providing holistic mental health support through a series of quarterly events. By blending my music career with mental health advocacy, I seek to leverage my platform to promote mental well-being and create a supportive community.

Mental health challenges are prevalent and often stigmatized, leading to a lack of adequate support and resources. With my influence and reach, I am poised to make a substantial impact. A.R.M.O.R. O.N. addresses the critical need for mental health advocacy by providing accessible resources, fostering community engagement, and raising awareness through music and events.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

This year for my birthday I decided to give myself a reminder on how far I’ve come and the wisdom I’ve gathered throughout my journey. I did one for every year of my life. I’ll list them below. These are the things that have helped me make the decisions that led me to the path of least resistance to bring in this abundant life I’m living.

They are as followed:

1. love yourself first so ppl know how to love you.
2. Setting boundaries is necessary.
3. Don’t beat yourself up over things you can’t control.
4. Men do what they want to. Read that again. Don’t be dumb pay attention.
5. Respect is a basic human right.
6. Why complain when you can find a solution.
7. Don’t listen to ppl. Have your own thoughts.
8. Say what you have to say. No matter what.
9. Disagreements are not personal attacks; Accountability is the first step to spiritual maturity.
10. Opinions about others do not reflect who you are.
11. What ppl think about you is not your problem.
12. Take care of yourself or you will pay for it later.
13. DECENTER your parents and make yourself the priority.
14. Sharing a common enemy is trauma bonding.
15. You are not an adult until you’ve mastered how to communicate effectively.
16. Running away from your problems won’t remove them. It just adds more time for you to get through them.
17. Being in control is an illusion.
18. The reason you can’t lose weight is because you won’t let go of your past and heal that pain.
19. Having peace of mind is a real luxury.
20. Don’t stop until you find WHERE your WHO is best at.
21. It’s money everywhere you just gotta put ya name on it
22. Delulu is the solulu!
23. Let those toxic ppl go they are stopping you from receiving your full abundance.
24. Detox your colon every 3 months.
25. Be honest about how you feel about yourself. If you don’t like it change it.
26. Everyone around you is a reflection of the things you hate and love about yourself.
27. You are your real enemy if you keep yourself in toxic situations.
28. Success is subjective.
29. If someone doesn’t like you it’s fine; they don’t like themselves either.
30. Self acceptance brings peace.
31. It’s ok to rest;You deserve it.
32. Be kind; it’s free.
33. We’re all gonna die so live now.
34. Nobody cares until they need you. Fuck them folks.
35. Loading….

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I am excited to collaborate with talented producers, musicians, songwriters, and artists nationwide as I embark on my international music series. My plan is to transform my live mashups into more intimate renditions and take this unique show on the road to various countries. It would be wonderful to connect with local creatives to craft special moments together.

I am seeking partnerships with major corporations and small businesses whose brands align with my values of self-empowerment, evolution, and mental health. Through my music, I aim to create a space where people can find an escape from their daily lives, while also working through their mental and spiritual challenges. These musical events and outreach programs that are created from these partnerships will not only help raise their vibration, it will lead to self-discovery and wholeness. Together, we can make a meaningful impact on individuals’ lives, fostering a community dedicated to growth and well-being.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Hollywood Live Photo 1 – Tommy Red (@LiteitupMagazine)

Stage show Photo 2- 5 – es Saadi hotel

Photo 6 – in red – Devon (@cloudy_lenses)

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