We were lucky to catch up with Dez Durden recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dez, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I found my purpose through pain — and through the process of healing.
There was a point in my life where everything felt heavy: my childhood, my silence, the way I carried the weight of things no one knew. But somewhere in the middle of that, I realized something—my experiences weren’t just happening to me. They were shaping something within me. A voice. A mission. A calling.
When I started sharing my story — first through poetry, then through platforms like When Roses Bloom — I saw the impact vulnerability could have. People weren’t just listening, they were healing too. That’s when it clicked. My purpose is to be a safe space, a mirror, a bridge — for people who need to feel seen, heard, and held.
I didn’t find my purpose all at once. I lived through it, cried through it, wrote through it, and built something from it. Now I use that purpose to uplift others, especially those who have ever felt alone in their journey. My pain gave me purpose. And my purpose helps me create peace — not just for myself, but for others too.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
When Roses Bloom began as a book — a collection of poems and personal truths that peeled back the layers of pain, survival, and healing. But it’s grown into something far greater: a mental health platform and 24/7 discussion forum that serves as a safe space for people across the country to share their stories, connect, and heal in community.
As a behavioral therapist, I see firsthand how heavy life can be for so many people, especially those navigating trauma, identity, and mental health in silence. That’s why I created When Roses Bloom — to be a resource beyond my therapy room, something accessible, personal, and rooted in lived experience.
What makes it special is how real and raw it is. We’re not hiding behind filters. We’re holding space for the hard conversations — and doing it with love, honesty, and accountability. The Rosebud Hotline is open daily, and our forum is live 24/7 for anyone who needs a moment to be heard.
As Ms. Michigan Petite 2025, I’ve made it my mission to use my platform and reign as a vessel for change. I don’t wear this crown for show — I wear it for the people who don’t always feel seen. Whether I’m speaking, hosting events, or visiting schools, I bring my full self: a survivor, an advocate, a therapist, and a woman committed to being the resource I wish I had growing up.
I’m currently on a regional media tour to spread awareness about When Roses Bloom and amplify the importance of mental health, vulnerability, and community support. So far, I’ve had the honor of showing up in New York, Michigan, South Carolina, and Chicago — and I’m just getting started. Hopefully, many more stops are on the way!
Everything I do — from my poetry to my practice — is grounded in the belief that healing is possible, and community makes it stronger. When Roses Bloom is proof of that.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the three most impactful pillars in my journey have been resources, self-expression, and education. They’ve not only shaped who I am, but they continue to guide how I show up for others through my platform When Roses Bloom and in my work as a behavioral therapist.
Resources gave me access to the help I didn’t always know I needed. Whether it was therapy, community support, or simply someone who could hold space for me, learning how to seek out and share resources became life-changing. My advice? Don’t be afraid to ask for help or to become the help someone else may need. Start building a network of support — online, in-person, professional, and personal. Healing rarely happens alone.
Self-expression saved me. From poetry to journaling to storytelling, I learned that putting language to my experiences was a form of liberation. When you’re just starting out, give yourself permission to explore your voice. Speak your truth — even if your voice shakes. The more you do, the more powerful it becomes.
Education gave me the tools to transform my lived experiences into impact. Through my academic path and professional training as a behavioral therapist, I learned how to take what I felt and turn it into something functional and sustainable. For anyone early in their journey, keep learning — whether it’s through books, mentorship, school, or experience. Education isn’t just about degrees; it’s about awareness and action.
Together, these three pillars helped me turn pain into purpose. They’re what I build from, and what I continue to share with others.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
One book that played a major role in my personal and professional development is “All About Love” by bell hooks. It helped shift the way I understood love — not just in relationships, but as a foundation for community, healing, and justice.
One of the most impactful lessons from the book is that love is an action, not just a feeling. That changed everything for me. It made me more intentional about how I love myself, how I show up for others, and how I lead in my work. It taught me that love and accountability go hand in hand — and that honesty, vulnerability, and boundaries are essential parts of love, not opposites of it.
bell hooks also reminded me that healing doesn’t happen in isolation — it happens in connection. That’s something I’ve carried into When Roses Bloom, where love shows up through shared stories, mutual support, and safe spaces.
“All About Love” gave me language for things I once only felt. And it gave me permission to lead with my heart — as a therapist, an advocate, and a woman creating change through empathy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/MsMichiganPetite25
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ms.michiganpetite2025/profilecard/?igsh=Yml6MDQyN3hrcHE4
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ARJCYunvr/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://gofund.me/c9cd099f
Image Credits
Eva Flis (pageant photo)
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