Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique Dupree.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From a toddler, I’ve always known that entertainment was something that was just a part of who I am. I started out as a child model doing runway and photoshoots for “Riding star productions” out of Newark,NJ through my uncle.
As a teenager, I just wanted to act. I had the opportunity when I was cast to be a featured extra in Lean on me. It was greatest moment of my life at the time and shaped what was to come in the future. The excitement of seeing how movies were made as it was happening was the best! This was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.
I went on the go between doing extra work, modeling and working at Newark Beth Israel medical center.
By the time I was 17, I was expecting my first child and I was told any career in acting would be over for me. After a hiatus, not only did I go back to acting but I started to work in burlesque in my 20’s focusing on a horror element of burlesque. At that time, there were very few places in nyc that would allow for me to pour fake blood on myself and perform, so I focused on acting in the horror genre instead. It’s where I had the distinct opportunity to meet Debbie Rochon, Lloyd Kaufman and Dee Snider during a contest in fangoria radio. That changed everything!!! I went on to work with Lloyd and troma and with Debbie Rochon who actually referred me to other productions as well.
I hit the convention circuit in 2008 where I’d meet so many other directors and consistently work in the horror genre whilst working as an extra on television and guest spots on talk shows.
In 2011, I met Tommy Dreamer (WWE,ECW,TNA) in Florida during Wrestlemania. We became fast friends as I told him about my family’s love for professional wrestling, which my daughter Monet had recently gotten me back into. I resonated with Miss Elizabeth growing up and wanted to be a wrestling valet/manager like her. Well, he gave me that opportunity in 2013 where I went on to not only valet in his production, House of Hardcore with my daughter, but I worked behind the scenes side by side with him. We became partners in the business where we split the responsibilities of production. I worked and building the website for tickets sales, all social media before during and after the shows, working with the talent, doors and moderating twitch during the time we were on it. Inwas able to work at impact wrestling (now TNA) as a valet.
In 2022, I re-debuted in burlesque here in baltimore and it all just took off. My wild ideas had finally caught up to the burlesque business and my theatrical style performances are now welcomed.
I am currently doing all the things I love simultaneously and working with my now 10 children whilst doing so.
I’ve done over 200 films so far, worked in wrestling in different countries and travel around the world for burlesque
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The largest struggles has always been being a black woman whilst trying to work in the entertainment industry and actually being seen. I’ve also had challenging times because I would have to work pregnant constantly since I’ve given birth to 10 children.
I’ve always been a square peg trying to fit into a circle. I decided to just build my own instead of trying to fit into societal views
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
1. Do not allow someone to dictate what you can and cannot do
2. You have to develop a tough skin. You will likely get 1,000 no’s. If you keep going, it can be that 1,001st time that your opportunity awaits
3. Do not compare yourself to others. You are your own individual. You might be asked to be more like “fill in the blank” you weren’t born as them, you are person..be that person
4. Be patient and gentle with yourself. This business is brutal. Do not allow it to tear your mental apart.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @moniquegatadupree
- Facebook: Tha True Original Gata (fanpage)
- Twitter: @Thaoriginalgata
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thaoriginalgata?si=ZfqzXPoGWZaUp8S8
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatrueoriginalgata?_t=ZP-8uq85qPicyE&_r=1
