Former En Vogue singer Dawn Robinson shocked fans when she revealed that she has been living in her car for the past three years. In a candid video, the 58-year-old singer opened up about how she ended up homeless, why she chose this unconventional lifestyle, and how it has transformed her perspective on life.
What Dawn divulged in the video
In a YouTube video posted on Tuesday, Robinson admitted, “You guys, for the past three years, I have been living in my car… I said it, oh my gosh, it’s out.”
She explained that she had moved to Los Angeles after staying with her parents in Las Vegas in 2020. Her then-manager initially offered her a place to stay, but when that arrangement fell through, she spent eight months in a hotel while struggling to secure an apartment.
According to Robinson, her manager interfered with her housing search, which made things even more difficult.
“Sometimes people want to trap you and keep you in a situation where you’re vulnerable and depending on them,” she said.
Frustrated with traditional housing, Robinson began looking into alternative lifestyles. She described living in her car as a liberating experience, saying, “I felt free… It was like being on a never-ending camping trip.”
However, she acknowledged the hardships that came with it, particularly after losing her dog Max, who passed away in the car.
Despite the challenges, Robinson insisted this was not a sob story. “This is about me learning who I am, as a person, as a woman,” she stated.
“If I could have an apartment, I would… but I wouldn’t trade what I’ve learned from this experience.”
She ended the video with an unapologetic message to her viewers:
“Be spontaneous. Do the scary. F— fear.”
Dawn’s storied career
Robinson is a founding member of En Vogue, one of the most successful R&B girl groups of all time.
Formed in 1989, the group achieved massive success with hits like Hold On, My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It), and Don’t Let Go (Love).
She left En Vogue in 1997 due to contract disputes and later joined Lucy Pearl, a supergroup that included Raphael Saadiq and Ali Shaheed Muhammad.
Their self-titled debut album in 2000 was a commercial success, featuring the hit single Dance Tonight.
Robinson later pursued a solo career, briefly reunited with En Vogue in 2005 and 2009, and starred in R&B Divas: Los Angeles in 2013. Throughout her career, she has sold over 11 million records and earned multiple Grammy nominations, American Music Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards.
Social media reactions
Here’s how social media reacted to Dawn’s video: