Episode Title

From Ballet Dreams to Fashion and the Oscars: D’on Lauren Edwards on Reinvention, Confidence, and Finding Her Own Lane

Episode Description

D’on Lauren Edwards once dreamed of becoming a professional ballerina.

She started ballet at three years old, fell in love with the art form, and by 17 was preparing for the possibility of moving to New York City and pursuing a professional career. Then her health changed everything.

After becoming seriously ill and later being diagnosed with Behcet’s disease, severe arthritis and chronic pain made ballet increasingly difficult. The dream she had worked toward for years could no longer look the same.

But creativity had always been part of D’on’s life.

With encouragement from her father, she began looking toward fashion and eventually attended SCAD, where she immersed herself in evening wear and couture, won multiple awards, and began discovering just how far her design instincts could take her. Her work would later expand into footwear, accessories, and styling—giving her a creative career far broader than the single path she once imagined.

Along the way came unforgettable moments: designing for acclaimed costume designer Ruth Carter, spending awards season in Los Angeles styling her, preparing her for the Oscars, and realizing that styling had become another dream she wanted to pursue alongside design.

But D’on is equally candid about what sits behind those glamorous moments. Fashion is demanding. Health has required boundaries. Rejection is inevitable. Burnout is real. And sometimes the most important thing is remembering who you are instead of chasing whatever everyone else is doing.

For women who have watched one dream change shape—or who worry they must choose only one passion—D’on’s story offers another possibility. A dream can evolve. A detour can become a new direction. And success does not require fitting neatly into someone else’s lane.

Key Discussion Points

• 01:42 — D’on shares how ballet became her first major passion and how creativity shaped her childhood through dance, drawing, painting, and other art forms.

• 02:23 — She explains her dream of becoming a professional ballerina and moving to New York City to pursue ballet professionally.

• 02:37 — D’on talks about becoming seriously ill at 17 and eventually being diagnosed with the rare autoimmune disease Behcet’s disease.

• 03:34 — A conversation with her father helps D’on begin imagining a creative future in fashion when ballet is no longer physically possible.

• 03:59 — She discusses attending SCAD and falling deeply in love with evening wear and couture design.

• 04:22 — April and D’on talk about several awards she received while at SCAD, including recognition connected to Gucci and the National Black Arts Festival.

• 05:26 — D’on explains how winning awards strengthened her confidence and taught her to trust her instincts.

• 06:29 — She describes how footwear and accessories entered her career almost by accident and ultimately broadened her knowledge as a designer.

• 07:26 — D’on explains why the realities of unpaid apparel opportunities in New York influenced her decision to move into footwear.

• 08:57 — She shares her first experience designing and styling Ruth Carter, including creating a dress for the Costume Designers Guild Awards.

• 10:01 — D’on talks about designing for different body types and her belief that every woman should be able to wear something beautiful and comfortable.

• 11:50 — She reflects on the moments when she realized she could truly build a career in fashion, first through her college success and later through styling Ruth Carter.

• 13:05 — D’on discusses health, stress, anxiety, rejection, and learning how to find another route when someone tells her no.

• 14:26 — She shares one of her mother’s most important reminders: stay grounded in who you are rather than changing yourself to follow trends.

• 15:44 — D’on describes the surreal experience of helping prepare Ruth Carter during Oscars season.

• 16:34 — She talks about the support she receives from her fiancé, parents, friends, and especially her father as a mentor.

• 17:54 — D’on gives advice to young people entering fashion, including understanding how difficult the industry can be and finding the lane that genuinely works for them.

• 20:04 — She encourages young designers and students to reach out to her for advice, feedback, and encouragement.

• 20:51 — D’on shares one of her favorite affirmations about trusting God, timing, and believing that what is meant to be will be.

• 23:04 — She gives listeners a glimpse into her personal aesthetic through her favorite shoes, dream dress, and accessories.

Notable Quotes

“I need to stick by this and trust my gut and trust my intuition that this is going to take me far.”

“Every woman is built differently and every woman should be able to wear something that's beautiful, that they feel comfortable in, regardless of their size.”

“I want to be able to do both, and I can do both.”

“Whenever someone tells me no, I always try to find a different way to figure out how I can get what I need to get done.”

“I have to remember to slow it down, take things one at a time, and just remember, focus on the most important things and just kinda do baby steps.”

“Trust God, everything will work out in the right way at the right time.”

Takeaways

• A dream can change without creativity disappearing. D’on’s transition from ballet to fashion allowed her artistic life to continue in a completely different form.

• Confidence can grow through experience. For D’on, awards and recognition helped reinforce that her instincts were worth trusting.

• Learning more than one area of an industry can become an advantage. Her experience across apparel, footwear, accessories, and styling expanded both her skills and her future possibilities.

• Rejection does not always mean stop. D’on often responds to a “no” by looking for another route forward.

• Protecting your health matters when pursuing a demanding career. D’on learned to pay attention to stress and anxiety so she could continue doing the work she loves.

• Trying to fit into someone else’s version of success can lead to burnout. Finding the lane that genuinely works for you can make the dream more sustainable.

• You do not always have to choose between creative passions. D’on’s experience taught her that designing and styling can both have a place in her career.

Connect with Guest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donlaurenedwards/
@donlaurenedwards

Email: donlaurenedwards@gmail.com

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