Dawn Robinson, a former member of the iconic R&B group En Vogue, recently shared that for the past three years, she’s been living in her car. In a YouTube video posted on March 11, Robinson opened up about her challenging living situation and the unexpected path her life has taken.
The 58-year-old singer explained that in 2020, she was living with her parents in Las Vegas, a setup that initially worked well. However, circumstances eventually led her to leave and move to Los Angeles, where her former manager offered her a place to stay. But things didn’t go as planned. Robinson found herself in a hotel for eight months, struggling to find an apartment due to what she described as her manage “playing games,” People reported.
“Sometimes people want to trap you and keep you in a situation where you’re vulnerable and depending on them,” she said of their dynamic. “So I got out of there.”
As the hotel stay became untenable, Robinson began exploring alternative living arrangements. “I started researching ‘car life’ and loved what I was seeing,” she said. In 2022, she made the bold decision to live out of her car. Moving to Malibu, California, Robinson felt an unexpected sense of freedom. “I felt like I was on a camping trip,” she said. “It just felt like it was the right thing to do.”
Robinson emphasized that she didn’t want pity for her situation. Instead, she shared her story as a lesson in resilience and self-discovery. “It’s not ‘woe is me,’” she explained. “I’m learning about who I am, learning myself as a person, as a woman.” She also revealed that her dog Max passed away during this time, which added to the emotional weight of her journey.
Despite the hardships, Robinson expressed gratitude for her experiences. “I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished out here,” she said, adding that if she could find an apartment, she would. But for now, she’s embracing the adventure of her “car life,” CNN reported. Robinson closed her video with a powerful message: “Be spontaneous. Do the scary. F— fear.”
Grammy-nominated En Vogue originally formed in 1989 in Oakland, California, with members Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Their debut album, “Born to Sing,” produced the hit single “Hold On,” which reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100. The group’s 1992 album, “Funky Divas” also made an impact, charting in the top 10 in both the U.S. and UK. The album featured their second US No. 2 hit, “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It),” along with other popular tracks like “Giving Him Something He Can Feel” and “Free Your Mind.”
En Vogue was one of the most successful girl groups of the ’90s but, like many, faced significant challenges due to a “predatory” music industry, The Daily Mail reported. Despite their massive success, the group members were stuck in a contract that paid them minimal advances and royalties, with the producers and label reaping most of the profits. Robinson, who left the group in 1997.
