Dawn Robinson, Former En Vogue Member, Talks Homelessness and Finding Strength in ‘Car Life’
Dawn Robinson, founding member of the iconic R&B group En Vogue, is opening up about a deeply personal chapter in her life.
In a candid new YouTube video posted on Tuesday (March 11), the 58-year-old singer revealed that she has been without a permanent residence and living in her car for the past three years.
“You guys, for the past three years, I have been living in my car,” Robinson admitted, letting out a deep sigh before adding, “I said it, oh my gosh, it’s out.”
The singer shared that in 2020, she was living with her parents in Las Vegas but eventually decided to move out. She relocated to Los Angeles at the suggestion of her former manager, who initially offered her a place to stay. However, when that arrangement fell through, she ended up in a hotel for eight months.
During her time in the hotel, Robinson said finding an apartment became an uphill battle because of interference from her manager, who allegedly blocked her from securing housing.
“Sometimes people want to trap you and keep you in a situation where you’re vulnerable and depending on them,” the singer explained. “So I got out of there.”
That’s when Robinson began researching “car life” and quickly embraced the idea of living on the road.
“I loved what I was seeing,” she said of the concept, adding that she has now spent the last three years living in her car while staying in Malibu, California.
Despite the challenges, Robinson spoke about the unexpected sense of liberation she has felt. “I felt free. I felt like I was on a camping trip. It just felt like it was the right thing to do,” she shared.
She also made it clear that she isn’t sharing her story to seek sympathy.
“It’s not ‘Woe is me.’ I’m learning about who I am. I’m learning myself as a person, as a woman," she said, while also noting the loneliness that has come with her decision.
“I miss my family. I miss everyone I was connected to. But I needed to do this alone,” she continued, revealing that her beloved dog, Max, passed away in the car, making the experience even more isolating.
Still, she remains firm in her choice, saying that while she would have an apartment if she could, she has no regrets. “I’m absolutely glad I did this. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished out here,” she added.
She ended her message with words of encouragement for her viewers: “Be spontaneous. Do the scary. F—k fear.”
Robinson was one of the original members of En Vogue, alongside Cindy Herron, Terry Ellis, and Maxine Jones. The powerhouse vocal group was formed in 1989 and took the music industry by storm with their debut 1990 album, “Born to Sing.” She departed from the group in 1997 and later signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment, though she briefly rejoined En Vogue in 2005 and 2009.
