Entrepreneur Empowers Individuals to Take Control of their Narratives
Image: Jonathan Keitt
There was a time in Dee Dee Legette’s life when absolutely everything happening around her and to her was beyond her control. To say that life was frustrating would be the ultimate understatement. Today, she believes in taking control of her narrative.
“Right now, we’re living in such a broad world, where everything seems so accessible. It’s easy to get caught up in the illusion of options,” Legette explains. “Self-care and self-discovery are so important, as we really need to dial back and focus on ourselves.”
After retiring from the United States Air Force in 2018, Legette admits she had to discover a whole new way to live in this world, especially as a civilian. There was newfound freedom to explore new interests, underdeveloped talents and then there was the dynamic of time to tap into new ventures.
Today, the 46-year-old author, businesswoman, fitness enthusiast and podcaster finds great fulfillment in every day. Core Queen Fitness Brand is her cherished “at home virtual fitness brand” and Black Women are unapologetically her target audience.
“I hate the stigma that we don’t work out,” Legette says. “People have always inquired about how I lose and maintain my weight. I’ve been running competitively since I was 12 years old and of course fitness is a huge part of the military experience. The pandemic inspired me to help people work out at home because we couldn’t get to the gym.”
It was important during the confusion of 2020 for Legette to help people stay focused, protect their minds and not lose touch with their physical health. Launching the virtual fitness brand felt right then and has yielded great results ever since.
Targeting the “whole person” remains at the forefront of Legette’s mind. The Bristol, Pennsylvania native never loses interest in the underserved communities. In 2019 she began her nonprofit organization – Evelyn’s Joy Community Outreach, affectionately named after her grandmother.
Through this organization, Legette hosts two large yearly events: a winter coat drive in January where she distributes more than 200 coats, serves hot meals, grants scholarships and more. In August, she has a “Back to School” bash and passes out 400 backpacks with school supplies.
“I specifically target my hometown, because I want those children to see that they don’t have to stay there,” Legette explains. “I want them to know that there is life outside the neighborhood and that they can be good examples of what can come from the neighborhood.”
Legette obviously has a strong affinity for her community, but while she wears many hats for the world to see - her most cherished roles are as mother and grandmother.
“I have a 28-year-old daughter, a 15-year-old son and two grandchildren,” she dotingly shares. “It was my daughter who motivated me to write a book. In the book, I was able to show her some of the things I had to endure for her to get the mother she has today. I also wanted to encourage teen moms and show them that they could get out of the stigma of being a statistic. I give them tools to help them break generational cycles.”
The book Legette references is her recently released, groundbreaking revelation “Breaking the Cycle of Childhood Trauma: The Guide to Raising Emotionally Healthy & Independent Daughters.”
Through her own admission, Legette navigated a very difficult upbringing. Her mother was addicted to drugs, she spent time in foster care and had to learn a lot of tough lessons. Becoming a teen mom didn’t immediately aid her plight, however, her children would prove to be her biggest blessings.
“Being a mom is a whole different level of entrepreneurship, because you’re running a company inside your house that other people don’t get to see,” Legette says.
Her biggest fear in releasing the book was telling her mother about it. According to Legette, her mother did the difficult work to become clean from drug usage. “Religion became my mother’s new addiction after she became clean,” Legette adds. “I would love for her to admit one day what she put me through. I would love for her to tell me she’s proud of me.”
While she realizes that she may never get what she wants from her mother, Legette relishes in the positive reception she’s received from the public about her book. Strangers have shared their stories about molestation; cried out about being taken advantage of and come to her seeking help.
“People are wanting me to speak at their book clubs and share even more of my story,” Legette shares. “It’s all so surreal. I was very vulnerable in my book and to know that helps others means the world to me.”