We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dawn Rochelle a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dawn, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project yet is my current TV series Ventura Shores. Since childhood I was interested in television and the creative forces behind the scenes that brought them into existence. I always loved night time soapy dramas like Dallas and Dynasty – who didn’t? So creating Ventura Shores in the 1980’s soap opera style has been so. much fun for me creatively.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a Filmmaker/Producer/Actress/Writer and Founder of the Miss Bikini United States Pageant. I use my platforms (pageants, shows, coaching) to discover and elevate new models/actors/designers. I love empowering talent and giving them access and visibility. I work in both the event/pageant world and the narrative/story world. Having successfully navigated multiple platforms, TV – streaming, live events, social media – and I have managed to build shows with visibility (Amazon Prime, Tubi, etc.).

I am best known for creating sun soaked glamorous television and live event programming in the fashion and entertainment industries. Most notably the television series’ Miss Bikini Backstage and the forthcoming Ventura Shores. I am the founder of the Miss Bikini® brand, and the executive producer of one of the most anticipated runway shows at Miami Swim Week.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Absolutely. One moment that stands out was during Miami Swim Week a few years ago. A group of designers suddenly lost their runway when another show was canceled last-minute. They were devastated—and I knew exactly what that felt like, having faced plenty of closed doors early in my own career. Instead of letting them lose their chance, I opened up our Miss Bikini runway to them. It meant long nights, reworking the show, and pulling resources we didn’t think we had—but we made it happen. Seeing those designers get their moment reminded me why I do what I do. Resilience isn’t just about pushing through for yourself—it’s about creating space for others, even when it’s hard.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

For me, the mission has always been about creating opportunities. I started as a young model, and I know firsthand how tough it can be to break into this industry. That’s why so much of my work—whether it’s the Miss Bikini Pageant, Miss Bikini Backstage, or now Ventura Shores—is about giving new talent a platform. I want to tell stories that are glamorous and entertaining, but also shine a light on the people behind the beauty: the models, the designers, the dreamers. My goal is to build worlds where fashion, entertainment, and storytelling come together, and to inspire others to chase their own dreams in the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dawnrochelle.com
• Instagram: dawnrochellewarner
• Twitter: dawn_rochelle
• Other: Miss Bikini Backstage – streaming on Amazon Prime
  Bikini Swim Week – Streaming on Amazon Prime