We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Davanta Greer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Davanta below.
Davanta, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you had a defining moment that you feel really changed the trajectory of your career, we’d love to hear the story and details.
Absolutely. There was a defining moment. In my professional life as a mental health therapist, especially working in schools, I always felt I had to keep my personal life very sheltered. I loved thrifting and fashion, but I held back from sharing that passion publicly because it would mean opening up my social media. Something I was nervous about, knowing that parents, students, and even coworkers are often curious about who you are outside of work.
But when I started thrifting for others and got so much positive feedback, people encouraged me to take it further and sell online. As I watched how others with strong followings expressed their creativity through fashion, I realized TikTok could be the space for me to both showcase my style and connect with an audience. I began posting dance videos styled in my thrifted looks, and the response was overwhelming.
The true turning point came when a casting director reached out to me and asked me to pursue casting for a well-known tv show. She said she loved my fashion and could feel my energy, even though we had never met. That moment changed everything. It was validation that my creativity and vibe resonated beyond my immediate circle, and it showed me that I was exactly where I needed to be.
The biggest lesson I took away was not to limit myself out of fear or anxiety. If something is truly meant for me, it will keep finding its way into my life. I also learned that my talents aren’t just hobbies. They are a part of my identity that brings joy to others. That’s a kind of superpower, and instead of hiding it, I realized I owe it to myself to share it with the world.
Davanta, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
For those who may not know me yet, my name is Davanta, and I like to say that if you really want a quick sense of who I am, you can do it in ten words: resilient, emotional, Cancer, sophisticated, fashion enthusiast, recovering overthinker, unapologetically, Black, gay. Those words capture not only my personality but also the journey I’ve been on.
I come from a childhood filled with adversity, and I’m proud to be a first-generation, two-time college graduate from Michigan. Cheering at Michigan State University gave me the space to grow into my truest, gayest self. In 2017, I moved to Colorado, the first in my family to leave the state, and that leap taught me so much about independence and carving out my own path, especially without a roadmap or much family support. Through it all, my Maltese poodle Toby has been by my side since my sophomore year of college; he’s truly been my first soulmate and has witnessed every stage of my adulthood.
I stumbled into thrifting thanks to a friend who showed me the Denver hotspots, and from there, it became more than just a hobby. I started curating pieces for myself, elevating my own closet, and eventually began thrifting for others. Helping people discover clothes that not only look great but also make them feel like the best version of themselves is what lights me up. I’ve pushed clients and friends out of their comfort zones into pieces they never imagined they could pull off, and the transformation is always magical.
What sets me apart is my ability to blend masculinity and femininity seamlessly in my style. I like to say, “get you somebody that can do both.” While I don’t personally wear dresses, I don’t believe clothes have gender. My looks can be gender-fluid, playful, and unexpected, but always intentional. I see fashion as storytelling. Every outfit I put together has to give something, whether that’s “grandma’s closet chic,” “Gatorade bottle realness,” or “grape depression” in a head-to-toe purple look. Check my daily Instagram story post (@thedavantagreer), if ya don’t believe me. For me, thrifting is about honoring the story a piece had with its previous owner while reimagining it in a new way to create a fresh narrative.
What I’m most proud of is my commitment to being unapologetically me, with no bounds. Fashion is where I create without fear, and in doing so, I’ve been able to inspire others to step more boldly into their own style. For current and future followers, I want you to feel welcomed into Styles by Davanta. Its not just as a brand, but a movement to see fashion as a playground for creativity, expression, and confidence.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn was that “nobody likes when you’re loud and obnoxious, especially a loud and obnoxious Black person.” Growing up, I sheltered my inner child and held back from being expressive because I felt like my presence had to be smaller, quieter, more “acceptable.” That all shifted in middle school when, for the first time, I allowed myself to really be expressive. Dancing in a room full of people who didn’t look like me. Instead of rejection, I was met with approval.
That moment completely changed my outlook. It unlocked the natural-born extrovert I was destined to be. Of course, being expressive comes with its challenges, but learning to embrace my shine has been the greatest gift. It’s the reason I’m here now, being interviewed for my craft. It has allowed me to have a voice beyond just the words that come out of my mouth.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
A story that really illustrates my resilience starts with my upbringing. I was raised in a single-mom household, and my mom had her hands full. Not only raising me and my siblings, but also taking care of both my grandmother and great-grandmother. There wasn’t always a lot of guidance or resources, so I had to figure out many things on my own.
At 14 and 8 months, I got my first job because money was tight, and I wanted to play sports, hang out with friends, and explore my interests. If I wanted those experiences, I had to find a way to fund them myself. That independence carried over into my education too. College wasn’t something that was really talked about in my family, but through exposure at school, I saw the possibilities. I applied on my own, got myself into Michigan State, and even navigated financial aid and loans by myself. My mom supported where she could, but the majority of it was me pushing through and figuring it out step by step.
That grit and determination shaped who I am today. It’s what gave me the courage to move out to Denver. It’s what allows me to keep pushing forward in every new chapter. For me, resilience has always been about making a way out of no way, and trusting that even without a roadmap, I could build the life I envisioned for myself.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Thedavantagreer
- Other: TikTok: Davantagreer
Image Credits
Kayte Demont