We recently connected with Melisa Valdez and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Melisa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Being from the Dominican Republic I came from an artistic family where music, dance and art runs in our blood. Family gatherings always included entertainment. I grew up having a passion for movement and people connection was an organic practice. In school I remember joining the drama club and dance groups because I loved performing. From a young age I knew that I was destined to be in spaces where I can impact and empower others through my talents and energy. After graduating high school, I decided to pursue a career in entertainment and took a leap of faith to follow my dreams…

Melisa, 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?

When I started auditioning for professional dance jobs, I was able to tour with various artists. Dance gave me the opportunity to travel the world, learn about different cultures and touch many beautiful stages. But the hustle was real, I worked multiple flexible jobs while being at home during breaks and also attended college to try and finish my business administration degree.

Once touring was over, I wanted to make sure that I continued to pursue the things I loved. As a creative I was frustrated being in corporate jobs that did not appeal to my true passions so I decided to explore the world of health and wellness while thinking about the ways I could merge my love for movement and also make it fun. I became a dance fitness instructor, teaching group fitness classes and also started to coach private one-on-one dance classes to clients of all levels. My mission in my classes was to help others gain confidence, love the skin they are in, connect with their bodies, utilize movement as a form of expression and self-care. I wanted to help people feel their best through their most authentic self.

A few years later I gained a new passion and that is when my love on the microphone began. I got an opportunity to host a big dance competition for RedBull and that was the moment that truly sparked my excitement for hosting. That is when I knew I wanted to take it to the next level. From there I started to get booked for different hosting gigs and got hired as the In-arena host of the Boston Celtics. It was an honor to represent such a legendary organization and the city of Boston as the first Afro-Latina in that position, specially knowing that the city has so much culture. Representation matters!
Knowing that my family in the Dominican Republic watches me live during games or even having my mother at the games in Boston means alot to me. I have been able to connect with fans from all over the world and the best part is that I really enjoy this job. Speaking live in front thousands of people at every game is surreal, it takes practice and I want to be the best I can be.

Now that I have evolved as a host and gained significant experience, I hope to collaborate with more brands in the areas of sports, culture, fashion, community engagement, just to name a few. My goal is to continue to bring my energy to amplify experiences and make an impact and inspire. I am now determined more than ever to reach higher and look forward to what the future holds!

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

Growing up as an immigrant and raised by a single mother, hard work and perseverance was instilled in me at an early age. One lesson my mother always taught me was that even though we have to work hard in life, I should always do the things that bring me joy and pursue my god-given talents. I did not come from much so learning to be independent and working from an early age was necessary. I was aware I had to go through more challenges than others to get to certain places and always knew I was destined for something big and had to be patient. There were many sleepless nights of working multiple jobs and also hearing alot of No’s, but I knew I had big dreams and could not give up. The feeling of seeing the fruits of your labor is a good one!

Have you ever had to pivot?

Fear can hold us back from so much! Society can make us feel like failures simply because we may no longer have an interest or the motivation to finish something we started. As I have been leaning more into prioritizing my self-care I only want to do things that bring me joy and that my mind, body and soul are aligned with. As a creative and a freelancer I’ve had to do many pivots because I was in spaces for the obligation of just having a “job” to be able to pay my bills and ignored my mental health. When we do not feed our souls the things you love its starts to show…

For over 6 years I helped grow a wellness start up and transitioning out of that company was one of the biggest life pivots I have experienced this year. Through that experience I learned so much about myself, community building, leadership skills, how to manage teams, up’s and downs of the wellness industry and much more. I feel proud of the work that was done, the lives that were impacted and I also expanded my network with people that are still in my life, who today continue to inspire me in great ways.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.melisavaldez.com
• Instagram: @missmelivaldez
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melisavaldez

Image Credits
Brian “Babs” Babineau Mia Andreoli Brianna Robinson Kavon Morgan Flavio D. Phtography