Who Is Just Du Pree?
I first got the idea to launch a blog after revealing to my father that I was struggling with an eating disorder and was in the process of making lifestyle changes to heal. At the time, I wanted the blog to show how I overcame my health issues and became the model of perfect health. However, my road to healing has been a long and winding one. Now I understand that this blog is not about the destination, but much more about the journey. In a society that promotes quick fixes and overnight remedies, I've had to learn through my own experience that true healing does not happen overnight and goes much deeper than physical appearance and ability.
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, I've always had a love for the performing arts. As my mom constantly reminds me, even as a baby I couldn't help but dance when I heard Ben Tankard. Praise The Lord for my perceptive mama! She enrolled me in dance class as soon as I was old enough. I was later enrolled at Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences (SAAS) for middle school and remained there through high school. I relocated to Washington, DC for undergrad to pursue my education in theatre at Howard University. After graduating with a BFA, Summa Cum Laude, with a concentration in Musical Theatre, I began my professional career in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area. I've been in numerous productions including, A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theatre, Orphie and the Book of Heroes (Orphie) at The Kennedy Center, The Piano Lesson, Dreamgirls, for colored girls… and various children’s theatre productions. I relocated back to Seattle in 2015 and have since appeared in Dreamgirls (Deena) at Village Theatre, Ragtime (Sarah's Friend), and Man Of La Mancha (Antonia) at 5th Avenue Theatre to name a few. I also write and produce my own content which you can check out on YouTube.
Upcoming Projects
Kanika in MY HEART IS THE DRUM at Village Theatre
Despite living much of my life onstage, I've struggled with my self-esteem and confidence since I was a child, one reason being that I've had eczema since I was a baby. Our emotional well-being directly correlates with our physical health, and my healing journey is a testament to that. My eczema progressed from a childhood ailment to a chronic disease in my adulthood during an emotionally tumultuous time in my life. I later learned that I was going through Topical Steroid Withdrawal, which explained why I was having horrible full-body breakouts while still on medication. My healing journey has been chocked FULL of ups and downs, and while changing my diet and lifestyle has been integral to my healing, I didn't truly see a lasting change until I improved my mindset.
My Story
Above are some snapshots of my eczema journey from 2012 - 2016.
Thank you for visiting my blog! Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions, comments, or concerns or you want to book me for a gig. If you don't know where to start on the site, check out some of my top blog posts below. Much love and God bless!