Dawn Robinson, the former En Vogue singer, has revealed that she has been living in her car for the last three years.
The co-founder of the R&B girl group shared the news in a candid video posted on her YouTube channel on Wednesday (March 12), which you can watch below.
“You guys, for the past three years, I have been living in my car…I said it, oh my gosh, it’s out,” she said. She explained that it is a lifestyle choice, adding: “This isn’t a sob story, this is about me learning who I am, as a person, as a woman.”
Robinson went on to explain that she had been living with her parents for a period, before moving to Los Angeles in 2020, having been offered a place to stay by her former manager. That arrangement collapsed, however, and she ended up staying in a hotel for eight months while she searched for an apartment.
She began to seek out alternative lifestyle options and found the prospect of “car life” appealing. “I felt free,” she said. “It was like being on a never-ending camping trip. It just felt right”.
She shared that she struggled after the passing of her dog Max during this period, and spoke of missing her family. “If I could have an apartment, I would,” she added. “But I wouldn’t trade what I’ve learned from this experience. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished.”
“Be spontaneous. Do the scary. Fuck fear.”
Robinson was a founding member of En Vogue in 1989, alongside Cindy Herron, Terry Eliis and Maxine Jones. They scored a number of huge hits in the ‘90s, including ‘Don’t Let Go (Love)’, ‘My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)’ and ‘Hold On’, sold over 20 million records and received seven Grammy nominations.
The group have remained active in various forms since then, but Robinson left in 1997 shortly before the release of their third album ‘EV3’. The original line-up reunited briefly in 2005 and again in 2009 for a 20th anniversary tour.