Iconic 90s girl band member reveals she's now homeless and has been living in her car for three years

Dawn Robinson, a founding member of the R&B girl-group En Vogue, recently shared that she has been experiencing homelessness, residing in her car for the past three years.

The 58-year-old singer told fans how she has fallen on hard times in a heartbreaking video posted to YouTube on Tuesday.

Her revelation comes shortly after her former band announced an upcoming European tour, expressing excitement about adding a new member to the group and referring to her as their ‘sister.’

But Dawn, who first quit the band in 1997, has a much less glamorous reality which she explained to fans. 

Robinson explained, “‘If you guys were with me in 2020, I did around 105K interviews and during that time, I was living with my parents in [Las] Vegas, which was a positive experience until it turned challenging. While I love my mother, Barbara Alexander, she started directing a lot of her frustrations towards me.”

‘I was her target all the time and I was like, “I can’t deal with this.” Like, I respect her too much. I didn’t understand it I still don’t, It hurt me.’

The eight-time Grammy nominee’s manager offered her to stay at his $1,700/month apartment in Los Angeles, but there was ‘not enough room’ for her since they both owned dogs (her 16-year-old dog Max has since passed away).

‘So it turned into, “Okay, I’m going to put you in a hotel for the night.” And that one night turned into eight months [at $3K/month]. Oh my God, you guys I was like, “No, this is unacceptable,”‘ Dawn scoffed.

By 2022, Robinson researched ‘car life’ culture and decided to give it a shot: ‘I felt free. I felt like I was on a camping trip. It just felt like it was the right thing to do.’

The Connecticut-born belter spent her first night in her car in Malibu – most likely the Paradise Cove Mobile Home Park – which she called ‘scary.’

‘But then as I got to know what to do in my car and how to do it, like, how to cover my windows and you don’t talk to certain people,’ Dawn noted.

‘You’re careful of telling people that you’re alone, as a woman especially, and I’m a celebrity [so] I don’t just divulge that to people.’

Robinson immediately enjoyed ‘the sense of freedom’ that she felt: ‘I felt like I was on a camping trip. I just felt like it was the right thing to do. I didn’t regret it. You know, a lot of celebrities have lived in their cars.’ 

Indeed, there’s a long list of celebrities who fell on hard times over the years including Hilary Swank, Jewel, Steve Harvey, Kelly Clarkson, Sam Worthington, Drew Carey, Suze Orman, and Tyler Perry. 

But don’t pity the lyric soprano as living in her car was a choice she needed to make to ‘go through this fire’ and she has her brother Evin, assistant Niecy, and ‘forever mother-in-law’ to lean on.

‘You may have heard of something called the dark night of the soul,’ Dawn explained.

‘That’s when you go through like a period of isolation, a period of separating yourself from family and friends, and I’m definitely I’m in the trenches of this right now. [But] I wouldn’t trade my experiences and what I’ve gone through for the world.’

Proving she still has her sense of humor, Robinson laughed: ‘Just so you guys know, I have a gym membership and I shower there. I’m a Funky Diva but I’m not funky!’

The Free Your Mind hitmaker has been proudly filming her journey for a future documentary and envisions her eventual resurgence.

‘I mean society tends to look down on people for living off-grid when I tell you off grid is exactly what a lot of people are going to start doing,’ said Dawn, urging her fans to do something ‘scary.’

‘Would I have an apartment right now if I had a choice? I would. I’m not going to lie, but am I glad that I did this. Absolutely proud of what I’ve accomplished out here.’

Robinson auditioned for En Vogue in 1989 and reportedly first quit in 1997 over contract disputes before returning for stints with the group in 2005 and 2008-2011. 

Robinson reportedly first quit En Vogue in 1997 over contract disputes before returning for stints with the group in 2005 and 2008-2011 and 2019.

‘When Dawn left the group, it derailed their momentum,’ producer Thomas McElroy told Wax Poetics last November.

‘It changed the dynamic of the group. It affected their relationship with the record company, and how much confidence they had in the group. And I said it often: they are En Vogue. Yes, we built and we conceptualized it, but they are their own brand now.

‘The legacy is in place, but there was so much that was unfulfilled that I felt could have happened. Even to this day, I feel bad that all the girls aren’t together, reaping the benefits of their legacy.’

Founding member Cindy Herron-Braggs added: ‘Dawn has just decided she doesn’t want to work with us again.’ 

On February 16, En Vogue brought back founding member Maxine Jones – who quit in 2001 to focus on motherhood – to perform with them at the 74th NBA All-Star Game alongside Rhona Bennett (who joined in 2004), Terry Ellis, and Cindy. 

En Vogue still averages 1.9M monthly listeners on Spotify, they have 26M YouTube views, and they’ve sold over 20M records.

The Funky Divas have had many hit songs including Hold On, Free Your Mind, Never Gonna Get It, Giving Him Something He Can Feel, Don’t Let Go, and Whatta Man (feat. Salt N Pepa).

The ladies are booked and busy with their next gig happening March 28 at the Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, CA.

You May Also Like
Pope Francis' funeral schedule, what to expect from the Novendiali, a 9-day period of prayer, mourning

People attending Pope Francis’ funeral?

The upcoming funeral for Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 on…
Iran, US begin negotiations over Tehran's advancing nuclear program

Iran and the US start talks regarding Tehran’s progressing nuclear activities

Negotiations between Iran and the U.S. commenced in Oman on the weekend…
Bain, member of K-pop group Just B, comes out as gay on final stop of band's world tour

Bain from the K-pop group Just B reveals he is gay at the last show of the band’s global tour

Bain, a 23-year-old member of the K-pop boy band Just B, came…
Trump devotee seizes on Virginia Giuffre car crash as she questions claim Epstein victim died by suicide

Supporter of Trump focuses on Virginia Giuffre’s car accident while investigating the theory that Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged victim died by suicide

The assertion that Virginia Giuffre, an Epstein accuser, committed suicide has been…
Stagecoach Festival 2025: Lizzo, Lana Del Rey and more

Lineup for Stagecoach Festival 2025: Lizzo, Lana Del Rey and Others

Stagecoach music festival remains amazing with memorable shows from famous artists such…
Ukraine denies Putin's claim that Russian forces regained Kursk

Ukraine refutes Putin’s assertion of Russian forces recapturing Kursk

The Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s assertion…
PHOTO GALLERY: Pope Francis' Funeral

Collection of Images: The Burial of Pope Francis

<!–> –> Published April 26, 2025 9:08am EDT Image 1 of 14…
‘Sex Education’ Star Emma Mackey Cast As White Witch In Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’ At Netflix

Emma Mackey from ‘Sex Education’ to Play White Witch in Greta Gerwig’s Netflix Adaptation of ‘Narnia’

Emma Mackey from the popular show Sex Education will portray the iconic…
Shedeur Sanders' long wait ends when Cleveland Browns take him in 5th round of NFL draft

Shedeur Sanders gets picked by Cleveland Browns in 5th round of NFL draft, finally ending his long wait

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shedeur Sanders’ wait finally has ended. The Cleveland…
Highland Park parade shooting: Robert Crimo III transferred to Stateville prison to serve life sentence for killing 7, injuring 48

Robert Crimo III moved to Stateville prison for lifelong sentence after Highland Park parade shooting kills 7 and wounds 48

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (WLS) — The Highland Park parade shooter will now begin…
I Cannot Believe They Just Did That To Michael Emerson’s Character In The Latest Episode Of ‘Elsbeth’ 

Shocking Development for Michael Emerson’s Character in the Newest ‘Elsbeth’ Episode

It’s safe to say I did not see that one coming. After…
WATCH: Indiana man who killed girls on hike strikes defiant tone with police in new interrogation video

Video: Indiana man who murdered girls during hike shows defiance towards police in latest questioning footage

Newly released videos from 2022 reveal Richard Allen, the man from Indiana…