Shawntay Dalon

Shawntay Dalon grew up in a seriously packed house on Detroit’s east side—seven girls and two boys, all kids of Elijah and Marie (rest her soul). Imagine the noise, the chaos, and the laughs. Shawntay had a twin, Janay, which already sounds like a sitcom setup. The two of them went to Detroit High School for the Fine & Performing Arts—Shawntay dug deep into Drama, while Janay chased the Music dream. Not exactly a random choice of school, either. This is the same place Aaliyah went, so, yeah, the bar was high. Shawntay’s roots run deep in Detroit, but she didn’t stop at high school. She finished up at Finney High and then took her talents to Wayne State, jumping into Speech Communications and Theater. You can tell she’s always been about the stage, the spotlight, and probably stealing the show at every family get-together. Growing up in that city, surrounded by siblings and music and all the grit Detroit brings, you know it’s not just about learning lines or hitting notes. It’s about hustle, heart, and keeping your feet moving. Shawntay’s story isn’t that cookie-cutter “star is born” nonsense—it’s more about a girl who kept showing up, kept working, and never forgot where she came from, even when the curtain rose. Her journey is laced with Detroit pride, sisterhood, and a whole lot of ambition.