Doja Cat burst onto the music scene in 2014 and has since released some of the biggest hits in recent history. These include songs like “Paint the Town Red,” “Say So,” “Kiss Me More,” and “Woman,” just to name a few.
Because of that, the singer/rapper has been in the spotlight for many years. While fans have kept up with her professional career, Doja’s personal life is a bit of a mystery.
For instance, most people don’t know that the singer’s mother was one of the main driving forces behind her career. If you’d like to learn more about Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer, Doja’s mom, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need about the American graphic designer.
Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer Profile Summary
| Full Name | Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer |
| Gender | Female |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, US |
| Date of Birth | 1st January 1970 |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Height | 5’6” (1.67 m) |
| Partner | Dumisani Dlamini (ex-husband) |
| Children | Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, Raman Dalithando Dlamini, and an unnamed daughter |
Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer’s Early Life
Deborah Sawyer was born on 1st January, 1970, in Los Angeles. Sadly, the public doesn’t know much about her upbringing, but there are a few details you should know.
For starters, Deborah grew up around her grandmother, a painter. The two would spend many days together sketching and learning about art.
This is likely what inspired Sawyer’s career as a painter.
Besides that, Deborah was no slouch when it came to her education. After graduating high school, the future actress moved out on her own.
She attended the College of New Jersey and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art. Yet, Sawyer didn’t stop there.
Following her college graduation, she enrolled at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. There, she earned a Master of Fine Arts in Painting.
That marked the beginning of a long and successful career.
Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer’s Career
Deborah started her professional journey as a painter. She mainly focused on creating landscapes and scenery.
As a painter, Sawyer preferred using wax, oil, and gouache as mediums. Other than that, we know that she enjoyed painting environmental themes and experimenting with vibrant colors.
Some sources even state that her favorite shade is a sunny yellow.
Then, Deborah chose to leave her painting career behind and dip her toes into acting. She appeared in many projects like “Friends Don’t Let Friends Date” and “Martyrs—The Chronicles of Blood.”
Yet, this career path was short-lived. After a few minor roles, Sawyer left the limelight behind and focused on her art. You can even buy some of her work on her website.
Even though Sawyer was a painter, she explored several types of artistic expression. This led her down the path of digital media.
Today, Deborah designs men’s clothing using tools like Photoshop.
Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer and Dumisani Dlamini
I can’t discuss Deborah’s life without mentioning her love affair with Dumisani Dlamini. While Sawyer worked in New York, she ran into the South African actor.
At the time, Dlamini was a rising star. He secured the role of Crocodile in the hit Broadway show “Sarafina!” alongside Whoopi Goldberg.
The play was so successful that it was made into a movie a couple of years later.
When Sawyer and Dlamini met, immediate sparks were flying. The couple started a passionate relationship that led to a marriage and a beautiful family.
However, since Dumisani was still on tour with his Broadway show, the romance was a little rocky. It seemed like the actor never had enough time for his family.
This became even more of an issue after Deborah had their three children, Amala, Raman, and an unnamed baby girl. Then, “Sarafina!” wrapped up production.
Even though Dlamini stayed for a few years in New York after filming ended, he never felt all that comfortable in the States.
So, he returned to South Africa, leaving Sawyer and their children behind. Sawyer had custody of the kids and raised them alone.
It’s unclear why Dumisani left, but he stated in an interview that he was feeling homesick. Yet, many people speculate that the actor felt like his career would flourish in his home country.
Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer’s Children
Deborah had all of her three children Amala, Raman, and an unnamed daughter in Tarzana, Los Angeles. Yet, after Dumisani left, taking care of the young ones on her own was quite the challenge.
So, Sawyer decided to move back in with her mother in Rye, New York. There, she would spend the next year trying to figure out her next steps.
Thankfully, Deborah could count on her mom to help raise the children. The maternal grandmother would look after Amala and her siblings while Sawyer was off working hard, building her career.
Then, Deborah felt like it was time for a change. For that reason, she packed her bags, loaded the car, and drove off with her three children.
The family moved to California and stayed at the Sai Anantam Ashram. This was a commune in Agoura Hills, California that provided a safe space for people from all walks of life.
That’s when Sawyer and her children began practicing Hinduism, but this wouldn’t last long. After about four years in the ashram, the family moved yet again.
This time, they didn’t move far. They stayed in California but relocated to Oak Park.
While this meant more freedom for the kids, the move came with its own set of issues. Since Deborah’s children are mixed-raced, they were subjected to cruel racial prejudice.
However, this didn’t stop them from shooting for the stars and making names for themselves.
Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer and Doja Cat
Deborah has had many incredible successes throughout her life. Yet, arguably one of her greatest achievements was nurturing her daughter Amala, who’s better known by her stage name, Doja Cat.
Ever since she was a little kid, Doja has had a fascination with the performing arts. She wrote her first song when she was just eight years old.
It was a lovely tune expressing how much she loved her mother.
Thankfully, Sawyer noticed this early on and decided to help her daughter hone her skills.
So, after leaving the ashram, Doja attended breakdancing classes and joined a professional pop-locking troupe. She also started vocal lessons to improve her singing.
Because of that, Doja was able to secure a place at the Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts. This kick-started her career in the music industry.
Today, Doja Cat is one of the most recognizable female rappers and singers. She released several hits including “Moo,” “Say So,” “You Right,” and “Juicy.”
Wrapping Up
Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer is a painter and a men’s clothing designer who was born in Los Angeles. Aside from her painting career, Sawyer also had a brief stint as an actress.
Even though she’s made many strides in her professional career, her greatest accomplishment is nurturing her kids. She’s Doja Cat’s mother, who is one of the biggest names in the music industry.
