Dee Dee's World

Demetria McKinney is a river with many streams--singer, actress, model, song writer, and dancer. She is an award-winning actress who has played diverse roles on the big and small screens as well as on the stage. She is a gifted singer with a rich voice requiring zero studio enhancements and she is a skillful songwriter who thoughtfully expresses emotions in a way that instantly connects with listeners. Whether she is acting on stage to a sold out audience or a featured soloist at a major event, Demetria continues to receive admiration with standing ovations from her performances. Due to the consistent display of her talents, she has certainly become one of tomorrows brightest and most sought after stars.

At an early age, Demetria was drawn to music and was a natural performer. And as life happened, which for Demetria brought unfortunate circumstances and potentially scarring experiences, she found her strength, her peace and her therapy in music. Although Demetria is an Atlanta resident, she is a self-admitted Military brat, she claims Ft. Walton Beach, Florida as her hometown roots, because her father retired from the US. Air Force and made it their home when she was a child. She dealt with the challenges of living a transient life by writing and drawing. Eventually she found herself singing in a church choir in Florida, and quickly became the choir director. She went on to earn a vocal scholarship and studied dance and theater.

She earned a leading role in Mark E. Swinton's "U Don't Know Me," the musical which received superb reviews. Her accomplishments read as a finely detailed map, headed toward her destiny and showing the broad spectrum of her abilities. Demetria has a rich history with screenplay- writer and director, Tyler Perry. Ms. McKinney's list of accomplishments includes the role of "Janine" in TBS's #1 TV sitcom, "House of Payne". The show which continues to top the ratings, has taped over 254 episodes and has received five (5) consecutive NAACP Image Awards for Best Sitcom and now in syndication on BET, she will also be reviving her role as Janine in the new Tyler Perry show “The Paynes” debuting on OWN in 2018. Dee Dee embraced a vital role in the nationally renowned stage play, "Meet the Browns". Her journey continued with Mr. Perry on Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) in a televised play production entitled "Madea's Christmas" which resulted in high ratings. In the DVD version of Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married", the starlet revived a significant role in the play and went on to star in several other of his stage plays including "What's Done In The Dark". She also performed as the lead character "Brandy" in "Soul Kittens Cabaret".

In 2007, McKinney starred in an award winning short film, "Standing Reign." Standing Reign was the five category award winning film in the Atlanta 48 Hour film festival (Best Film, Best Acting, Best Screenplay, Best Delivery and Audience Award). It was also an official selection in the TOMI Film Festival of New Orleans, the Spaghetti Junction Urban Film Festival of Atlanta, the International Black Film Festival of Nashville and is ranked top twenty films in the National 48 Hour Film Project.

In April 2008, Ms. McKinney and Tyler Perry's House of Payne was nominated for the 2008 Prism Award. Ms. McKinney was nominated for Best Performance in a Comedy Series for her incredible portrayal as the drug addicted mother and wife turned career woman and Tyler Perry's House of Payne was nominated and won the Prism Award for Comedy Series Multi-Episode story line. In July, Ms. McKinney starred in another award winning short film, "Before I Wake. Her additional stage work includes the lead roles in the plays "The Mountaintop", “Church Girl”, the musical “I Dream” in which Demetria portrayed Mrs. Coretta Scott King and "Dreamgirls" which she performed with the legendary Jennifer Holliday. She also co-stars on TV One’s sitcom "The Rickey Smiley Show" as Monica, Rickey's ex wife. Her numerous credits include the films “Daddy’s Little Girls”, "Let The Church Say Amen" and “Breaking Up is Hard to Do” as well as the hit USA drama ”Necessary Roughness”, BET's "Let's Stay Together" and a recurring roles on Life Time’s “Devious Maids”. Demetria can still currently be seen on Bravo's "The Real Housewives Of Atlanta", Bounce TV’s breakout hit “Saints & Sinners”, BET’s “The Quad”, Centric TV’s “The Ladies Room” and the stage play “Love Jones The Musical”.

Although her acting career keeps her very busy, Demetria always makes time for her first love: Music. Demetria McKinney is a radiant, beautiful, diverse talent that is surely on the rise! She has now stepped out into spotlight again to present to the world another dimension of her talent... singing. Demetria has extensive vocal and dance training. This eOne Music recording artist over the past few years has recorded and performed with artist such as Kandi Burruss, Lyfe Jennings, Da Brat, Musiq Soulchild and Anthony David and opened for artists such as R. Kelly, Fantasia, Tank and Dwele. Her latest singles available on itunes are "Easy", “Unnecessary Trouble” feat. Kandi Burruss, “Trade It All” and "Talkin' Bout Love" which is a duet with Lyfe Jennings off of his latest album "Tree Of Lyfe". Now, after spending time perfecting her craft and tapping fully into her musical voice, Demetria is set to release her first album - "Officially Yours" - to give her fans just a taste of what else she has to offer.

Demetria is also the brand ambassador for LOREAL’s Dark & Lovely Au Naturale brand.

In Demetria's spare time, she is very active in the community and often volunteers with young girls to talk with them about self-esteem. She also speaks to women who are facing problems with substance abuse as well as domestic violence abuse. She offers a story of hope and self-love and faith to all of them.