In an ideal world, Debbi James would have climbed easily to the top of her industry. Her father, Steve James, was a famous Harlem-based action movie star in the ’80s. He starred in popular movies like American Ninja and Delta Force. Debbi’s mother, Nava Halimi James, was an Israeli supermodel.
Debbi was born and spent part of her childhood in France. She relocated to Israel with her mother when she was 2. At 5, her dad died from pancreatic cancer. Her mother brought her up alone with the help of her grandparents. Then at 17, tragedy struck Debbi’s life again. Her mother committed suicide, leaving her an orphan trying to make sense of life.
When she turned 19, she decided to move to the US to pursue her music career. However, contrary to what she previously thought, her move proved she couldn’t communicate well in English. But she was determined, and that didn’t dim her ambitions. She got a job as a waitress and used it as a learning opportunity. When she managed to master the language and different slang, she decided it was time to get back to music.
The beginning was rough. The songs she wrote weren’t great, but giving up wasn’t an option. She also learned about her father’s legacy, which further contributed to boosting her morale. In fact, it changed her entire outlook on life and gave her a purpose. She decided to use the pain and bad memories in her heart to launch her own legacy.
Her resolve paid off, and soon, she was doing big things in the music industry. She has performed on the biggest stages around the globe alongside prominent people. For instance, she toured with world-renowned musician Enrique Iglesias and composer Rotem Cohen. In 2019, she opened 3 shows in 3 countries for J.Lo’s concert tour, It’s My Party.
Debbi’s meteoric rise is proof that dreams come true. It’s also one full of lessons for everybody with a dream. First, she recommends having a clear purpose and believing it’s possible. When she was a young girl dancing with her mother in the kitchen, it was just a dream. However, once she became intentional about it as a young adult, achieving it was just a matter of time.
Another lesson Debbi picked up is the importance of consistency. A routine motivates you and makes it easier to achieve set goals. Even though she always loved singing, she still had to practice a lot to become the best. She went to music school in Israel and sang in choirs. She took part in The X Factor and kept practicing different dance styles. Today, she is proficient in ballroom, belly, and salsa dancing.
Finally, Debbi believes only you can fail yourself. While she could have blamed everything on her grief and locked herself away forever, she made a different choice. Thanks to her mother, she possesses a lot of self-love and acceptance that has helped her greatly. She is intentional about creating a powerful and positive brand.
Due to the circumstances of her mother’s death, she wants to build a brand that empowers both men and women. On top of that, she wants to be a part of suicide prevention in the future. Ultimately, she wants to leave her mark and touch people from all over the world with her work. When people see her brand, she wants them to feel empowered and use it because they believe in it.
