All Hail The Queen: Meet Sonja Elise Freeman

Allow us to introduce you to Sonja Elise Freeman, aka Queen Diva, Sole Proprietor of Divine Voices Media.

S+S Magazine: Queen Diva, tell us a little bit about you and your business.

Queen Diva: My name is Sonja Elise Freeman aka Queen Diva and I am a musician, entrepreneur, scholar, and author. I am the Sole Proprietor of Divine Voices Media for 18 years, multimedia production and small business consulting firm, based in Houston, Texas where I produce my brand Diva’s Diamonds by Queen Diva, an online empowerment movement, an acclaimed Off-Broadway Production “Strength of a Woman: A Phyllis Hyman Tribute” and coming soon “Love, Pain & Activism: A Nina Simone Tribute” as a fundraiser for The Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society where she is also VP/COO and Artist-in-Residence.

I joined the Executive Team of The Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society, founded by Mr. Perry Thompson, in February 2021 where our mission is to preserve Black music one record at a time. We presently produce weekly CEO Corner and RBPS Music Spotlight as an Instagram Live broadcast. We also produce two monthly Instagram Live broadcasts called Conversations in Music, recently with David Nathan, The British Ambassador of Soul, RBPS Soul Saturdays, our upcoming guest is the Legendary Ladies of Skyy on March 5, 2022. We are also on a mission to spearhead African American Music Studies into both HBCUs and PWI for academic study as well as into K-12 classrooms in the future.

I am a recent graduate of Prairie View A&M University College of Business Executive Master’s in Business Magna Cum Laude with a 3.75 GPA in December 2021 in Houston, Texas. She also received a Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa) from the Omega Bible Institute and Seminary in Monroe, Louisiana in May 2021.

S+S Magazine: What was your key driving force to become an entrepreneur?

Queen Diva: My key driving force to become an entrepreneur is my daughter Gabrielle NaShanti. I truly want to leave a legacy for her for many years to come. She is my only child and I want to be an outstanding example for her to strive toward building her own legacy too.

S+S Magazine: Let’s talk about your work. Where did the concept of your business come from? What does your work aim to say or present to your audience?

Queen Diva:

I moved to Houston, Texas in 2004 and I was thinking that I needed a change in my life. I always wanted to become an entrepreneur and I prayed for a new idea. I am a singer, songwriter, media professional, and writer. Upon reflection, I was divinely given the idea of “Divine Voices” as a parent company and for my audio, video, digital and live performance productions I started Divine Voices Media.

I also wanted to share with the world words to inspire, empower and encourage daily via Diva’s Diamonds by Queen Diva was created in July 2011. I started with a blog, then a podcast, IG Live, and now with a monthly newsletter to my followers I affectionately called “PINK (Possibilities I Now Know)Diamonds” because they are priceless like Pink Diamonds. I absolutely love sharing and connecting with my follower’s positivity because now more than ever during these challenging times we all could use a little more love and light our way.

S+S Magazine: Sometimes success is slow or doesn’t come so easily. Did you experience or have to overcome any challenges or barriers?

Queen Diva: Absolutely! During the last two years, I had to learn to pivot my business from live performances to small business consulting and digital media specifically social media. I miss performing my Phyllis Hyman tribute On and Off-Broadway in New York City. The money was really good compared to other cities. Thankfully, I decided to attend graduate school during the pandemic. I put all of my attention into my studies in Business Administration. It helped me tremendously in thinking differently as an entrepreneur and as an executive. Now I am seeking to get contract work with companies to share my wisdom and knowledge about producing live performances, podcasting, writing eBooks, and starting a business. Now that the world is slowly opening up I am looking forward to producing more live productions again. I am very committed to preserving Black music culture by presenting African American women in music tributes starting with Phyllis Hyman and Dr. Nina Simone with The Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society.

S+S Magazine: At Soigne’+Swank Magazine, we make it our business to highlight and promote positive, uplifting, and meaningful examples of black excellence. What does black excellence mean to you?

Queen Diva: Black Excellence means to me superior contributions to the world from African Americans who are gifted and talented at what they do. They share their excellence unapologetically with confidence and realness that makes people look in admiration and respect with a smile.

S+S Magazine: What advice would you give your younger self or an aspiring business owner with hopes of pursuing their passions?

Queen Diva: I would absolutely tell my younger self to look for business grants at the very beginning of forming your company, align yourself with a network of fellow entrepreneurs who can help you in various industries, and get your LLC and business bank account right away, learn the basics of starting a business by taking a certification program at an adult continuing education school or college and do not get discouraged when opportunities do not come fast just prepare for the overflow of clients or customers when they do come!

S+S Magazine: What’s next for you and how/where can others connect with you?

Queen Diva: I am producing for The Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society a Phyllis Hyman tribute album and documentary, a Nina Simone tribute, and writing the curriculum and proposal to get African America Music Studies in colleges in New Jersey and community activity center programs nationwide. You can connect with me at www.divinevoicesmedia.com.