You think you know me you have no idea!

Bio

Monica Danger Leon’s bio
As a model and actress, this San Francisco native has used her Mexican and African American heritage to grace magazine editorials, runways, as well as film and television screens for the past twelve years.  As the bay area’s best kept secret, Monica Laura Leon started modeling at the age of ten in San Francisco posing in campaigns for Neutrogena, Disney, Mattel, Visa, Seventeen Magazine, YM Magazine, Macy’s, Mervyns, Levi Strauss, and has starred in national commercials all before the age of fifteen.  On hiatus from modeling and acting, she studied ballet with a professional dance company, and enrolled in San Jose State University as a Biology & Child Development student, while teaching pre-school.  During her short stint in college she maintained a 3.5 GPA, and founded an online campus newspaper, OurVoice: Making a Stand to Survive, which granted her a nomination for a Stella Award for outstanding contribution to Women’s Issues at the University.  With a passion for mural painting, she made the decision to drop out of college and pursue art school.  Unable to attain financial aide, she decided to continue her modeling career and founded Femme Fatale Entertainment, LLC.

Monica Leon changed her name affectionately to “Butterfly” and founded Femme Fatale Entertainment, LLC, in Oakland, CA, which evolved into a special event company, specializing in underground concerts for unsigned artists, theater productions, youth talent shows, street dance battles, and poetry open mic nights.  After studying acting at the American Conservatory Theater of San Francisco, the Black Repertory Theater of Berkley, and Brava Theater of San Francisco, she decided to relocate to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career.

During this time Monica Danger Leon experiences the injustice, and pain the world has to offer.  These few years make a large impact on her overall strength and perseverance as an artist.

Monica Laura Leon is now known as “Danger” opposite the infamous R&B singer Ray J Norwood’s new reality television show “For the Love of Ray J” debuting on VH1 February 2009.

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Speaking to children who have been robbed of their innocence

 Hello everyone,

I haven’t posted in a few days, but today I felt compelled to write on what I did today.  I went to a middle school in the bay area to speak to two groups of 6, 7, & 8th grade students.  First I spoke to the boys, and it was difficult to connect with them on a deeper level but I tried to get my point across past my depiction on the Ray J show.  They are the children who are disconnected from what childhood “should” be.  Victims of the harsh educational system that has been drained of all art and music programs, devoid of a creative outlet, that plagues many of our youth in certain “urban” areas.   I spoke to them about the importance of goals, and told them that every choice they make now shapes and impacts their entire life.  Many of them heard me.

Before I was able to speak to the girls, while the passing period commenced, a girl was brutally beaten outside of the classroom.  Before the supervisors were able to break up the fight, this young girl waiting to come into the classroom to hear me speak was attacked by another student, her face was bloodied and battered.  The violence in the public schools is at a critical level.  Many schools are closing due to the lack of funding that is allocated to these schools.  Socially these children are far more advanced, having adult experiences, yet mentally they are still children.  I spoke to the women about believing in themselves, harboring self confidence, and the importance of safe sexual practices.  Unfortunately only one person can do only so much.  But, with my small popularity I was able to get my message across, and I felt that it was received today.  I am writing this to urge others to take notice in the importance of changing the educational institutions across the country for our emerging youth.  Thanks,

Monica

 

Opportunity and action

I started this blog with the purpose to make my voice heard and make a small change in the mass perception on Monica Danger Leon.  I have been living in the bay area since the birth of my daughter to get away from the madness of Hollywood, and gain some peace while I plan my next adventure.  I have been resting as much that is possible with a newborn baby and throwing myself on my ideas and artwork.  I am excited to be going to Redding, PA to host a party on Nov. 25th, http://www.twitpic.com/ncxh4 Then its Thanksgiving with family, Nov. 27th my birthday I’m 23, Nov. 28th my very first art show in San Diego, http://www.twitpic.com/oeyvl “Danger in Wonderland” premieres my National Dangerous Art Tour 2009-2010, Nov. 29th I am doing a huge casting call for runway models male & female on Melrose at BYN customs for my clothing line launch http://www.twitpic.com/ol0vo for the “From the Streets to the Runway Fashion Show” http://www.twitpic.com/o9ifa coming up on Dec. 19 some of the proceeds are benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of LA.  Later that night on Nov. 29 it’s my Official birthday party in Hollywood at Empire Ray J Show Season 1 (Stilts, Cashmere, Naturalle) vs. Season 2 (Exoica, Luscious, Gifts) girls! I also have a few surprises coming up!!! That you have to stay tuned to find out.

I am very excited for this week and more of my artwork and footage from these events will be available on monicadanger.net

I am seizing each opportunity that comes in front of me and taking action.  I feel that so much will pass you by, and if you don’t grab onto it and run with each chance to improve your life, you will miss it!  I hope all of you will join me at these events! I have been reading all of your comments and they are insightful!

 Love u!!!!!!

~M

Staring at the Stars

I used to be more of a poet.

In the darkness I look up in the sky across an empty field in the country and star at the stars.  I feel small.  One person is tiny in the vastness of the universe.  It makes you think…why are we here, what is the purpose of being alive?  To experience, to die, to love, to feel?  How is one person significant and others insignificant? I look at my daughter and just stare at her.  Who are you going to be?  How can I teach you to be a good person?  How can I teach you to have thick skin, and keep your feet firmly planted in the ground yet still be full of fantasy and dream?  My little brother plays his electric guitar in the background…as I write.  It’s a blessing taking a break and spending time with my family.  They don’t know me as Danger…only Monica.  This connection with Ray J is really almost over…the past will be in the past and by January…it will be done.  I contemplate my next move like a chess move.  I have to think very carefully over what I will do next.  My birthday is coming up on the 27th of this month; I will be 23 years old.  My first art exhibition is on November 28th in San Diego.  I have exhibited my photography before, but never my art.  I am excited.  My days are filled with comforting, feeding, and changing my newborn and as she rests I paint.

I paint the world I see when my eyes are closed.  I paint skies and depths filled with color, fantasy, and figures with pain and strength in their eyes.  I paint truth and deception.

What would you paint?

 

Words and Reality

Man I have been quiet for soooo long and not writing from my heart, so now that I have begun to write..the words are just pouring out of me.  I have sooooo much to say.  I am very excited for my cameo on the Ray j’s “looking for love” second season.  I made an appearance in my eighth month of pregnancy!  I had such a hard time being pregnant.  I was so fat and I couldn’t sleep at all.  It was uncomfortable and heavy to walk around, and everywhere I went someone would recognize me, and I wasn’t feeling pretty at all.  I was in deep hiding, and barely left the house.  At the show’s heightened popularity I tried to keep my pregnancy a secret for as long as possible.  My belly grew, the show’s popularity grew, and there was no hiding the media attention of the initial rumor coming out.  I was nervous because here I am wanting to be an actress and be taken seriously, on a reality show looking for love with a celebrity.  It is a double edged sword.  I went from being unknown to being widely known for all the wrong reasons… My dream to be an actress and the reality being now I will be known as a reality “star”. 

Now, after giving birth which was a two day ordeal and major surgery (c-section) I am left with….so now what am I going to do with my life?  Child birth is very close to death.  Many people have their own images and thoughts when it comes to me and these for “love” shows seem very fake to me.  I think whoever saw Season 1 would know that my feelings and emotions were real even though the editing made me look crazy.  I guess I am a little crazy though. 🙂 Season 2 should be very interesting and I wonder where this will leave us? The reality of my situation is I am left to seek out my next television project.  I want to keep the momentum going.  I have a great idea that has come to me from some very close friends and I do not want to disappoint the people reading this blog, looking for what I am going to do next.  I will keep you updated with what I am doing now. 

A friend of my mother’s, she is an eighth grade teacher here in the bay area, asked her to see if I would come and speak to a group that she works with.  This group is for women who need to gain the courage to survive, women with AIDS, women who are battling drug addiction, and women who have endured the hardships of life.  I asked my mother, why would she want me to speak?? What could I possibly say to them to inspire them or instill hope?? I am just a bay area girl on a silly reality show.  I was encouraged that I am strong and would instill strength and endurance through times of hardship.  So I am trying to wrap my mind around the words I will say to these women.  I hope I can help them.  Someone left a comment on my earlier blog asking me why I chose to do a reality show in the first place, wanting to be a business woman or a serious actress, why didn’t I use another avenue to do so.  My response to that is: There are not any opportunities out there to get mainstream exposure for many women of color out there.  I just so happened to really fall in love and get my heart ripped out in the process for your entertainment.  🙂 It just kind of worked out that way.  If I didn’t do that show you probably would not be reading this right now, so I guess I did something right! 🙂 Good night my loves….more will come tomorrow!

 

Lovers and Lies

I was afraid to write for so long.  Worldwide judgment is hard to deal with no matter how confident you think you are.  I was always the girl that did her own thing, a little bit of a loner; even though I knew everyone and they knew me I wouldn’t be close with just anyone.  It’s hard to let people in your life when people generally disappoint you. 

I am in the process of working on a memoir.  Even though I am only 22 years old I feel that I have lived ten lives.  I have so much to say, but these words are hard to write.  Re-living painful situations bring you back to that place of torment and depression.  I am very happy right now and I am loving life, so writing about my past experiences is extremely difficult.  One thing that I did notice is that every time I fall in love…my life falls apart.  In part I think it’s who I choose to fall in love with, but it never fails.  I love hard.  I give myself completely and focus all my energy on making that person happy.  So now in noticing that weakness of mine, I have come to the conclusion that I need to not fall in love until I am ready. I also have to be extremely careful, especially now, on whom I decide to give my heart to. 

Blog question: How do you fall in love with out pain? Is it possible?

 

Reflection

I am at a point in my life where I stand at a crossroads.

I was born and grew up wanting to be a star, wanting to be famous, wanting to be a heroin, wanting to fight for a cause and win.  I made mistakes, broken the law, acted out, stood out, and now have a beautiful child that is looking to me to build a life for her to grow up in.  This brings fear and excitement to my heart.  I can not sleep and am hoping to take this time to provide a plan to grow up myself.  I am Danger from For the Love of Ray J.  I am Monica Laura Leon daughter, sister, and now mother.  Wild and crazy, sexual and uninhibited, tattooed, and fearless.  As a mother I cannot be any of these things I have grown accustomed to.  My self identity has become sooooo many different things, and in the media I have been portrayed as a negative, insane, lewd girl. 

At this crossroads, many decisions have to be made.  I am a single mother of color in America.  I have to provide a household for my child and a stable environment for her to flourish and grow and this has become my top priority.  I knew when I became pregnant that I would have to change.  Prior to filming the Ray J show I was a woman who modified her morals, standards and upbringing to cope with what I was doing in my own destructive selfishness.  After filming the television show, I was brutally honest about the life I chose to live and my family and friends have suffered over the choices that I have made and the public ridicule it has caused.  Slogans like “Danger Smashed the Homies” and nude photos scour the internet upon an easy search of my name.  Transitioning from who I was to who I am to who I want to become is a difficult necessity for my self preservation and my newborn daughter.   

As a single mother, I reflect on what kind of mother I want to be and who I am as a person.  I am an artist.  First and always.  I see everything as self expression, and art.  During my times of great hardship, I have created paintings, and written in a diary to see myself through these dark hours.  I want to help women and children of great poverty and disillusionment, people who are lost in this world and need help remembering who they are, like I once forgot.  Vulnerable minds, who forget to listen to their own voices, or those who need encouragement to, instead of falling victim to the vampires or pimps of the world that seek out personal gain and destroy what used to be innocent’s lives.  These prevalent forces make others coward under their feet with false promises and cruel intentions.  I want to spread art and beauty of the world to the world.  I want to give hope to the hopeless.  I want to use my business mind and entrepreneurship to become financially independent and successful in order to give my daughter the best possible life.  I will take action to do these things, not for me, for her.  She has saved my life, so I can provide the best possible life for her.  Blessings be upon you.

I will write more later.

Love,

Monica