about sabrina dionne cates
p r o n o u n s : s h e / h e r
sabrina cates is a remarkable force of resilience and creativity, a cultivator of her desired future who plants seeds of self-love, introspection, and healing along her inspiring journey. born and bred in the vibrant city of new orleans, sabrina faced profound challenges from a young age, losing her mother to scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease, at the tender age of 11.
an observant child, sabrina coped with her grief by turning to journaling, a practice that evolved into her first poem dedicated to her late mother. however, the rapid loss of everything she held dear drove her down a path of self-destruction, resulting in brushes with the law at the ages of 11 and 17.
life for sabrina was undeniably tough, marked by experiences of abuse, abandonment, homelessness, and brushes with death. at the age of 17, a profound realization struck her — that her mother had risked her life to bring her into this world, instilling in sabrina a responsibility to live a life that would make her mother proud. this turning point led her back to journaling and poetry, becoming a therapeutic outlet for processing her tumultuous experiences.
sabrina is engaged in the relentless and continuous work of meeting and healing her child and adult selves, aspiring to coexist as one healed entity. her journey towards happiness and freedom serves as an inspiration, encouraging others to embark on similar paths of self-discovery.
her quest for healing also called for exploration beyond borders. sabrina's travel experiences became exercises of the heart, courage, and tools for personal growth. living in diverse places such as new york city, Thailand, and others, and also choosing and finding home in thailand, she found that she could grow the most when challenged to discover new ways of living and learning about different cultures.
a multifaceted soul, sabrina is a poet, screenwriter, visual artist, fashion icon, world traveler, educator, event coordinator, and more. her diverse body of work includes the creation of “woman loving women," a space celebrating the essence of women loving other women and the mastermind behind “get off the paper," a project showcased in various film festivals, including the new orleans film festival.
sabrina's artistic and creative endeavors extend to acting, with appearances in shows like “the five bloods," “pose," “the walking dead," and “girl bye." her latest venture, shelly's vintage, pays homage to her mother's love for thrifting and encompasses a vintage shop, interior design, and curated healing experiences.
in addition to her artistic pursuits, sabrina is a reiki master with her own business called “unearthing”, and the creator of retro recess, an adult playgroup designed to help rediscover the joy and wonder of the inner child through play, believing that nurturing the child within is essential for overall well-being and happiness.
notably, sabrina wears the hat of a wardrobe stylist, recently contributing to styling projects like “little shop of horrors" and “the realness" for marietta’s new theatre in the square in marietta, ga.
adding to her impressive list of accomplishments, sabrina takes on the role of an executive producer for the film “girl bye" by paul allen abraham, infusing it with heartfelt dedication and incredible passion.
guided by the grace of god and her mother, sabrina remains connected to her life's purpose: serving and creating community. her daring personality and commanding yet calming presence inspires courage and bravery in others to explore their inner trauma physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
welcome to the world of sabrina cates, a force to be reckoned with and an inspiration for those seeking to bloom wherever they are planted.
this is her unearthing!