Meet Deja Fabro And Dakota Fabro

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deja Fabro And Dakota Fabro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deja Fabro and Dakota Fabro, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Deja: I used to be a child actor and model and I’ve always wanted to be in the spotlight. Outside of acting, my other creative outlet is writing (journaling, poetry, short stories). I’ve always wanted to pursue both outlets professionally, and I get to do that with stand up comedy. But what really pushed me to pursue stand up comedy? I’ve always wanted to do stand up, but wasn’t sure if I had enough insight. In May 2023, I had reproductive health issues and major surgery that resulted in me not having children. I journaled through my healing process and started to write jokes about my situation because I was tired of crying about it. Then in January 2024, my sibling, Dakota, pushed me to take a stand up comedy class. I did my first show in March 2024 and I never stopped since!!!

Dakota: I do a lot of different things. Lived many lives! Although I mainly work as a software engineer, I approach engineering as a creative and as an artist. I paint. I write. I create. Pursuing creativity in my career and really everything I do is my way of expressing myself as fully and as authentically as I can. Empowering others to do the same is a very rewarding part of the process, too.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Deja: My style of stand up comedy is storytelling and being vulnerable in my storytelling is an important factor behind my success. I’m not about the quick punchlines and cheap laughs. I capture my audience by allowing them to feel all the emotions behind my stories, so when that punchline comes, I’m getting a ROAR of belly aching laughter. I’m inspired by LIFE! Especially the hard times. My hardest moments have taught me resiliency and to laugh through it all. Everyone can relate to the hard times and I love doing stand up because I’m able to bring the funny out of the hard times. Along with life, it’s the moments when I share laughter with my inner circle. They inspire me to share that same joy with others. Doing stand up has taught me to get up, keep going, and be myself. The first time I bombed on stage, I wanted to quit stand up comedy, but it helped me find and use my real voice. Once that happened, I was no longer doing stand up as a performance, but as a platform to inspire others.

Dakota: An important factor of my software engineering career is being my most authentic self always and in every space I might find myself in. Authenticity has a way of attracting others who are also pursuing authentic self-expression. There is no work I would do that would make me compromise who I know myself to be. I see my creativity as a way to express myself and so I am very selective about where I invest my energy. I’m inspired by people who are building their dreams are who I have the most in common with. My sister and I have a saying: “We don’t got dreams, we got plans. It’s not ‘if’, it’s ‘when’. Although sometimes my work can feel siloed at times, it is always so refreshing to come together with other people who are building the life and vision they have for themselves. There’s something about the fact that everything we have ever interacted with—whether it be a piece of technology, a comedy set, a movie, an art series, etc.—all started as an idea. Understanding I can make anything and everything real if I can find the right people to build with is what keeps me going everyday. My career has taught me two things: First, work as we know it is a means to an end. Money is necessary, but at the end of the day it is a tool for me to express myself, care for myself, and care for my community. It says nothing about my worth as a person or who I am. Care can mean helping others in need. It can mean empowering people to wake up to their dreams and make them real. It can mean being a safe space for people to come up with ideas and action plans for their creative pursuits. I pour myself into creative work that excites me and gives me the time and freedom to care for and nurture myself and the people I love. Second, I have a saying that goes “People do things and I’m people”—which is my way of reminding myself that the thing I may be learning at the moment—although difficult—isn’t impossible because people do it all the time—and so can I.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For tacos, Ave 26 Tacos in DTLA. For cookies, LeVain Bakery in Larchmont Village. For views, Griffith Park Observatory in Hollywood. For Filipino food, you got to try the sisig from Nova’s Grill in Covina (it’s worth the drive out of the city!). For entertainment, one of Deja’s stand up comedy shows, DUH!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We want to dedicate our Shoutout to our partners (Andrew and Jess), to our supportive Fabro family (mama, papa, our sibz, and Texas fam), and to our encouraging friends. You all have seen our dreams turn into realities and have pushed us along the way. Most importantly, we want to dedicate this Shoutout to our parents: Mom and Dad, you both instilled in us to go after what we want with confidence and respect, to always be ourselves, and to always be ready for the camera. Thank you all for your continued support, we love you all!!

Website: https://github.com/dakotafabro

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deja.giggles/?igsh=MTB5aGZlZWJpbTR0Yg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#