From gracing the airwaves at KNTU to being the DJ on the 2025 Ulta World Beauty stage, Clarissa Cross ('15) has been a music enthusiast her entire life and shaped it into a career after leaving behind her promising profession in the corporate sales arena.

Cross graduated with an integrative studies degree focusing on communications, marketing and journalism. She quickly entered the corporate world, finding immense success selling franchises in the insurance industry  -- multiple promotions, frequent travel and good money -- but found little work/life balance.

"I checked all the boxes, but I wasn't happy," Cross says. "You need to live your life for you."

As a mother, Cross sought a profession better suited to her interests with more free time. After brainstorming, she developed the idea of DJ Dawn while climbing the corporate ladder.

"Dawn is actually my middle name," Cross says. "It's something like an alter-ego."

With time, talent and enough ambition, Cross made a name for herself in the Texas music scene, making noise at lounges, clubs, weddings and private and corporate events in Dallas -- leading her to land major collaborations with companies like AT&T, the PGA, McLaren and Nike.

"I get to do what I love every single day," Cross says. "It feels so good to say."

Going from one male-dominated field to another, Cross noticed a lack of community for female DJs, so she dedicated the last few years to organizing She Spins -- a safe space where women in music can support each other by sharing skills, stories, songs, opportunities and more.

Who is DJ Dawn?

The beginning of her days as DJ Dawn were slow, with Cross taking the time to build her business and perfect the practice. She came up with her tagline ("Always rise to the occasion") and graduated from an extensive program at the Keep Spinning DJ Academy.

"You need to learn the history of DJ'ing and why you're doing what you're doing," Cross says. "We broke down the various types of technical equipment before we even touched a turntable."

Hailing from Houston, Cross grew up in a music-loving family and is inspired by her parents' favorite R&B and neo-soul artists like Anita Baker, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and legends like Michael Jackson. She also enjoys rap music, an appreciation sparked by her siblings.

"I'm listening to a mixture of everything," Cross says. "I feel like I was a DJ growing up. I used to Shazam songs, download them online, then burn them onto CDs and put them together."

While attending UNT, Cross became as involved as much as possible and joined the National Association of Black Journalists, the Public Relations Student Society of America and served as an intern at campus radio station, KNTU, during her freshman year.

She may have not realized it at the time, but this planted a seed which took years to finally sprout. Once it did, there was no looking back and Cross has been a full-time DJ for nearly a decade.

While being a DJ is a fun, uncommon occupation, it's not as easy as it looks. Cross has worked hard to overcome performance anxiety and feelings of imposter syndrome.

"We're not just pushing buttons. Someone once said DJing is like playing Tetris, stacking different elements for hours," Cross says. "The admin work, the set preparation, the load in and out, plus interacting with different people all while remaining cool under pressure."

"We have to be perfect. There's only one chance to get it right," Cross adds. "I enter performance mode, and you have to essentially trick your brain to psych yourself out to get into a flow state."

She Spins

Nowadays, Cross can be more selective with her clients and gigs -- opting for opportunities with diverse, new audiences where she can switch things up and get creative with her sets.

"I try not to get stale," Cross says. "I'm always on the hunt for new music."

As an experienced disc jockey, Cross started She Spins to spread her knowledge and motivate women to not be afraid of being a DJ after seeing and dealing with gender bias.

"More women are getting into this industry, which has no human resources department or protections outside of advocating for yourself," Cross says. "It can be pretty scary."

The group started small but has grown to over 200 members from all over the world who attend monthly meetings, events, workshops and competitions. Cross is currently coordinating a large conference featuring a special surprise musical guest.

"I can't say who it is yet, but they're huge," Cross says. "We're just waiting to lock in a date."

Cross hopes this inaugural convention will be the first of many, setting her legacy in stone and impacting women in music for generations to come.

"I feel like we live in a time where music is needed more now than ever," Cross says. "It has been a beautiful journey so far."