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by Ruby Veridiano | September 25, 2011

Meet DJ Zita, one of the most recognizable female DJs I know. And how could she not be? With a fierce sense of style and an aloha smile, she’s got the radiance to make the sun shy. DJ Zita is responsible for setting up the coalition of talented female DJs throughout the Bay Area, bringing attention to the women who hold us down on the 1s and 2s.

?uestlove once said that a DJ can make or break your night. They can ruin your game or send you home making love. DJs hold a lot of power on the dance floor, and when they’re up there, we all surrender to the spell of their command. Luckily for many of us, DJ Zita inspires big, big love. Read on to find out how she gets her rhythm.

Full Name: DJ Zita

City: Oakland, CA

Ethnicity: Filipina-American

Occupation: Teacher, DJ, Event Promoter, Mama, Wife, Dancer, and currently a full-time grad student

Website: djzita.com

How do you define “glamour”? 
Glamour is a self-love that comes from within and shines outward for others to see. It’s the timeless beauty found in being a self-confident, fierce, independent pioneer. When you set your fear aside and pursue your ambition, that’s glamorous.

What is your “WHY”? (Why do you do what you do?) 
My passion for music extends from a desire to collect, arrange, compose, mix, and share it as a DJ, as well as from a love of embodying it as a  dancer. I started promoting nightlife events–Sisters in Sound, B.A.S.S. (Bay Area Sistah Sound), and Queendom–to fill the gap of women-focused events in hip hop by booking all-female DJs, MCs, dancers, and visual artists. Ever since I taught my little sister how to read, I knew I wanted to become a teacher. She was 3 years old and I was 8 when we used to play “school.”

Your Message to Young Women: 
My messages to young women are the same messages I want to give my own daughter. Family comes first, nurture your creativity, travel the world, and embrace humanitarianism.

Thank you Zita! Visit her on djzita.com