DominicanJonn is a full-time content creator out of Worcester, MA. He moved here in the 5th grade at the age of 10 to the west side and ended up continuing his education at Doherty Memorial High School and Worcester State University. A man who came from a family business his whole life on 664 Main St., called “Compare Foods.” A path he decided not to take after graduating with a marketing degree. DominicanJonn spent the two years of the pandemic creating content on TikTok, racking up over 850,000 followers on one platform until he decided to stop being insecure about what he posted and built the confidence to show his family and friends his true colors. TikTok has been a blessing, but now he has over 117,000 followers on Facebook, 28,000 subscribers on YouTube, 17,000 on Snapchat and the grind continues. DominicanJonn is a creator of many talents as he started to blow up with look-a-like videos, green screen and masking videos, celebrity news recaps, street interviews and now podcasting. He does the social media marketing for the new and improved “Gala Foods” on 664 Main St. He also, works with “Change the Play” to teach content creation to young adults in detention centers and alternative schools. At the age of 26, he spends his day working on content and plotting his next content creation journey. Being part of the Latinx community on TikTok and the shorts community on YouTube has brought him many blessings like being invited to events like vidcon, playlist live, dinners, workshops and more. DominicanJonn, with over 1 million followers on all platforms and no matter how famous he becomes, he will always look back and spend the time to build up other creators like himself to make sure we all eat from the same plate.
Please tell us about your current career and what you love most about what you do?
Being a full time content creator even though I make the minimum, brings me a lot of joy. I have the energy everyday to wake up at all times of the day, the freedom to travel and be with my family. Having the honor to be able to attend any event I choose to present myself at, brings me happiness. Social media in 2022 is a blessing, and I highly recommend it to everyone even if its just a side hustle. I get to express my every day feelings and thoughts, argue and drop controversial conversations, or even motivate the future generations and impact them in many different ways. My current career has allowed me to meet all your favorite creators, actors and musicians. The type of news celebrity content I make has allowed me to work with artists like “Lil Pump” as a representative of @Rap TV, one of the largest music blogs on the platform today. “Change.Org” has reached out multiple times to spread awareness on very harsh sentences to spread awareness and more.
What is your favorite restaurant in Worcester, and what is your favorite dish?
I would have to say Leo’s Pizza is hands down the number one location for me and my friends. If you get the half BBQ chicken, half buffalo chicken pizza you will not be disappointed. Even during times I am on a diet, a nice chicken Ceasar salad with fresh grilled chicken will do the job. Lots of other meals on the menu from mozzarella sticks to calzones are incomparable. Finishing your meal with the most delicious Mediterranean dessert “baklava.” Your life will be complete, and I don’t believe I can speak of any other locations this highly! Leo’s T-Bird Pizza on 366 Chandler St., Worcester MA will forever be my spot!
Who is the most interesting person you’ve ever met?
I would have to say one of the most followed Youtubers in the world @MrBeast. ONLY BECAUSE of being part of the Latinx community on TikTok as a smaller creator, I had the opportunity to go to the TikTok house party after vidcon where I finally felt like I was at home and appreciated. Mr. Beast walked right by me, denied me a photo and pounded my knuckles. That was the day I realized I will make it as an influencer, and I never doubted myself since.
If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
My top three bucket list locations are Hawaii, Dubai and Thailand. The past two years I made it a goal to attend Hawaii right before I started my full-time content creator lifestyle, and I spent some time in Dubai for my father’s birthday back in May. Thailand, I’m coming for you next, and my life will be complete!
What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
Can’t go wrong with Backstreet Boys. It always brings me back to the radio days where we would run home after school for that one song to play at the same time every single day. Still to this day, I will scream Backstreet Boys at the top of my lungs.
What is your best advice?
No one ever wants to see you win. We live in a generation where we can reach and impact the lives of millions on an application where none of your friends and family need to follow you on. You can be whoever you want to be and build this cult that will actually appreciate you as long as you show up for them every day. Stop trying to show off locally when there’s a whole world out there waiting for you to spread your wings.
What is one of the top three items on your Bucket List?
Meet my idol, Shaquille O’Neal, travel to Thailand, and reach financial freedom through social media, so I can create any kind of content about me and my life and never have to worry about working another job in my life.
What current/former local business makes you the most nostalgic about Worcester?
I would have to say “Skylite; I think roller blading at a young age and then ice skating later on in life is a great way to connect with friends and family on another level. Still at the age of 26, many people laugh and think I didn’t keep my skills from over 10-15 years ago. Trust me when I get on the roller blades or skates, I’m still flying through the crowd while most people in my generation sit and have a beer.
Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative with whom would you love to have lunch? Why?
Probably Shaquille O’Neal, if you hear the man’s story about how he used to walk into business meetings, they would all smile and take photos but when it came down to business they would turn around and look at his lawyers and business partners. This a man who went back to school to get educated, not only did they not provide him a classroom because there were no students, but he also paid for his friends to get an education as well. A man that heard a mother cry about the prices of Jordans and all these other sportswear and dropped millions in seconds to make affordable Shaq shoes provided in all Walmart’s today. This has nothing to do with basketball, his size or his grind. This is a genuine man with the power to make millions of dollars but choosing what’s right and claiming the respect he deserves while thinking about others during the journey.
Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
I see myself financially stable on social media with a blue check mark on a Caribbean Island with a beautiful family continuing to educate the world on new social media platforms, giving them relationship advice, family advice, and making sure people follow their dreams before settling down. All we have is time in this world, and I am proud to have chosen the right path to make that happen in the next few years.
What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you, even your friends or family.
In high school at the age of 18, I rented out 4 school buses with my own money to bring 200 students at Doherty Memorial High School to the Super Bowl game at Gillette Stadium. No one ever knew, not the city, not our parents, and not even the school bus company. The company believed the high school was behind it but in reality, administration refused to help me and took down my flyers I posted to promote the transportation and didn’t allow any of the coaches to put their names down either. I had seniors volunteer to chaperone each school bus, and I never got the recognition or cared to receive the recognition at the time. I just knew my brothers were taking it home, and I wanted the city to see it. We were state champs in 2013! So, I have been the independent marketing genius that I am today.
What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Family, brotherhood and my safe haven.
If a motion picture was made of your life, what actor/actress would you choose to play you?
I would say Denzel Washington, but he got a little age to himself, but Mr. Damson Idris gives me the same energy. He has a wonderful Hulu series called “Snowfall.” I believe he could be the best actor in his generation. As a Hispanic man, I don’t have any favorite actors that look like me, but this, Mr. Idris, is definitely on the top of the list.
What is your favorite thing or something unique about Worcester?
Seeing my friends follow their dreams and starting their own business in the heart of Worcester. The Woo public market and the development this city is going through today as they push to promote local businesses like Doughnut Homies, Kazakiyahs Hair Studio, Ksenseco and even Ziggy Bombs Subs in downtown. It’s such a beautiful sight to see, and I can tell the young entrepreneurs growing up today are going to feel appreciated. That’s what I live for, and that’s what I support 100%.
What is your favorite smell?
The smell of Cinnabon’s It’s the first thing to pop up in my head when it comes to favorite smells and/or foods. The smell of the freshly baked bun powdered in pounds of cinnamon that you can smell from the moment you enter a mall. It’s a guarantee; I’m stopping their 99% of the time.
Who inspires you to be better?
My cousin’s daughter holds a soft spot in my heart. She really is my number one fan, calls me once a week and shows off to her friends that I’m famous. She really gives me the full experience of the love I receive on TikTok from all these younger people with the videos she picks and chooses to speak about, the love she spreads and the energy she gives me. No one will ever compare to what a phone call from her does for me to keep me sane in this world. She reminds me that I’m human when she gives me her big hugs and that people are really watching me every day. As a role model, I must do better.
