Bio
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs
Nina D is a radio personality and occasional TV correspondent.
Nina D was born in Los Angeles, California to Dan and Lena who both came to the United States from the Philippines in the 70s. She grew up in Southern California and attended Duarte High School.
Nina says she owes her radio start to Big Boy at KPWR Power 106 in Los Angeles. “People often ask me how I got into radio and I tell them ‘it’s was on accident’”, she laughs. “I was trying to win a game system on air and I was the wrong caller and the guy on the phone was so mean to me! I was so mad I called back and yelled at who answered the phone and it was Big Boy! I was so embarrassed for yelling and acting like a donkey. He invited me to the station the next day and it was a wrap after that. I fell in love with everything radio. Big Boy became a mentor. I’ve known him for more than 10 years. I remember calling him and asking him about contracts and how this worked and who I call for that. He was always encouraging me to be better and never steered me wrong.”
In 2001 Nina moved to Atlanta to attend Georgia State University. Georgia State University is home to WRAS-FM 88.5 which is the largest college radio station in the country. Naturally, Nina gravitated toward the radio program in the evenings while she studied literature and creative writing by day.
“To be honest, my memories of Atlanta are mixed. I was always on the go. I didn’t sleep much that’s for sure! I went to my early morning classes then I’d drive to my full time Marketing job, waited tables at a sports bar in the evenings, did my homework on a countertop next to the cooks in the kitchen, then took the train to the radio station and did my on air shift overnights. I would study and read in between radio breaks. It was a lot of work, insane really, but I wanted to push myself and really fulfill my dreams. You have to work hard if you really want something. My parents taught me that” she says.
Nina went on to co-host the nationally recognized and award-winning “Rhythm and Vibes” show at WRAS alongside Marcel Daniels and Reese Hamilton.
“Man it was tough being the only female on the show, but I held my own and my co-hosts were like brothers. They kept me on my toes,” she says.
While at Georgia State University Nina worked for an online magazine for extra money and experience. There she thrived and was invited to do celebrity interviews in Los Angeles where she covered movies and interviewed cast members. Her first interviews were with Natasha Henstridge, Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, Cameron Diaz, Jason Statham, John Madden and Pam Grier.
“I remember I was so nervous and my first celebrity interview was with the beautiful Natasha Henstridge. So we start the interview and at that point I’m clearly a hot mess and she reaches over and grabs my arm and says ‘I think you should know that you look fabulous in that top’ I mean who does that?! It totally made me relax and just chill out.”
In December of 2005 Nina graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in English and a minor in Journalism. By May 2006 Nina relocated to Austin, Texas to do overnights at Emmis Communications’ hip hop station KDHT HOT 93.3. Nina’s stint in Austin lasted about 9 months. She went from overnights to middays and caught the attention of programmers outside of the Austin area.
Trumper Communications signed Nina D for middays on MOVIN 97.5 in Phoenix in 2007 (The station changed names in 2010).
Until March of 2012, Nina D worked as an on-air personality (and social media manager) at HOT 97.5 in Phoenix. Her last on air slot was from 2pm to 7pm on the Robert and Nina afternoon show. She has appeared on several TV networks and shows including FOX Sports, Kababayan LA, Sonoran Living, 3TV, ABC15 and more.
She currently resides in Los Angeles with her two dogs Bella and Vader.
Nina D’s passion besides entertainment is philanthropy. She was named “The Voice of Walk For Babies” by the March of Dimes Foundation in 2011. Her favorite charities include: City of Hope’s Walk for Hope, March of Dimes Walk for babies, The Cortney Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Free Arts AZ, Make-A-Wish and Suns Charities.
CLICK HERE FOR RESUME: http://ninadonline.com/radio-resume/
