Originally from Newark, N.J., Veronica Daughety has called Charlotte home for nearly three decades. A proud Howard University graduate who has become a fixture in the area’s fitness community, she inspires, motivates and challenges many to live their best life with a whole centered approach that supports and uplifts the mind, body and soul. During this interview, Qnotes had a chance to learn more about the person behind the social media post that makes you sweat just watching – taking viewers on a journey of weight loss and spiritual growth.
L’Monique King: What brought you to Charlotte?
Veronica “Ronnie” Daugherty: When I graduated from college, I got a job in marketing and sales working for the Yellow Pages. That job transferred me to Charlotte and I’ve been here ever since, closer to my parents who are now 88 [mom] and 90 [dad]. I’m still in marketing. I work for Windstream, the internet company now.
LMK: What do you love about the Queen City?
VD: Ahhh, nature, the greenery, it’s just so beautiful. And the vibe. It’s not too fast and not too slow and it’s closer to my parents. I lived in St. Petersburg, Fla. for quite a while. It was nice but it was also 1600 miles away from my parents. As they aged, 1600 miles was just too far away to be able to visit and check in on them; especially since it’s now just me. My older brother [Anthony Daughety, Jr.] passed away in 1997.
LMK: How do you identify?
VD: I’m definitely lesbian. I used to use she/her pronouns and then about three years ago I switched to they/them. I realized that because of my fluidity, in how I show up in the world, it made more sense. Even when I wear makeup, I have people calling me sir – so it made sense, it’s comfortable for me.
LMK: Are you happily partnered or enthusiastically looking?
VD: I’m not partnered. I’m single but I’m not available. I have a beautiful friend though. We’re taking it slow, we just flow. It’s easy, feels natural, healing and peaceful. So, I’m excited to see where we’ll end up.
LMK: Describe your ideal mate?
VD: She’s healthy, she’s intelligent and not Christian. She’s spiritual. I had a talk with God one day and I said, Lord, please don’t send me another Christian woman. Those are the ones who have hurt me the most. I’ve had enough of that and what comes with it. I’m almost 60 years old and I don’t have time for lies and games!
LMK: If you could go back in time, knowing what you know now, what would you say to your first love today?
VD: Thank you. My first love was a cocaine addict, but I didn’t realize that at the time. I didn’t know much about drugs and addiction back then. She later died of a drug overdose, but she taught me a lot about how to love me – absolutely, though she was 10 years older than me and didn’t model that. Ironically, I met her on a job where she was my trainer. I guess that makes sense when you think about how much I learned from her.
LMK: Many people know you as a clergy person, how’d that begin for you?
VD: I’ve always been led to service and spreading the good news – pastoring was a natural transition for me.
LMK: What’s your favorite Bible verse and why?
VD: John 3:16 because I’m a whosoever, black, lesbian, pastor. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” People think God has this heavy hammer when the truth is God loves every being, every creature, every person.
LMK: What’s your Shackless Ministry about and what inspired the name?
VD: In 2008 I was attending Unity Fellowship Church Charlotte. Back then, Shackless was intended to be a prison ministry; but it just didn’t happen – didn’t get off the ground at that time. Then, 10 years later in 2018 Bishop T. Rawls (Founding Pastor of Sacred Souls United Church of Christ) asked me to head a project where I would build a ministry that would engage incarcerated people on work release. It was something else! They came to church in a prison van, came in with cuffs and shackles. Today, Shackless has transformed to embrace all people in health and wellness. So, I’m literally merging fitness with spirituality.
LMK: What was most difficult about your weight loss journey?
VD: Getting started and staying consistent.
LMK: Looking at your social media accounts, it appears fitness dominates your life. How do you find harmony, balance and time to nourish other parts of you?
VD: Well, I have a wonderful friend that has come into my life and she helps me find balance. She makes me stop, find rest, listen to tranquil sounds and sit the fuck still. <Laughter> I needed help to slow down and put things in proper perspective. I didn’t even realize I needed that until I found it.
LMK: How do you inspire others who may be challenged with obesity, aging, ailments or all three?
VD: I basically let my walk be my witness. I take time to encourage them and let them know, if I can do it – they can do it. I show before and after pictures of me at 365 pounds [at the beginning of my weight loss journey] and today at 149 pounds, consistently working on staying fit and healthy.
LMK: Having incorporated so many diverse health and fitness activities into your life (aerobics, weight training, yoga, running) what’s next in your workout routine?
VD: Ziplining. And I want to run a marathon. Right now I’m doing 5ks and 10ks but I’m working my way up to marathons. I’m planning on doing two half marathons and should be able to run a marathon by December this year. It will be my birthday gift to myself.
LMK: What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever done?
VD: I killed my bunny rabbit. When I was a little girl, living in New Jersey my parents bought me a bunny I named Snowball. Well, one winter during a blizzard – I thought it would be a cool idea to watch him play in the snow. I wondered if I’d be able to find him in all that snow. So, I took him outside, threw him into the snow and watched him hop around – until he didn’t. When I picked him up, he was cold and limp. I thought I needed to dry him off and warm him up so I put him in our laundry dryer and turned it on. I watched him spin around and around and can still hear the sound of him in there; like a basketball; padunk – padunk – padunk. I didn’t realize until years later that I murdered my bunny rabbit. The next day, when I noticed he was missing, my parents told me he went away. Later they purchased another rabbit for me that they kept a much closer eye on.
LMK: Outside of committing bunny slaughter, what’s something folks would be surprised to learn about you?
VD: <Chuckling> I love laying in the dirt <laughter>. A few years ago, I visited the White Water Center for a yoga class. It was outside. One day I forgot my mat and had to practice on the ground. The feeling was so wonderful, being grounded, looking up into the trees and the sky. After that I was hooked, and I just love it. I encourage everyone to try it, the feeling of the earth beneath your feet or even your whole body is grounding and invigorating. You really should try it.
LMK: Before we let you go, can you leave us with a New Year’s resolution for the world?
VD: <Without hesitation> Turn the page, damn it!