Doja Cat reveals her mom's 'incredible strength' in emotional podcast interview

Doja Cat, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, has always been known for her creativity and confidence, but behind her success is a story of strength and survival. 

The rapper recently appeared on Angie Martinez's "In Real Life" podcast, where she discussed her childhood and the profound influence of her mother, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer.

The “Jealous Type” singer shared that she was raised by a single mother and described those years as both “fun and tough”. She went on to say, “Growing up with a single mother is a hard thing to do. She had five children, I could never. She is incredible, the strongest mother.”

She added that being raised by a single parent taught her valuable life lessons and made her stronger. When asked how her mom feels about her achievements, she said her mother is very proud and supportive. 

Their bond was recently celebrated in her new music video for Gorgeous, where her mom makes a surprise appearance.

The “Gorgeous” video forms part of Doja Cat’s latest album “Vie”, released on September 26. The project channels 1980s nostalgia, combining retro sounds with modern production.

The video itself mirrors an old-school beauty advert and includes cameos from top models such as Irina Shayk, Alek Wek, Imaan Hammam and Anok Yai. 

The 29-year-old rapper later appears alongside her mother, who looked glamorous in a blonde perm and diamond choker as she rapped the lyrics, “I look like my family, I don’t need to brag.”

It’s no secret that her father, Dumisani Dlamini, has never been in the picture. Dlamini, a South African actor, dancer, and composer, is best known for his role in the 1992 film “Sarafina!” alongside Whoopi Goldberg.

Despite his success in South Africa, he has never built a relationship with his daughter.

Doja Cat has said that she has never met him, even though he has occasionally spoken about her in interviews.

Her mother, Sawyer, also shares a son, Raman, with Dlamini. 

In 2024, Sawyer filed a temporary restraining order against Raman, accusing him of violent behaviour toward both her and Doja Cat.

Court documents obtained by “TMZ” alleged that he physically assaulted Doja Cat, leaving her with cuts, bruises, and even knocking out her teeth. He was also accused of damaging her belongings and verbally abusing both women.

The artist has rarely spoken publicly about her brother, but in past interviews, she hinted at a difficult home environment, mentioning that he had behavioural issues growing up.