The one and only Destiny McCatty stunned at last year’s Wordplay Awards with her piece Political Playground after scooping up our Best Slam Poetry Performance award. With a degree in Politics and Sociology, performing powerful, politically fuelled pieces is what Destiny has become known for in an ever growing poetry scene that encourages expression at its finest. Where did your creative journey start? Once upon a time Destiny wanted to be everything from an astronaut to a journalist. For her the possibilities were endless but her family wanted her to focus on something more grounded. It wasn’t until she attended Warwick university that she discovered her love for performing. She participated in the annual Afro-Caribbean showcase, AfroFest, reigniting her passion from drama and spoken word. Her first performance was in front of over 250 people. I loved it and the community so dearly. So much so that I did it again the following year. Her belief that people are becoming disillusioned with politics has inspired Destiny to take a creative approach towards educating the masses. Poetry has also become a great way for her to express her thoughts about themes that are important to her. Poetry serves as a way for me to vent some of my thoughts about complex topics from my communities. What are some memorable achievements? Destiny joined a collective called Black (Untitled); a group that nurtured black creative talent in Warwick where she became their Literary Arts Lead. The position allowed her to co-lead the collective to the national university poetry slam competition and win first place. We won first place beating a team that had previously won three times in a row. Following this success, Destiny was commissioned to perform at the inauguration of the upcoming Chancellor of Warwick University who also officiated her graduation. Another major achievement that showcased her increasing talent and highlighted how far modern poetry and spoken word has transitioned into different educational spaces. How did you hear about the Wordplay Awards? Destiny discovered the Wordplay Awards through previous winners and initially forwarded details to her friends so they could submit. She was met with the question as to why she wasn’t nominating herself and realised that she often understated her work. I felt that I wasn’t experienced enough nor bold enough, but this was my opportunity to put myself out there and be a part of the inspiring stories from Warwick. Destiny stepped into her poetry era through her university and it became the true catalyst for further opportunities to use her voice with a new found confidence. The creative is formally working on merging her poetry and youth advocacy strands together to elevate the voices of others as well as her own. Her focuses include education, race equality, and food justice to name a few. Destiny will also be collaborating with charitable organisations that target societal issues with the aim of raising awareness through creativity. When we asked what the future looks like for Destiny she kept it real short and sweet: More performances, more content, and more connections. Written by: Tannika Taylor @tannikataylor Photography: Tannika Taylor @tannikataylor Editor: Shariar Graphic designer: Torrin Westerman @torrinwesterman