MIAMI – For more than two decades, Supa Cindy has been a major presence in South Florida radio.
But while her professional life was flourishing, personally, she was living in fear.
Supa Cindy spent more than two decades as a radio host, notably behind the mic for popular hip-hop station 99 Jamz.
She got her big break by interning there back in 2001, and the sky was the limit ever since.
“South Florida, they know the history of Big Lip and Supa -- how we changed the game in radio,” Cindy told Local 10 News.
Cindy interviewed countless celebrities and musicians and attended star-studded award shows.
“Khalid was the DJ of my night show, Rick Ross used to knock on our door to get us to play his record,” she said.
Cindy kept it real on the airwaves. She was relatable and connected with listeners. She’d meet them at events and festivals, eventually becoming a staple in the community.
“My community has always been the battery in my back in my whole entire radio career,” Cindy said.
Cindy even launched a non-profit to mentor and help the next generation.
“I love my community so much,” she said.
Cindy garnered great success inside and outside of the studio, earning her own awards and proclamations, being honored not only in South Florida by community leaders and politicians, but also at the White House.
But behind her tireless work and her bright smile, Cindy suffered in silence, holding a big secret until she couldn’t any longer, announcing in an Instagram video that she is a survivor of domestic abuse.
“I couldn’t believe it was happening to me,” she said.
Cindy says she suffered for eight years. Her abuser was not only her boyfriend, but also her manager, controlling both her personal and professional life.
“I did the community show at 99 Jamz. I was interviewing women in distress and all these organizations,” she said. “Yet, I would go home and be abused.”
A confident voice on the airwaves, used to empower and inform, was slowly diminishing. When it came to her life, there was radio silence.
“I was on the radio screaming ‘girl power, queens don’t compete, let’s do this,’ but in my personal life, I was broken, sad, going crazy,” Cindy said.
It took Cindy four times to leave her abuser. She finally left for good in October 2023, all because of one move.
“It ended because he attacked me in public. I was like, ‘That’s it,‘” Cindy explained.
Cindy obtained a restraining order and went into hiding. She left Miami and took a leave of absence from 99 Jamz. When she returned back to the radio station several months later, she says it wasn’t the same, so she made the difficult decision to leave the job she loved.
“Days went by. I was more and more miserable. As soon as I got off-air, I’m crying,” Cindy said.
It’s been a long road for Cindy, and she’s still recovering from the abuse and torment.
This is the first time she’s talking about it on TV, despite her fears.
“I don’t want to name him, show a picture of him with his face blurred out, nothing, because it is not about him, it is about surviving this -- the fact that I kept it a secret for so long, and how many other victims are being silent right now?” Cindy said.
Dr. Delvena Thomas, a board-certified psychiatrist who treated Cindy for three years, said “every victim has to find their time.”
“She’s still having a lot of challenges, as she should be,” Thomas said. “This is fresh. This is not like it was 30 years ago or 20 years ago -- her healing is evolving.”
Thomas says when a person leaves an abuser, they have to rediscover themselves because they are now someone different -- someone the abuser was able to change and mold.
“Go back to who you were, find healthy ways to live life on a consistent basis, whether you ground yourself with prayer and/or meditation. Try to add things to your life so that way you are able to balance, you are able to balance stress,” Thomas said.
Cindy was able to turn to her faith and therapy. She’s now learning how to forgive.
“I don’t know how I’m here, but it has to be God because I should not be here. The things that were said and done to me should have taken me out,” Cindy said.
The voice that was forced to be silenced is now adjusting her tone.
“I want to use my voice, the voice I built for 25 years,” Cindy said. “If I could save somebody, inspire anybody -- trust me, this courage didn’t come from anywhere. I prayed for this courage.”
Cindy is taking back the mic in her personal life, making sure you are hearing “Supaaaa Cindy!” now loud and clear.
“I’m here and I’m not going anywhere if I have anything to do with it, if God has anything to do with it,” Cindy said.
Cindy is still going through the motions. She said some days are better than others, but the purpose of telling her story is to help save a life.
She said she doesn’t have all the answers, but she’s hoping to inspire.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, you are not alone. Help is available to you 24/7 by calling the Florida Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-500-1119.