Today we’d like to introduce you to Dunia Davis.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up, I always had a passion for food and creativity, but my real journey into entrepreneurship started while working on a food truck. I worked alongside a strong female entrepreneur who truly inspired me. Watching her wake up every day, grind hard, and push through challenges motivated me to believe I could build something of my own one day. She encouraged me not only creatively, but also business-wise, and that experience planted the seed for everything I’m doing today.
When COVID hit, the food truck had to shut down, and like many people, I suddenly found myself unable to work. During that time, my sister gave me the idea to start selling candy grapes, and what started as a simple idea quickly turned into something much bigger. The support was overwhelming, and my business began to grow fast. Selling candy grapes honestly helped me survive during one of the hardest times in my life. It paid my bills, gave me stability, and allowed me to continue moving forward during so much uncertainty.
I’m incredibly grateful for the family members who helped me during that season as well, especially my cousin and my grandma, who both supported and encouraged me in ways I’ll never forget. I’ve also been blessed to have entrepreneurial friends around me who constantly motivate me to keep going. One of my close friends, who owns her own nail business, has helped me tremendously by encouraging me to market myself more, create reels, and consistently push my brand online. Having people around me who understand the grind of entrepreneurship has truly helped build my confidence and keep me inspired.
Seeing my business actually sustain me gave me a feeling of joy, independence, and financial freedom that changed my entire mindset. For almost a year, I was able to survive through my business, and that experience showed me the power of betting on myself.
After that, I never stopped. I kept creating, learning, and growing. This year, I finally decided to fully commit to pushing my business harder than ever before. I have so many goals for SUGASUGA, especially going into the summer. I want to expand into more outside events, continue building my brand, and bring even more people together through desserts that feel comforting, creative, and memorable.
My hope is that this article helps more people discover SUGASUGA, because to me, desserts are more than just sweets — they’re comfort in every crumb.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, the road definitely has not been smooth. One of the biggest struggles for me has been learning how to properly brand myself and consistently market my business. Social media is such a huge part of growing a brand today, and figuring out how to constantly create content, post regularly, and push SUGASUGA to a higher level has been challenging for me at times.
I’m also a part-time baker while balancing another job, so trying to manage both while still giving my business 100% can sometimes lead to burnout. One of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn is that as a business owner, you truly have to take care of yourself because no one else will do it for you. There have been moments where I was running completely on empty, trying to pour so much into my business while forgetting to pour back into myself.
Even through the rocky moments, I’ve been fortunate to have really supportive friends and people around me who continue to encourage me and help push me forward. Entrepreneurship comes with a lot of highs and lows, and while there have definitely been difficult moments, every challenge has helped me grow stronger, wiser, and more determined to keep building SUGASUGA into something bigger.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an at-home baker and dessert creator behind SUGASUGA, where I specialize in unique baked goods, specialty treats, and comforting desserts that bring people together. While I absolutely focus on making delicious desserts, what really sets me apart is the experience behind everything I create. My slogan, “comfort in every crumb,” truly represents the heart of my business.
For me, it’s never just about the dessert itself — it’s about the feeling people get when they enjoy it. I want my desserts to feel nostalgic and comforting, like a warm Sunday morning when you wake up smelling fresh breakfast or your favorite dessert baking in the oven. I want people to feel like they’re sitting in the kitchen with me while I’m pulling fresh cookies, cakes, or pastries out of the oven. That warmth, kindness, and feeling of home is something I try to put into every single thing I make.
I think that’s what makes SUGASUGA different from many others. Of course taste matters to me, but I also care deeply about creating an atmosphere and experience that feels welcoming, comforting, and genuine. I want customers to feel appreciated, cared for, and connected through food.
Recently, I’ve also had the amazing opportunity to expand my business into local spaces. I’ve been able to sell some of my desserts at Crab Cab, and I also recently had the opportunity to sell pastries at Old Town Alexandria Waterfront at the fish market this week. Experiences like these have been incredibly exciting for me and continue motivating me to grow SUGASUGA even further.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, people used to call me “Popcorn” because I could never sit still for too long — I was always popping up out of my seat and moving around. Looking back, my childhood honestly makes me smile because I remember so much joy, laughter, and innocence. It felt carefree in the best way, and even though life shapes all of us through different experiences, I truly wouldn’t change my childhood memories for the world.
Personality-wise, if ADHD could describe a personality, that was definitely me. I would start one sentence and somehow end up on a completely different topic five minutes later. I was very energetic, carefree, and curious — and honestly, I still am in a lot of ways today.
For the longest time, I was convinced I was going to become a lawyer because I loved the idea of protecting people. One of my elementary school friends recently sent me a picture from our yearbook asking, “Are you a lawyer yet?” and it honestly made me laugh because I was so serious about it back then. Life took me in a different direction, but I still carry that same passion and love for connecting with people today through SUGASUGA.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sugasugas.myshopify.com/
- Instagram: @Suga.Suga.Bakery
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/j0gB9y5zMf
- Other: TikTok: @_SugaSuga_
