Shawn Marie Diddy
Biography
While balancing the life of a single mom and television host, writer, and vocalist, Shawn Diddy has developed a unique personal style. The “SheDiddy” philosophy is “When life gives you lemons, create something delicious – and save the leftovers”. She hopes to inspire others to find inventive ways to travel through life and laugh while doing it. Shawn admits she has made a mistake or two in the kitchen and hopes to offer “Diddy-proof” recipes and gadgets to make culinary experiences smooth for others.
Shawn learned to cook as a child in the Midwest and won top awards at the famed Iowa State Fair. She later lived in various cities across the US and continued to gather cooking tips from experts including Chef Emeril Lagassee as they co-hosted a Scripps Network show called From Emeril’s Kitchen. Shawn’s accessible style, charm and straightforward advice make viewers immediately feel at home.
The former Miss Iowa-USA traveled the US and to Japan as a media representative and style expert and utilized the experience to investigate the cuisine of various areas.
Shawn is not what you would think of as your typical “pageant girl” – she will try just about anything to entertain folks while making a difference, especially for the environment. Shawn learned about environmental issues as she lived on a 47 foot wooden motor yacht for two years. SheDiddy’s latest adventure includes helping people leave a smaller ecological footprint one recipe at a time. Shawn is also the television retail spokesperson for OXO International kitchen products.
While working for Shop at Home and the Scripps Networks, Shawn’s daily offerings were seen nationwide by over 50 million people. She joined celebrities including Florence Henderson, Naomi Judd, and Jackie Zeman. Shawn also learned to expect the unexpected while working at a live 24/7 network. From cooking with celebrity chefs, to working with unpredictable gadgets, children and animals, Shawn found a love for the “real”, upbeat, ever-changing feel of television.
She is certified with the American Council on Exercise as a Personal Trainer and Lifestyles and Weight Management Consultant and worked for Chicago Based ENN-TV. Shawn released the results of medical industry clinical trials, interviewed physicians, scientists and patients including CNN’s Larry King and ABC’s Sam Donnelson. Her quick-witted yet intelligent style has earned her numerous kudos and award nominations, culminating in a Bronze Telly and Communicator Award in 2006. She was also honored with Northeast Iowa’s Community Service Award.
As an actress, Shawn has joined the cast of various television programs including HBO’s The Wire, NBC’s The West Wing and she played Guinevere in Camelot with the Pasadena Theater Company. Shawn has worked on films including Disney’s Tuck Everlasting, HBO’s Shot In The Heart and she starred in a children’s film called Paws and Claws: Operation Rescue. She has appeared in commercials including CarMax, Whirlpool, Chevy, and McDonalds and she holds a Master of Arts degree in Mass Communications from Towson University.
Shawn enjoys cooking, eating and drinking with people around the country, (that is professionally referred to as “researching topics for her blogs and magazine articles”), writing and singing country music, and entertaining at her Iowa home with her daughter, two cats, and 140 pound dog.
You can find more about Shawn at www.ShawnDiddy.com
Read Shawn’s blog at www.Shediddystyle.blogspot.com