DILLON METOYER At the age of four years old, Dillon Metoyer’s mother asked him to look into her eyes and tell her what he saw. He responded by saying, “I see stars,” and when asked why, he would say, “Because I’m going to be one.” Since then, the Miami Palmetto Senior High School senior has spent his time working extremely hard toward accomplishing this goal and has taken every opportunity to do so. Whether it be through following his passion playing soccer, producing his own music or modeling for the Miami Heat, Dillon knows he can reach stardom. Metoyer’s love for entertaining and the euphoria that he experiences from it motivates him in every project that he sets his mind to. “When you create or do something you’re passionate about and people enjoy it and applaud you for it, it’s a great feeling,” Metoyer said. “That feeling is what makes me want to do it more.” The intense rush he feels from entertaining b e c a m e prominent at Palmetto during M r. Panther, an annual event put on by the school.
“Mr. Panther w a s really
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a star in the making
memorable for me. I touched the stage and then started rapping and the energy and everything was just so amazing,” Metoyer said. Further reminiscing on his Mr. Panther performance, Metoyer explained that the crowd’s energy and reactions given by the crowd made it one of the best nights of his life. “As the performance went on and everyone was cheering and screaming my name, my performance got better. The energy from the crowd fueled me and ultimately gave my performance life,” Metoyer said. “After I got off stage, I told myself that was one of the best performances of my life because of the love and admiration I received from everyone for doing something I’m so passionate about.” Ever since Metoyer was little, he has written songs and raps, but he finally began taking his music seriously during his freshman year of high school. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Drake and Lil Baby, Metoyer started to create his own music from home. “Most of my songs are freestyle and some of them are written. I’ll be listening to different beats and will create a melody in my head and depending on how it makes me feel, I’ll either freestyle or write something to it. Once I have the chorus down, I’ll move on to the voices. I’ll mix it and the ad libs and stuff like that,” Metoyer said. Dillon’s mother, Sally Mott, is the reason Metoyer found a passion for modeling. A former model herself, Mott launched her son’s modeling career at the age of four. Since then, she has supported all of his talents and performances. “It’s amazing what he can do. He doesn’t need a producer; he has all his own equipment. I went out with friends the other night and by the time I had gotten home he had written and recorded this whole song and was like ‘Mom listen to this,’ and the talent and energy he puts into his music... it’s just a great feeling,” Mott said.
After signing with Green Agency in 2010, Metoyer has had the opportunity to model for Payless and the Miami Heat Vice Versa Collection. Metoyer remembers the crew as extremely friendly and maintains a fond memory of the overall experience. “I just ended up loving it and always having fun. I’m so passionate about it. Whenever I come back [from a shoot], I’m always like ‘Mom, I had such an amazing time,’ I owe her that,” Metoyer said. His father, Fred Metoyer, believes that Dillon’s talents come from his upbringing and the notion that he could succeed in anything he works towards. “As a parent, trust me, we want to describe our children as the best in everything. I would really have to find a word to show that everything he’s exposed to and genuinely interested in he excels at,” Fred said. Apart from modeling and creating music, Dillon also plays the position of right wing on the Palmetto varsity soccer team. His mother remembers every hot, long day spent outside watching Dillon play. “I remember going to the soccer fields and seeing what he played and burning under the umbrella and all that,” Mott said. “I’m extra proud because when I used to change his diapers I would kick his feet and say, ‘Run, Dillon, run,’ and now he’s an amazing soccer player and one of the fastest runners on the team.” With his skills in modeling, rapping and soccer, Dillon can become a star, just as he told his mom he would at the age of four years old. “He is a diamond in the rough that no one has discovered yet, but once they do it’ll be amazing,” Mott said.
Sydney Campbell
Senior Design Editor
s.campbell.thepanther@gmail.com
Ella Pedroso Design Editor
e.pedroso.thepanther@gmail.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF GIANNA HUTTON DESIGN BY JULIA STRASIUS
