Biography

Richardson is a native of Silver Spring, Maryland where she graduated from Montgomery Blair High School. She was Blair's first African-American homecoming queen. Richardson cites Saundra Woods of Montgomery County Public Schools (teaches at White Oak Middle School as of Oct 08) as the teacher who most influenced her to excel and attain success. She graduated from Hollins College with a degree in Health Education and Dance.

Personal life

Richardson met popular syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner in 1997 after being a guest on his radio show. They became engaged one year later in August 1998, while in Philadelphia en route to the airport. On July 29, 2000, Richardson married Joyner in Montego Bay, Jamaica and had a week-long honeymoon in Venice Italy. A report in December 2012 announced that Richardson and Tom Joyner had separated, in May 2012, in order to divorce. The New York Daily News stated that the separation is “mutual but not exactly amicable.”

She resides in Dallas, Texas. Despite this, she is a staunch Washington Redskins supporter.

Fitness career

Certified by AFAA and ACE as an International Fitness Expert, Richardson-Joyner began her fitness career as an aerobics instructor, after responding to a challenge to take an aerobics class. She eventually moved on to teach other instructors. Eventually she began to compete nationally and internationally in aerobics competitions.

In 1992 she was hired as a co-host of the ESPN Fitness Pros Show and co-starred in her first commercial fitness tape, Platinum Buns of Steel.

Richardson Joyner was selected by The Oprah Winfrey Show as one of the "Top 5 Fitness Video Instructors". She was selected by Fitness magazine as one of their "Top 10 Movers and Shakers" and was inducted into the Fitness Hall of Fame.

Richardson Joyner not only was the star of Sweating in the Spirit, she was also the executive producer.

Richardson Joyner has lectured in 40 countries and has been a featured motivational speaker with several national tours including God's Leading Ladies, Sisters In The Spirit and the Pantene Total You.

Donna was named by Essence magazine for being “one out of 25 most inspiring women in America” in 2006.

Richardson Joyner is in the Guinness Book of World Records for creating and leading the world's largest line dance, with over 50,000 participants at Megafest hosted by Bishop T. D. Jakes in Atlanta, Georgia.

Print/media

Books

Year	Title	Publisher	Other notes
1998-03-01 (1998-03-01)	Let's Get Real: Exercise Your Right to a Healthy Body	Pocket Books

Visual media

DVDs

Year	Title	Publisher	Other notes
1999	Donna Richardson: 3-Day Rotation 2000	Anchor Bay
2003	Sweating In The Spirit	Razor & Tie	gospel exercise video featuring live performances by Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, and Shirley Murdock
2006	Sweating In The Spirit 2	Razor & Tie	features music performed by a live band and vocal renditions by Byron Cage, Martha Munizzi and RiZen

VHS videocassettes

Year	Title	Publisher	Other notes
2006	Old School Dance Party	Donnamite Productions	features rappers The Sugarhill Gang
1995	4-Day Rotation Workout	Anchor Bay Entertainment
1995	Donna-Mite Aerobic Workout	Anchor Bay Entertainment
	30 Days to Firmer Abs & Arms	Anchor Bay Entertainment
	Donna Richardson - 30 Days To Thinner Thighs	Anchor Bay Entertainment
	Back to Basics	Anchor Bay Entertainment
	Step & Awesome Abs	Anchor Bay Entertainment
1993	Donna Richardson - Attitude Aerobics	Anchor Bay Entertainment
	Platinum Series: Thighs of Steel 2000	Warner Home Video	With Tamilee Webb, Tracy York
1994	Perfect Balance Workout	Anchor Bay Entertainment
	Platinum Series: Buns of Steel 2000	Warner Home Video	With Tamilee Webb, Tracy York
	Platinum Series: Arms & Abs of Steel 2000	Maier Group	With Tamilee Webb, Tracy York
2006	The Brazilian Workout

[ Source: Wikipedia ]