In recognition of her inspiring career, The Chicken Lady was invited to the Oval Office to meet with President George W. Bush to discuss education reform.
Dupree worked for 12 years as a corporate trainer and community spokesperson for what she calls "a major chicken restaurant chain." She became so well-known that people begin to refer to her as The Chicken Lady.
Already in her 30s, Dupree went to college for the first time and took her first public speaking class. Her professors told her that she was a natural.
Dupree worked as a maid, following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. "It was not my choice," Dupree said. "But as it turned out, for me, it was the path that led to who I am today."