Altovise Ferguson is a native of Gary, Indiana. She began her career as a dancer,
under the instruction of the late Corine Morse Williams and started singing at the age of 10. Since no one in her immediate family sang they shrugged it off, but it was her dance
instructor that realized the gift in Altovise.
Then she discovered the world of modeling at John Robert Powers in Chicago Illinois.
She was chosen to participate in the International Talent & Modeling Association in New York and placed 4th runner up for “Talent of the Year.” After graduating as a Vocal
Music Major from Emerson Visual & Performing Arts High School in 1994, she pursued a cosmetology career.
Altovise also became an actress with the West Side Theatre Guild where she starred
in stage plays and films. She even had the opportunity to sing for Coretta Scott King and
Michael Jackson. However, Altovise experienced a brief detour in her dreams.
Altovise was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Cancer at the age of 27.
She had to learn how to walk again through physical rehab.
During chemotherapy treatments and rehab she wrote songs and began to sing to patients in the hospital. She also began about her journey in a journal. Then recorded the songs to inspire others.
Altovise was faced with yet another challenge when she had to endure throat surgery,after a long journey to regain physical strength.
However, just as she survived cancer,
she survived the surgery and returned to stages locally and nationally to sing with even more clarity of purpose in life.
She developed “Shine from the Inside Out” to merge the skills she has gained from her experience in the beauty industry and the arts.
Altovise facilitates empowerment workshops to teach the lesson that true beauty shine from the inside out.
Altovise recorded and released “Something out of
Nothing” in 2015; it is a ground breaking song that has been well received by listening audiences locally and nationally. She has found her authentic voice and gained the strength to live out all her dreams. Altovise completed the book about her journey which is entitled, “Live to Win: My Victory Over Cancer” and it was published in December 2015.
Altovise currently travels the world singing and speaking to share her life story. As a result of her life story people have learned thrive in life. Altovise released new music in 2020, "Won't Do It Again "her first credit as songwriter and co-producer. She also started a podcast "The Courage to Continue ". Altovise made her television debut on the Fox show "Empire" in 2020. It would become her first credit as an actress. She gained her second credit on the hit Amazon series "The G" , which is filmed in her hometown, Gary, In. Altovise also appears as a plus size model in the 2020 Penningtons Holiday Campaign.
She is a member of SAG-AFTRA and represented by Hayes Talent Agency.