Last week Loni Love hosted a Zoom press junket for the new OWN series “Belle Collective” where we were introduced to five successful, glamourous boss women who are redefining what it means to be a southern belle in Jackson, Mississippi.
• Dr. Antoinette Liles, one of the few Black female dentists in the state. Dr. Liles is navigating a recent divorce and opening her very own dental practice.
• Lateshia Pearson is the CEO of the National Women’s Brunch Organization. Her brunches bring powerful women together and help promote self-empowerment, but now she has one goal in mind: to bring the ladies together to revitalize Farish Street, an iconic Black neighborhood in Jackson, Mississippi.
• Latrice Rogers is the young mastermind and entrepreneur behind Goddess Lengths, the most successful haircare emporium in the region.
• Marie Hamilton-Abston, a self-made millionaire and CEO of the bustling Hamilton Davis Mental Health empire.
• Tambra Cherie is the newly single midday diva and on-air radio personality for Jackson’s top hip-hop and R&B station and host of the most controversial radio show in the city, “The Relationship Hour.”
“Belle Collective” is from the innovative producers behind the hit “Love & Marriage: Huntsville,” and from the preview, it seems that we will have a front-row seat watching the ups and downs of what it’s like to be a millionaire of color.
Illusion, reality, who knows? You understand how our folks walk-the-walk. We may cry but by God — we figure it out, don’t we? And these women are living their best lives in Mississippi and to get ahead, they are smashing expectations while shredding long-held stereotypes of the South.
Of course, there is drama. This is a reality series but they must set aside their differences to redevelop a struggling mid-twentieth century historic district that was once known as the hub for Black-owned businesses.
At the virtual brunch, Love and the ladies could not stop giving love to each other about their individual accomplishments. It appears that the inspiration of this series came from Lateshia Pearson the CEO of the National Women’s Brunch Organization. It was confession time at some moments. There was infidelity in Pearson’s marriage, and intimate glimpses in all five of the entrepreneur’s life will be part of the show.
But the real goal — truly — is watching five determined women work their magic to redevelop the Mississippi historic district. “Jackson [Mississippi] is live, thriving,” all the women confirmed.
Another reason to tune in, according to Cherie, is that “[not] all reality shows are the same. I think this show is very unique. You’re following the lives of successful women in Jackson, Mississippi. You’re getting a close-up of Jackson. And I do believe we’re going to break those stereotypes that you think of.”
“Belle Collective” is executive produced by Kingdom Reign Entertainment with Carlos King and Slane Hatch serving as executive producers. Angela Dugan, Mimi Adams, and Cherelle Hinds serve as co-executive producers.
“Belle Collective” now on OWN every Friday at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
