Lateshia Pearson Of Belle Collective Went From Paralegal to Reality Star — Now She’s Turning Southern Sisterhood Into a National Movement
“Before we hung up, Carlos [King] asked me, ‘What do you do?’ I said, ‘I’m a paralegal. I bring these women together… I just want to help behind the scenes, maybe as a production assistant.’ He stopped me and said, ‘No. The only way I’m moving forward with this is if you’re on the show.’ I was shocked. I said, ‘Me?’ This was never my plan. But again, God saw something else.”
We had the pleasure of talking with Lateshia Pearson. Lateshia’s trajectory from a small-town Mississippi upbringing to the national stage of reality television defies the expectations often placed on women from the rural South. As the creative force behind Belle Collective on OWN and founder of the nonprofit Women’s Brunch Mississippi, Pearson has steadily carved out a space where empowerment, entrepreneurship, and visibility converge. Her story isn’t one of overnight success, but of years spent building, connecting, and responding to the needs of a community too often overlooked.
Born and raised in Pelahatchie, Mississippi, a town with a population barely above 1,500, Pearson describes her early life as modest but rich in love and Southern hospitality. Raised by her mother and grandparents, she grew up grounded by family and community, yet harbored ambitions that stretched far beyond the limits of her zip code. “I always knew I was different,” she said in our interview. “I was that small-town girl with city dreams.”
Her early professional life followed a traditional path. Pearson earned a degree in Business Administration and worked for over a decade as a paralegal. But it wasn’t until she stepped away from that role, at her husband’s request, to become a stay-at-home mother, that she found herself pushed toward her own purpose. What began as casual connections and legal advice among peers evolved into something more deliberate: a growing network of women looking for support, guidance, and access to resources.
That insight led to the 2017 founding of Women’s Brunch Mississippi, an organization built around the idea that brunch could be more than just a social outing, it could be a gateway to economic mobility, business literacy, and intergenerational wealth-building. The initiative attracted entrepreneurs, bankers, state officials, and local leaders, offering a collaborative space where women could build or scale their ventures with practical support. Pearson’s goal was clear: eliminate excuses and reduce fear, particularly around institutions like banks that many in her community had long viewed with hesitation or mistrust.
The brunches quickly became more than events, they became incubators. At one such gathering, a woman stood up and noted that nearly every person in the room had met through one of Pearson’s events. The organic reach of the network, and the stories of business partnerships and friendships formed under its umbrella, pointed to the deeper impact of Pearson’s work: connection as infrastructure.
Her shift into television was, by contrast, unplanned. A conversation with a young mentee led to an impromptu pitch to Carlos King, the veteran reality TV producer behind shows like The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Love & Marriage. Initially, Pearson envisioned staying behind the scenes. She suggested herself as a production assistant. Instead, King insisted she take center stage. The resulting series, Belle Collective, now heading into its sixth season on OWN, centers on successful Black women in Mississippi, many of them drawn from the very brunches Pearson created.
While Pearson is now a recognizable face on television, she remains candid about the difficulties that come with public visibility. Navigating the early seasons of Belle Collective was a challenge, not just because of the reality-TV format, but because of how editing distilled complex lives into 45-minute segments. She admits to moments of discomfort, particularly in reconciling who she is with how she’s portrayed. But she doesn’t regret it. “I’ve always been authentic, and sometimes maybe I was a little too authentic,” she says.
Pearson also brings her advocacy into personal terrain, speaking publicly about her experiences with PCOS, a hormonal disorder affecting women’s health. She’s begun sharing the health routines she’s implemented, from a structured skincare regimen to early morning walks and affirmations, highlighting the importance of self-care alongside entrepreneurship.
As her profile has grown, so has her platform. She’s hosted major events like Drew Sidora’s upcoming live performance and the Women’s Power Brunch in the Mississippi Delta. This fall, she’ll also participate in the Belle Collective reunion taping at Warner Bros. in Atlanta, a high-profile moment for a show that has steadily gained momentum as a voice for modern Southern womanhood.
Even with the increased visibility, Pearson remains focused on the fundamentals. She’s currently preparing to take Women’s Brunch Mississippi on a statewide tour, returning to the core vision that launched her journey in the first place. “I kind of got lost in the sauce for a bit,” she admits. “But I’m getting back to my ‘why.’”
In interviews, Pearson often returns to the importance of collaboration and service, themes that underlie nearly every project she takes on. Her guiding philosophies, “Collaboration Over Competition” and “Why Not Just Love?”, are less mantras than mission statements, forged in rooms where women once gathered over eggs and grits to share dreams and resources.
What stands out most about Lateshia Pearson isn’t just the scale of what she’s built, it’s the consistency of her intent. Whether on television or in small business workshops, she returns again and again to the same principles: create what doesn’t exist, serve who isn’t being served, and build bridges where none have been offered.
Though her journey into the public eye was unexpected, it was never accidental. “When you move with good intentions,” she says, “God can move you from the back of the line to the front.”
Yitzi: Lateshia, it’s so nice to meet you. Before we dive in deep, our readers would love to learn about Lateshia Pearson’s personal origin story. Can you share with us the story of your childhood, how you grew up, and the seeds for all that came afterwards?
Lateshia: Nice to meet you as well. Absolutely. I grew up in a small town called Pelahatchie, Mississippi. There are about 1,500 people there. It’s a small, loving community. It was my mom, my grandparents, we come from humble beginnings. A small town, full of love, down South here in Mississippi, with that southern hospitality. So that’s actually how I grew up.
Yitzi: You’ve done so many great things. Tell us how you first started. What’s your pathway to getting on television and creating this great show? How did that all begin?
Lateshia: Well, that’s a long journey. I’ll start by saying, like I mentioned, I came from a small town, but I always knew I was different. I was that small-town girl with city dreams. I always knew I was destined for something more than what I could see. I just didn’t know what it was, and I wasn’t going to stop until I could manifest what I had been envisioning for my life.
I’ll try to go through this as quickly as possible. So, I’m from a small town. I ended up getting married and moving about 45 minutes away. I went on to do what my mom wanted me to do, pursue the American dream. I went to college, got my degree in Business Administration, and became a paralegal. I worked in law for about 11 or 12 years. When I got pregnant with my son, my husband asked me to stay home, so I did, and I never went back.
I’ve always considered myself “the plug.” People would call me asking, “Hey Lateshia, can you do this? Can you connect me with that person?” I love serving. That’s just who I am. So even after I became a stay-at-home mom, people were still reaching out for legal advice or help, and I thought, “Let me create something that brings these female entrepreneurs together, a resource center.”
In 2017, I launched Women’s Brunch Mississippi. I’ve always had a heart for helping people become the best version of themselves, whatever that looks like. Success is measured differently by different people, and I’ve always believed I was meant to serve and fill a void. I created Women’s Brunch Mississippi based on supply and demand. If I see a need, I bring it to life.
A little about Women’s Brunch Mississippi, it’s a platform for female entrepreneurs throughout the state. Originally, it was focused on Mississippi. We don’t just brunch, even though that’s part of it. It’s a resource center where entrepreneurs can collaborate and go on to create multi-million-dollar businesses, or small businesses, or whatever they envision. We have people from the Secretary of State’s office, the Small Business Administration, credit repair specialists, and I’ve partnered with local banks to provide financial literacy and assistance. The goal is to eliminate the excuses and show people what’s possible.
Fear is a big barrier in entrepreneurship, especially in my community. Many people are scared to even walk into a bank. I wanted to change that. I wanted to bring the banks into a safe space where they could meet us where we are. And the banks showed up. They helped our entrepreneurs, those who didn’t have the credit scores or funding, get what they needed to start or grow their businesses.
It really grew from there. I remember my first brunch, “Mingling Over Mimosas.” I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew we needed this in Mississippi. This was before brunching became a big thing. I wanted to change the stereotype that women can’t support each other. That was a huge motivator. The ticket was $20, and when I sold my first one, you’d have thought I made a million dollars. Because I believe, if you can inspire one person, then the event wasn’t in vain.
We ended up with way more attendees than I ever expected. I remember during that first event, the woman in the kitchen said, “We don’t have any more sausage.” And I told her, “Well, you better whip up some grits and eggs, because there are still ladies outside!” I had prayed about the vision and asked God for a name. The name came to me: Women’s Brunch Mississippi. And from there, it took on a life of its own. Seeing women come together in a room, collaborating, succeeding, not just in business or financially, but also in peace, self-esteem, confidence, and healing… That’s what it’s all about.
Fast forward a bit. A great friend of mine, Jacobi McGee, and I came up with the idea to pitch a reality TV show about these women. I didn’t even pitch myself because being on TV was never part of my vision board. But God had other plans.
So, what happened was, Carlos King, the executive producer and owner of Kingdom Reign Entertainment, put out a call saying he was looking for new ideas. When Jacobi told me about it, I said, “The same guy who produced Real Housewives of Atlanta, Oprah’s documentaries, Hollywood Divas?” He said yes. I was hesitant, but Jacobi challenged me. He said, “You talk about alignment and manifestation all the time.” And I realized he was right, so we decided to shoot our shot.
Less than a week later, we got an email saying, “We want to hear more.”
We hopped on a call. I wasn’t even supposed to be on the call at first. I was trying to encourage Jacobi, who was just 17 or 18 at the time and in my mentorship program, to take the lead. I told him, “This is your chance to beat fear.” But he insisted I be on the call with him.
So we got on the call, and I pitched the women who were attending my brunches, women in Mississippi doing amazing things. Before we hung up, Carlos asked me, “What do you do?” I said, “I’m a paralegal. I bring these women together. I also do bail bonding. But these are the women who are really making moves. I just want to help behind the scenes, maybe as a production assistant.”
He stopped me and said, “No. The only way I’m moving forward with this is if you’re on the show.” I was shocked. I said, “Me?” This was never my plan. But again, God saw something else.
Here we are. We just wrapped up our sixth season a couple of months ago, and it’ll be airing this fall. That just goes to show, when you move with good intentions and come from a place of service, God can move you from the back of the line to the front. This was never on my vision board, but the alignment and intention were there.
I’m so grateful, to be here, to have had this journey, and for Carlos King, who saw something in me I didn’t see in myself. I kept saying no, and he kept saying, “Oh yeah, your personality, you’ve got it.” I’m just incredibly thankful. It’s a lot, I know, and I’m trying to make it short, but that’s how it all happened.
Yitzi: You’re an amazing storyteller, and it’s an amazing story. It’s a pleasure to hear it. So you probably have some amazing stories from all the different sets you’ve been on, all the different projects you’ve done. Can you share one or two stories that most stand out in your mind from your professional life?
Lateshia: Ooh, so many stories. I have a ton, and I honestly don’t even know where to start. Everything for me is a journey, an experience. It’s hard to pick just one because every moment has its own impact.
One that always sticks with me is the beginning of Women’s Brunch Mississippi. I had no idea what I was doing. My tickets were $20, and when that first person bought one, I felt like I had made a million dollars. The first event had 67 people, and the next one had over 100. I just remember thinking, “Whoa.” That feeling of seeing it grow from something so small and personal into a movement, that’s a story in itself.
Landing on reality TV, being on the Oprah Winfrey Network, Oprah being from Mississippi herself, that’s another surreal experience. I never imagined it. Every step of this journey has been a story, and honestly, I’m just grateful for every part of it.
Yitzi: How about a story of a woman whose life has changed because she met someone or made the right connection through one of your events?
Lateshia: Oh, absolutely. I do have one. I was invited to a photo shoot one year, and there were maybe 15 to 20 women there. I was just attending, just being present, and everyone was collaborating and networking.
Then one of the ladies stood up and said, “Do y’all know one thing we all have in common?” And I was just listening. She said, “Because of Lateshia’s brunches, we all met there.” They had connected through the brunches, started working together, and even launched businesses together.
That moment blew my mind. I asked someone to record it because I had to have it documented. Just to witness the power of what had been created, something that came from a pure place of service, not even as a stream of income, was incredible.
It came from me wanting to become the change I wished to see. That one moment showed me the real impact. These women were collaborating, saying things like, “I got you. I may not know everything, but we’re going to figure this out together.” And to me, that’s everything. That kind of connection and support, that’s what matters most.
Yitzi: What’s been the most challenging project or the most challenging role that you’ve taken on so far?
Lateshia: The most challenging role… being a reality TV star. That wasn’t on my vision board at all. I wasn’t prepared, or rather, I was prepared and didn’t know I was prepared. You know how some people have it all mapped out? Like, “I’m going to be in Hollywood, I’m going to be on TV.” That was never me. I’ve always been a creator. I love to bring things to life, but not necessarily be the one in front of the camera doing it.
So that first season was tough, especially with social media. I remember thinking, “Wait a second, that’s not me. You’ve got my whole life summed up in 45 minutes?” Yes, those were my words, and yes, I said those things, but it’s hard seeing how it’s all edited and portrayed. That was definitely a challenge.
My very first scene was hard, not because I regret it. I’m authentic, and sometimes I think maybe I was a little too authentic. But I don’t regret it. Still, it was a learning curve.
Actually, now that I think about it, the most challenging thing wasn’t TV, it was when my husband asked me to stay home and be a full-time mom. That was incredibly hard for me. I knew in my heart that wasn’t what I wanted. I’m a go-getter, a people person. I need to be out connecting, creating, moving.
Being asked to just be a wife and mother felt like I was cheating myself. That was never the full picture of who I am. Trying to please my husband during that time was very difficult. I’ve always been independent, even in marriage, I always had my own income, my own goals. And stepping back from that created a lot of tension. We butted heads a lot during that phase.
So yeah, if I’m being honest, that season of life was more challenging than even being on reality TV.
Yitzi: So, tell us about any exciting new developments that are happening. What are you working on now? What can we expect for the next seasons? What other exciting projects is Lateshia going to reveal in the world?
Lateshia: Oh my gosh, there are so many things coming down the pipeline. After refocusing and realigning with my purpose, I know for sure there are some great things on the horizon. I don’t always like to announce everything right away, but I will say this, I’m going to be touring the state with Women’s Brunch Mississippi. That was my original vision, and I kind of got lost in the sauce for a bit. So I’m getting back to that.
For me, it’s all about more peace, more alignment, and doing purpose-filled work. I’m getting back to my “why.” I do have some creative projects in the works, things we can definitely circle back and talk about next time. But yes, Women’s Brunch Mississippi is going on tour, and I have more speaking engagements coming up. I’ve been blessed to travel around the world, and I was just booked to fly back to New York for another speaking event.
There are also a few new endeavors I’ll be releasing later in the fall. So stay tuned. A lot is happening, and I’m excited about where it’s all going.
Yitzi: Amazing. So this is our signature question, the centerpiece of our interview. A lot of the readers of this column are event organizers or want to organize an event. You’ve probably organized dozens, maybe hundreds of events. Based on your experience, can you share five things you need to create a highly successful live event?
Lateshia: Oh, five things you need to create a successful event?
- Alright, first of all, you need some money. Let’s just start there. You’re going to have to have a budget.
- Second, you need a nice, attractive venue. It has to be a safe and beautiful space because that sets the tone for everything.
- Third, your marketing has to align with the type of event you’re trying to produce. Your flyers, your branding, your website, everything has to match the vibe. That’s the first thing people see. And let me tell you, you can’t just go to Office Depot and make a flyer. You need your promo material professionally handled.
- Fourth, have a system in place for ticketing. Your guest list is your guest list. Don’t take Cash App at the door, and don’t let folks tell you they gave you money at the grocery store. You need a structured system where people can purchase tickets and show proof. That’s essential.
- Fifth, your food and decor have to be on point. People will remember if the food was cold or the setup wasn’t right. Presentation matters.
And I know you asked for five, but let me give you a bonus, your team matters. The people helping you, your host or hostess, they set the tone. And sometimes spending a little more on a venue or production can attract the right people.
Honestly, I could give you twenty tips, but if anyone wants to know more, they can book a consultation with me. I’ll walk them through how to put on a memorable, impactful event.
Yitzi: Beautiful. Okay, wonderful. So we’re almost done. You have so much energy, so vivacious, can you share the self-care routines that you do to help your body, mind, and heart to thrive?
Lateshia: Yes. Let me just be honest, because I have to be authentic. I’ve been so busy, but about two months ago, I finally started a skincare routine. Before that, I was just so tired all the time. I have PCOS, so I know I need to stay on top of my health.
Now, my routine includes a six-step skincare process at night. It takes forever, it feels like forever, because I used to just shower, wash my face with Dove soap, and put on a little Vaseline. And yes, I’m going to use Vaseline, my grandma taught me that.
But now, I’m serious about skincare. And every morning, I go for a 30-minute walk at 6:00 AM, right before the bus comes for my son. That’s become part of my new routine. I also listen to affirmations every morning, there’s this one particular video that really gets me going.
And yes, I take cold showers like a lot of entrepreneurs. That shock to the system wakes you up and gets you moving. At night, I go through my skincare routine, and honestly, all of it has helped me so much, not just physically, but mentally. It resets me. After my walk and affirmations, I feel great. I’m ready to take on the day.
Yitzi: Wonderful. So we have our final and aspirational question. Lateshia, because of your amazing work and the platform that you’ve built, you’re a person of enormous influence. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
Lateshia: The movement would be called Collaboration Over Competition. And the second would be Why Not Just Love?, with a question mark.
I truly believe those two movements could change the world. Why not just love? And Collaboration Over Competition, that’s how we grow as people. That’s how we boost each other’s confidence. I live by those principles.
The greatest gift is love. If I love you, I’m not trying to tear you down. I just want to help you, love on you, inspire you, and encourage you to be the best version of yourself. I want you to believe that you can do anything.
If you said you wanted to jump off a house, I’d believe you could fly. That’s the kind of belief we need, not just in ourselves, but in each other. That’s what I would want to share with the world.
Yitzi: Very inspirational, Lateshia. Thank you. You could be Oprah one day.
Lateshia: Oh, thank you. Thank you. I appreciate that. That means a lot.
Yitzi: So, how can our readers continue to follow your work? How can they get involved in one of your brunches? How could they watch your show? How can they support you in any possible way?
Lateshia: Thank you for asking. Everything is under Lateshia Pearson. On social media, my handle is @LateshiaPearson_ and on Facebook, it’s just Lateshia Pearson. My website is LateshiaPearson.com.
You can subscribe to the website to get updates, newsletters, and notifications when something new is happening. Everything is connected through my name, so I’m definitely not hard to find.
And honestly, my team sometimes gets on me because I make myself accessible. But I feel like God gave me this platform, so it’s for whoever may need me. I try to reply to everyone.
Yitzi: Amazing. We wish you only continued success, blessings, and good health. I hope we can stay in touch, do this again next year, and hopefully meet in person one day. I just love your energy.
Lateshia: Thank you. Same to you. You’re so calm, this is your lane. You know how some people have that therapist energy, where you just feel like you can open up and say, “This is what’s happening in my life”? That’s how you come across. This was by far the best interview. It was so calm and chill. I appreciate you for being you, and I appreciate you for operating in this kind of purpose. So thank you. We’ll definitely stay in touch.
Lateshia Pearson Of Belle Collective Went From Paralegal to Reality Star — Now She’s Turning… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.