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October stirs up the spice of pumpkin lattes and adds a pump of Lateshia Pearson to your Friday night queue. With Belle Collective now in its sixth season on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), this season sips warmer, the conversations hit sharper and television feels a little more real when she's on screen.
The series chronicles the lives of a group of influential Black women from Jackson, Mississippi, including founders, CEOs and community leaders, as they navigate business, relationships and reinvention in real time. Pearson, with her calm authority and transparent ambition, serves as the anchor of the cast. Her story, woven with faith, leadership and enterprise, transforms Belle Collective into a Southern blueprint for visibility, healing and legacy built in public view, inspiring all who follow her journey.
What began as a simple brunch has grown into a full-fledged movement: Women Brunch Mississippi, a gathering offering women a voice, a platform and a path to rise. Today, her enterprise spans business coaching, motivational speaking, brand development and nonprofit programs, all grounded in the belief that women can build without permission and rise without apology — a testament to the power of community and collective action.
Reality With Substance, Not Scripts
When Pearson first envisioned Belle Collective, she wanted to shift the narrative of who Southern Black women are and how they are seen. "When I first envisioned Belle Collective, I wanted to show the world that Southern Black women are powerful, ambitious and multidimensional," she remarked. "I wanted to showcase sisterhood, entrepreneurship and the beauty of Mississippi: our culture, our resilience and our faith. I wanted women to see that you can come from humble beginnings and still build an empire, with grace and grit."
That message defines the series' heartbeat. Each season intertwines ambition and identity, showing how women managing million-dollar goals also navigate marriages, friendships and forgiveness. Pearson designed Belle Collective to be both entertaining and intentional, explaining, "For me, it's all about intention. I know the platform can be entertaining, but my purpose has always been to empower. I don't try to create perfection; I show growth and authenticity."
For critics who doubt that reality TV can carry meaning, she offers a simple reply: "I'd say: watch Belle Collective. … Because it's possible to have purpose and platform at the same time. Purpose is what you bring into the space. My story and the stories of other women on this show have opened conversations about business, marriage, friendships, healing, forgiveness and faith. That's bigger than television; that's ministry through media."
Health and the Business of Showing Up
Pearson's impact extends far beyond television. Her willingness to share her health journey has made her an unexpected advocate for women facing invisible challenges. "I shared it because I know what it feels like to suffer in silence," she said of revealing her experience with PCOS. "For years, I didn't understand why my body was changing, and I carried shame around that. Once I learned what PCOS was and how many women deal with it, I realized my story could help someone else stop blaming themselves. The response has been overwhelming, and women thank me for giving them the courage to talk to their doctors, to start eating differently, to love themselves again. That's the real reward."
Her transparency opened a wave of dialogue about self-care and self-forgiveness. It also changed how she moves through her own life. Pearson expressed, "It taught me grace. There are days when my body doesn't cooperate, and I still have to show up on camera, in meetings or on stage. PCOS humbled me and reminded me that health is not just physical, it's emotional and spiritual. I've learned to listen to my body, to rest and to honor it. That's power."
As a voice on a platform like OWN, she sees an opportunity to keep broadening that discussion. "We're making progress, but there's still room to grow," she said. "OWN does a beautiful job at storytelling, but I'd love to see even more content on all major platforms that focus on wellness, not just physical health, but mental and emotional healing. So many women are carrying unspoken pain, and these platforms can be the bridge that helps them heal."
The CEO of Self-Belief
Pearson's own empire, Lateshia Pearson Enterprises, is the result of years of faith, correction and structure. Built from the ground up without a guidebook, it now spans media consulting, leadership development and nonprofit outreach.
"Oh, I've made plenty [of mistakes]! The biggest one was trying to do everything alone," she shared. "I thought asking for help meant weakness. I also didn't always separate business from personal relationships, and that taught me the value of contracts, boundaries and structure. Every mistake became a lesson that shaped me into the woman I am today."
When doubt creeps in, Pearson returns to her reason for starting this sisterhood. "I kept thinking about the women who needed to see that it's possible and that even with fear, you can still move forward. I would pray, journal and remind myself that faith and doubt can't coexist. When I shifted my mindset from 'What if I fail?' to 'What if I fly?' — everything changed."
Her entrepreneurial philosophy anchors everything she teaches through her coaching programs. "Start with what you have. You are the resource. Write down your vision, pray over it and take one step every day. Consistency creates opportunities. Don't wait to be 'ready,' instead start where you are and let faith and frequency fill in the gaps. The right people and resources will align with you once you start moving."
The Gospel According to Brunch
Much of Pearson's purpose flows through Women Brunch Mississippi and Empower Me Sis, her initiatives connecting female founders, dreamers and doers. "Honestly, no," she admits when asked if she expected its reach. "I started it in 2017, just wanting to bring female entrepreneurs and aspiring women together to pour into one another. I had no idea it would turn into a statewide movement that's now inspiring women across the country. It's a reminder that when your vision comes from a pure place, God will expand it beyond what you can imagine."
That faith has been validated through transformation after transformation. "There was a young woman who attended one of my early brunches," Pearson recalls. "She came broken, unsure of her next step. A year later, she started her own business, came back as a vendor and told me that Women Brunch Mississippi gave her the courage to believe again. Stories like that fuel me."
Her approach to leadership mirrors the community she's built — one mimosa at a time. "Authenticity," she says. "I don't create from competition; I create from connection and collaboration. When women walk into my events, I want them to feel seen, heard and valued. It's about leading with love and purpose, not ego. That's how you build a community that lasts."
"Purpose and platform can live in the same space," Pearson added. "When women see that, something inside them shifts."
Courtesy of OWN
The Southern Standard
Season 6 of Belle Collective embodies growth, vulnerability and power in motion. The women's stories unfold through business expansion, family shifts and the art of rebuilding — with cameras rolling. Each episode captures ambition grounded in accountability, meaning the kind that demands as much introspection as success.
"Belle Collective has given me visibility, yes. But what happens beyond the brunch is where my legacy lives," Pearson emphasized.
Through Belle Collective, Women Brunch Mississippi and Lateshia Pearson Enterprises, she's built a household name grounded in Southern heart, with women from around the world lined up for a seat at her table. This season captures her ascent into a new realm of influence, proving that fame and faith can share the same space when purpose leads the way.
Watch Belle Collective Fridays at 8/7c on OWN.
