House Resolution 170

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING THE CAST MEMBERS OF THE "BELLE COLLECTIVE" REALITY TV SERIES BROADCASTING ON THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK.

WHEREAS, the "Belle Collective" is an American reality television series, which premiered on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) on January 15, 2021, with Season 2 debuting Friday, July 29, 2022; and

WHEREAS, "Belle Collective" centers on the personal and professional lives of six successful, glamourous African-American businesswomen who are redefining what it means to be a southern belle living in Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, determined to break glass ceilings and other social and gender barriers, while shredding long-held stereotypes of the South, "Belle Collective" is much more than the drama that plays out on the camera, but focuses on African-American female entrepreneurship, family, career navigation and civic and social activism to elevate the culture; and

WHEREAS, currently filming its third season, the "Belle Collective" cast consists of: Lateshia Pearson, Tambra Cherie, Latrice Rogers, Marie Hamilton-Abston, Aikisha Holly-Colon and Sophia O. "So Gucci" Williams; and

WHEREAS, Lateshia Pearson is an author, motivational speaker, CEO of Lateshia Pearson Enterprise, Inc., and business strategist, who has gained major public acclaim while serving as a force of empowerment, inspiration and encouragement for women on their journey to start businesses; and

WHEREAS, a proud recipient of the 2020 Top Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and 2020 Top 50 under 40 Award presented by the Mississippi Business Journal, Mrs. Pearson utilizes the Women Brunch Mississippi, which she founded, as a platform of advocacy that focuses on helping women become the best version of themselves by sharing life-changing techniques that lead to incredible transformations and successful connections with the resources to establish thriving businesses; and

WHEREAS, the poised and personable Tambra Cherie is a full-time, interactive media personality, radio/TV personality, entertainment news correspondent, author, entrepreneur, spokesperson and host, who is known as the City with Soul's "Midday Diva," a persona she acquired while working as the midday on-air radio personality for 97.7, The Beat of the Capital, WRBJ; and

WHEREAS, Tambra Cherie, whose passion for the entertainment industry was discovered while attending Jackson State University, has hosted concerts, festivals and events throughout the country, and with more than 15 years of experience in radio and television market, her effervescent personality has won over the hearts of listeners and viewers alike during her guest hosting appearances on Lifetime's hit television show "Bring It!", as a guest co-host on Dish Nation TV, which airs on FOX affiliates, and appearances on TV One's "Sister Circle TV", where she expounds upon the messages that inspired her book, Surrounded by Sin, Grounded by Love: 8 Simple Keys to Becoming a Better You; and

WHEREAS, beauty mogul, entrepreneur and TV personality, Latrice Rogers is a true testament to dedication and hard work, as the CEO of Goddess Lengths Virgin Hair and E'Sensual Beauty, who has had a fascination with hair care since her youth, and who from the trunk of her Toyota Camry, has built a multi-million dollar business after many tireless months of sampling, testing, trial and error; and

WHEREAS, Mrs. Rogers' drive and perseverance led her to develop one of the hair industry's most sought after hair brands in the country, offering customers the finest virgin human hair tresses worldwide, which positioned Goddess Lengths Virgin Hair to become one of the first hair companies in the world to offer hair-dispensing vending machines, while remaining true to her humble beginnings in Canton, Mississippi, and uplifting the next generation by catering to college students as a diligent community servant and philanthropist who has awarded scholarships, participated in hunger initiatives and sponsors one of the largest annual back-to-school book bag, laptop and supply drives in the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Marie Hamilton-Abston, a Brandon native, who holds a bachelor's degree in accounting, a master's degree in health administration, while currently pursuing her doctorate in health administration, is Black history in the making, as the State of Mississippi's first African-American owner of several opioid treatment clinics, committed to providing withdrawal management services to people suffering from chronic addiction to opioids and opioid derivatives; and

WHEREAS, the co-owner of a multi-million dollar empire of thriving business establishments, consisting of Hamilton Davis Mental Health, Inc., Hamilton Davis Home Care, Inc., Hamilton Davis Medical Supply, Inc., Hamilton Davis Adult Day Care, Inc., Hamilton Davis Transport, Inc., Hamilton Davis Assisted Living Agency, Inc., Hamilton Davis Community Outreach, Inc., Hamilton Davis K-12 Private Academy, Inc., Hamilton Davis Auto Sales, Inc., Zuri Marie Cosmetics, Zuri Marie Virgin Hair and Zuri Marie Fashion Designer, Mrs. Hamilton-Abston showcases to the world that she has the zeal required to be a devoted mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and multi-business owner and the rewards of fulfillment that accompany each role; and

WHEREAS, Aikisha Holly-Colon is a native of Jackson, Mississippi, who, after graduating from Callaway High School, attended Clark Atlanta University, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in mass media arts with a concentration in radio/TV/film before going to work at WSB-TV Atlanta's ABC affiliate and appearing on Atlanta's first Internet radio network, Beehive FM, as a host on The Midday Show; and

WHEREAS, a partner and co-owner of Bricks and Hops Beer Garden in the Bronx, New York, Mrs. Holly-Colon, who will be bringing a second location of the popular Bronx dive to Jackson's Farish Street Historic District soon, wears dual hats as the president and executive director of the Willie and Aikisha Colon Foundation, in addition to serving in the capacity of vice president of her family's nonprofit organization, The Holly Foundation, while juggling a work-life balance as the wife to retired NFL player, super bowl champion and radio/tv personality Willie Colon, mother of two children, William Muriel IV and Holly LaSonia-Grace, and as a dedicated member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc; and

WHEREAS, Sophia O. Williams, affectionately known as "So Gucci," a certified personal trainer and the owner of Stairway 2 Sogucci Fitness, whose mantra and objective is living life with passion and tenacity, loves being active and a staple in the community, by helping others to live their best lives through boot camps she hosts to encourage health and wellness; and

WHEREAS, a reputable and thriving real estate agent with impressive sales volumes, Sophia Williams has capitalized on both her bachelor's degree in business management and master's in human resources to amass over $1 million in property sales within her first year as a realtor, and under her affiliation with Keller-Williams Realty she continues to build her real estate clientele; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize such a remarkable group of strong, independent and successful African-American women who are the symbols of Mississippi's remarkable talents in education, social and civic service and entrepreneurial success:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby

recognize and commend the cast members of the "Belle Collective" reality television series broadcasting on the Oprah Winfrey Network and extend best wishes for continued success in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Lateshia Pearson, Tambra Cherie, Latrice Rogers, Marie Hamilton-Abston, Aikisha Holly-Colon, Sophia O. "So Gucci" Williams and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.