Berite Labelle has never let challenges interfere with her destiny. Even at the tender age of five, she already knew that one day she would work in the entertainment industry. And despite everything life threw her way, she persevered, always keeping in mind the vision of where she would one day be. "When I was a child, my father's colleague told me that one day I would be a model. This stuck in my mind. I knew that one day it would be my reality."
Today, Berite is an international model, actress, and writer who has worked for high-flying brands such as La Perla, Fabergé, and Michaud SA across Europe. She has also appeared in top-tier fashion shows, including Tiffany's Fashion Week in Paris, and is currently working on her own short film production. While that is a lot of accomplishments for a young woman of 28, to achieve them Berite had to find the strength to soar above the challenging experiences of her childhood and adolescence.
Tumultuous Childhood
Berite was born in Tiraspol, Moldova, to a Chadian father and a Moldovan-Russian mother, at a time when the tiny Eastern European country was a part of Russia. After her parents separated, six-year-old Berite followed her father on his global mission as an officer for the United Nations. The Russian-speaking girl was suddenly thrown into a world where she had to blend into a variety of cultures depending on her father's posting.
"When we first arrived in Switzerland, I was placed in special classes. I don't think the teachers thought I was very smart. They just didn't know how to deal with me," says the LA-based artist, adding that she would not see her mother for the next 20 years.
Things went from bad to worse for the young girl when her father passed away. As a 14-year-old, Berite found herself shipped off to a boarding school in France. "Suddenly I was all alone. My father was gone and I had no idea where my mother was. I realized that I had to stand on my own two feet. I focused on doing well at school and my grades gradually improved."
Berite's good run was short-lived, however. At the age of 17, she found herself facing life's challenges once again. "I got mixed up in some bad company and picked up habits that I wasn't proud of. This crushed any sense of well-being I had built up," she says. "This was also the point when I remembered my vision from so many years ago. I knew I had to turn my life around."
Turning Visions Into Reality
Realizing that she had to take responsibility for her own life, Berite started studying commerce as a backup in case she failed to make it as a model. It was while she was interning for Bucherer 1888, renowned Swiss jewelry and watch brand, that Berite got her first break "Each month, I modeled clothing by high-fashion brands such as Faberge and La Perla at the Four Seasons Hotel in Geneva," she says.
Other modeling jobs followed and eventually Berite was taken on as a client by both Truth Management and Colby Management. Since then she has walked some of the most notable runways in the world. Berite is quick to highlight that these achievements have only been possible because she made the conscious decision to rise above her limiting beliefs. "It's all a matter of perception. You are responsible for creating your own opportunities and your own reality."
Despite her success, Berite's vision was not yet complete. She still felt that she wanted to make her mark on the acting world. With her vision firmly in place, Berite entered the 2019 World Championship of Performing Arts in Long Beach, California, which she ended up winning. The prize was a partial scholarship at the New York Film Academy, a degree she completed in May 2020.
During her course of study, Berite wrote a short screenplay, which she is currently working to bring to life. The short film production will see Berite depict the lives of two very influential women — the enigmatic Egyptian ruler Cleopatra and the feminist philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft. "Even though Cleopatra lived in the first century BC and Mary Wollstonecraft in the 18th century, I feel very connected to both of them. They both had visions and worked hard to achieve their goals," Berite says.
All it Takes
Success requires both vision and the right mindset. It is also often found in perseverance and strength. Berite has worked hard to achieve her childhood aspirations. However, she is the first to admit that reaching her goals has come at a price.
"While I am thankful for living such a fulfilled life, it can get very lonely. My husband is based in Switzerland, Geneva, and I'm alone in Los Angeles working on a career that doesn't leave me much time to spend with my friends or enjoy the ocean," she says. "There's always something to do. It can be reading books about the characters I am going to play, working on accents, having Zoom appointments, or taking care of my social media."
Nevertheless, Berite says that the sacrifices have been all worth it and advises others to follow their dreams. "Be true to yourself. Choose what you are willing to leave behind and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone," the ambitious young woman says. "I built my confidence during the fashion shows I've performed in. Now I'm finally ready to pursue my acting career. I want to show the world who I am. My life has been hard but it's made me who I am and I am proud of myself."
So what's the next step? "Having gone through a difficult childhood, one day I am hoping to be able to help disadvantaged children. I would love to start a foundation to provide education and shelter for children in countries such as Thailand and Chad where my father came from. The pain and suffering in the world break my heart. We must all try to do our bit to alleviate it."