Trinidad & Tobago is prodigiously building a reputation for producing some of the most brilliant marketing, branding and content creators in the Caribbean. So many individuals in this new paradigm of content creation have found ways to leverage their social proof and brand awareness through social media. It’s commendable, what many of these content creators have been able to achieve, and even though the word ‘influencer’ sometimes has a negative connotation in the minds of many Trinidadians, we still acknowledge their discipline. Every trend has to start somewhere and with someone. Long before there was the ‘influencer’, Teri-Leigh Bovell has been truly influential.
Teri-Leigh Bovell is a trained film producer, actress, TV Host, and qualified financial advisor; but most importantly – a proud mother of two. The days when society could inculcate in the minds of young Caribbean women that their contributions were limited to the confines of the home are dead and gone. That misguided notion gets harder and harder to sell, when young women have individuals like Teri-Leigh Bovell to emulate.
The multifaceted approach she has taken to her creativity and career is indeed noteworthy, but it is the thoughtful manner in which she puts things together that is most intriguing. She understands the value of paying attention to subtle details that could easily be overlooked, but if you observe closely you will see that Teri-Leigh is a calculated woman. Before she began designing Monday wear and advising clients, she worked in TV & Film. The design company she recently co-founded is called Lumiere Designs Ltd.
Bovell’s informed perspectives on the various aspects of her creativity are reflected even in how her company, Lumiere Designs Ltd, was named. She chose to shine “light” in a space where many women may have felt left in the dark. Mothers, more conservative masqueraders and women with abdominal variances who want to feel sexy yet secure on the road needed an option that was covering yet appealing and Teri-Leigh, along with her sister Marieange, decided to create a brand and a name that offered that.
It also is quite coincidental that choosing the name “Lumiere” correlates to her film background. The “Lumiere Brothers” were two French brothers – August Lumiere and Louis Lumiere – who were deemed the founding fathers of film and pioneers of color photography. They were lauded as some of the greatest inventors and visionaries of their time – in the same manner in which we now laud Teri-Leigh Bovell’s contribution to Caribbean Film/ TV Production and design.
CARIB VOXX: What motivated you to become involved in Film & TV Production ?
Teri-Leigh: “Getting into film was not initially as an effort to create content. My first motivation to get into entertainment was really to provide an income for myself and contribute to my household. However, it didn’t take long for me to completely fall in love with the art form and see the value of film in entertainment and its impact on shaping a society. Upon that realization, I immediately dove head in and went off to study film in Atlanta, where I was exposed to various artists, production houses, directors and networks. I’ve worked for Sunseeker Films, hosted for BETJ, auditioned for Jada Pinkett, Will Smith and Tyler Perry Studios, worked alongside Fergie and Hype Williams and was signed under Bloc Entertainment. It was truly a pivotal time in my entertainment career, and I brought that experience back with me to T&T where I’ve been blessed to contribute to various forms of film.”
CARIB VOXX: As an actress, what was the one role you always wanted to play that would have surprised people and shown a different side of your character if you had gotten the opportunity to play it?
Teri-Leigh: “I like the idea of playing a villain only because it’s an absolute challenge and tests my range as an actor… not to mention that it’s kind of fun (haha!). I have to say that I particularly loved Lena Headey’s portrayal of ‘Cersei’ in ‘Game of Thrones’. Her subtle, yet powerful range as an artist was just mind blowing.”
CARIB VOXX: Designing Monday wear for carnival is slightly different from designing regular carnival costumes. The boldness is still expected but there typically isn’t any ‘backline’ so you have less elements and less fabric to make a design statement with. Why did you choose to focus specifically on Monday wear?
Teri-Leigh: “Firstly, I think that Monday is the better and more vibesy of the two-day Carnival celebrations. Secondly, as a mother with diastasis recti (which is a permanent separation of your abdominal muscles due to pregnancy), I struggled to find a suit that I felt comfortable in on the road; and if I did find something that hid/complimented my abdomen, it was just not attractive or was super expensive. So I decided to take matters in my own hands and create Monday wear that complimented my body and made me feel confident. I quickly realized that there were many other women who wanted the same offering, so I decided to mass produce my vision.”
CARIB VOXX: A lot of your design work is a collaboration between yourself and Marieange. Tell us what you are most of proud of working on with her and how you guys allocate the different roles in the design process between each other.
Teri-Leigh: “Marieange is my eyeball. I love her like my own child, so being able to work alongside her has truly been a blessing – the biggest of which is closely witnessing her drive and her talent. I am just so proud of the woman she has grown to be. She contributed more in terms of ensuring that the Monday wear pieces remained current and fashionable while I managed form and function.”
CARIB VOXX: How has motherhood anchored your creative pursuits?
Teri-Leigh: “My two girls give me drive. They make me fight. They remind me daily why I am here on this Earth. So whether I am sitting in my entertainment or financial advisory roles, I remain focused and execute for them.”
CARIB VOXX: Outside of the creative realm, you work as an insurance and real estate agent. Tell us one aspect of your character that you think allows you to function efficiently in your corporate, real estate and creative endeavors.
Teri-Leigh: “My spirituality. I see each role as an opportunity to shed light and share love with those that I meet and impact; so whether it be through the TV screen or in-person with one of my clients, I ensure to be present, give my soul and make the world just a little bit better – a little bit happier.”
