International model Leah Marville making an impact

By Michron Robinson

Former Miss Barbados World 2009 Leah Marville is a business mogul in the making but for her it’s not just about profit – she’s walking authentically in her purpose taking up the task of empowering many along the way.

The former student of Erdiston Primary and Queen’s College sat down (virtually) with Barbados TODAY for a candid interview on her passion for people, which far outruns her passion for profits.

“I believe I am now walking in my purpose because I understand my ‘why’ – I think things like entering Miss Barbados and then running the franchise for four years was a form of purpose and also my charity, the Love Campaign, was a form of purpose. I believe that all those paths led me to this point, but the difference now is that I know my ‘why’ and who I am and what my calling is, which I believe is to inspire and to create a positive impact.”

This Bajan gem who resides in Los Angeles and represents Select Models LA is the founder of the popular podcast Life and Lemonade TV and the wellness movement Be.Do.Become. She says she has transformed so much since being signed two decades ago.

Leah is also making a positive impact with her wellness movement Be.Do.Become.

Back in the early 2000s, there were only Jamaican models on the international market with almost no small island representation. Even though her family was not convinced that modelling was an actual career, she was determined not only to make it, but to make it big. This was before Wi-Fi was a thing, let alone Instagram and Facebook.

In reminiscing, Marville shared her resolve. “The world felt a lot bigger, and it was a lot more disconnected for me,” but, not one to be deterred easily, she journeyed on. “I felt a huge sense of responsibility and those years pierced a fair sense of determination inside of me.”

The Law graduate who holds an LLB from UWI Cave Hill believes even more now that she’s living up to that envisioned responsibility which she shouldered. Now, though, she admits she knows oh too well the importance of being selective in what and who she allows to enter her space.

“I only invest my time in things that are missioned for that and I only create projects that are guided toward having a positive impact,” she told Barbados TODAY.

As for what keeps Leah inspired having to manage so much, she said it’s simply the environment, something as simple as the vastness of being in the United States, particularly in the same state as Hollywood.

“To be honest, I really get energised by being able to live and work in Los Angeles with brands that I’ve only ever seen on TV as a child. I like when I book a job and I see the name of a brand that I thought I would never be able to work with as a child. Just living in Los Angeles, driving along the highways and seeing snow-capped mountains with palm trees at the same time and the topography of LA reminds me of how big this world is and how far I’ve come. That really does keep me energised,” she said with a smile in her voice.

She added that waking up and knowing her purpose also keeps her very inspired. “I think that sounds poetic and cliche but when you tap into that, you move from a different place of being accountable to your mission. Every day, I wake up for my community of Be.Do.Become as there is a form of accountability within me.”

And although remaining inspired has its difficulties, she leans into something bigger than herself – her faith. “Motivation becomes challenging because living in Hollywood is hard. Pursuing your dreams comes with a lot of sacrifices and it can be daunting at times. Motivation wanes and when [it does], I lean a lot on my faith and my discipline,” she said resolutely.

“Faith is the centre of my wellness journey. Having lived in so many different places and experienced so many different cultures and customs and belief systems, I think embarking on my wellness journey really helped me to be clear on my own belief system.”

A revival came in her grounding herself in Jesus some eight years ago, when she had a mental shift. Marville shared she went into therapy, which has helped her to grow and heal since then. “I remember at that time I quit my job, sold my lease, gave up my car like a crazy person and I just changed my life, changed my mind and picture of life completely.”

She said operating in this new vibration allows her to be very protective of her space, time, energy and relationships. “I mean, it was always there, but I really had to stand up and be clear on my faith. I really reconnected to my faith during that time. My faith helped me with everything. It helped me with forgiveness, it helped me with patience. It helps me with the characteristics and values that I embody, it helps me with how I show up to the world. It even dictates the words that come out of my mouth or what it allows me to say. My faith is everything.”

Being. Doing. and Becoming is what this November born is working towards and it has been quite a journey, one she started in her 20s.

“Eight years ago I remember I was turning 29, and I was living in a country that I had no family ties to and I wasn’t consciously operating for my purpose. I was so career driven that I was sacrificing a lot of family life and, ironically, family is the most important to me. I was living the opposite of [what I cherished] and [where my heart was]. I was finally able to acknowledge that there were things from my childhood that I needed to heal from and face and that was the beginning of a deep metamorphosis that made me who I am [today],” she said.

Leah has big plans for the world of global business, but at the end of the day she’s intent on bringing it all back to where she started – the Caribbean and, in particular, Barbados. “My desire is to build a bridge between Los Angeles and the Caribbean, Barbados specifically, creating opportunities, business expansion between the two worlds. I think that there is a lot of beauty and opportunity that can be exchanged.” 

Words of advice from this globe trotter to business women and models are simple yet profound: “I know the world could seem like a really big place and the distance between where you are and where you’re trying to get to could seem very far out of reach or even impossible but you have to tell people about your worth, your gifts and your art.”

 She intends to use some of that advice for herself and for her future family, which is in focus. “Part of my big picture project is working on me and my family life. I still want to have kids, get married and have that big family home. I’m working on a project [which includes me] and always becoming a better version of myself.”

To find out more about Leah Marville or to become a part of Be.Do.Become, follow her on Instagram @leahmarville. (MR)