Stella Belizaire shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Stella, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building is my resilience & discipline. A lot of people see the finished product like the gowns, the collections, or the brand in general but they don’t see the inner foundation I’ve built to keep going when things get tough. Behind the scenes, it’s taken self-discipline, late nights, and constant problem-solving to bring ideas to life. That inner strength is invisible, but it’s what allows me to consistently create, grow, and pour into others through my work.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Stella Belizaire and I’m the founder, creative director & designer behind The EB Couture and CONTIA by Estella B. The EB Couture specializes in custom gowns for special occasions, prom, bridal & more, while CONTIA represents my vision for ready-to-wear and lifestyle fashion. What makes my work unique is the balance between exclusivity and empowerment every piece I design is crafted to make women feel like the best version of themselves. My journey began with a passion for sewing and has grown into building brands that embody creativity, luxury, and confidence. Truly crafted for the STARS. Right now, I’m expanding CONTIA with new collections that merge high fashion with everyday wear, while continuing to tell stories through design and with The EB Couture, I’m pushing my creativity into realms bigger than I could have ever imagined.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
The people who taught me the most about work were my mom and my grandparents, along with the lessons I’ve had to teach myself. Growing up my mom was a single mother in medical school, working two jobs while raising two kids & she never showed signs of tiredness or defeat. My grandparents, straight from Haiti, carried the same resilience no matter the circumstances, they got up every day and made it work. Watching them gave me the foundation of discipline and perseverance but my own journey taught me resilience too. Through trial and error, long nights and moments where I had to rely only on myself, I learned how to pair hard work with vision. Together, those lessons shaped not only how I work but who I am.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Suffering taught me lessons that success never could. Success often makes you feel celebrated but suffering strips away illusions and forces you to confront who you truly are. It showed me resilience, patience, and the ability to keep going even when everything around me felt heavy and like the world is against me. Most importantly, it gave me compassion for myself and for others because I know what it feels like to struggle in silence. While success has built my confidence, suffering has built my character.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no. The public version of me is real in the sense that I’ve never faked who I am or tried to create a persona that isn’t true. But as social media evolved, I realized I didn’t have to give all of myself away to be authentic. I used to share more of my personality openly but over time I’ve chosen to protect certain parts of me and keep them sacred. What people see is still me it’s just a version shaped by discernment, boundaries and the understanding that not every piece of who I am needs to live online.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes, I’ve experienced that. Sometimes we think reaching a goal or getting what we wanted will be the ultimate fulfillment but once we have it, we’re already chasing the next high. I’ve realized that’s where we mess up we don’t always slow down to truly live in the blessing we asked for. Satisfaction doesn’t come from constantly moving to the next thing, it comes from learning to be present and grateful in the moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://contiaofficial.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contiaofficial/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@THEONESTELLAB
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/thatblackgirl._/
https://www.instagram.com/theebcouture/
Image Credits
2711 Studios, AO Captures
