The Birmingham Belles Are Here — And They're On Their Own Terms
OWN's Belle Collective franchise has officially expanded, and the Alabama chapter is making it clear they aren't simply a carbon copy of what came before. Belle Collective: Birmingham, the network's first-ever Belle Collective spin-off, is now airing Fridays at 8 p.m. on OWN, and the women at its center are already staking their claim as a different kind of collective altogether.
At the heart of the series is Love & Marriage: Huntsville alum Stormi Steele, the founder and CEO of Canvas Beauty, joined by CFO Amber Jones, entrepreneur Tiffaney Jones, marketing strategist Funmi Ford, and talent manager K'la Inman — a group of driven Southern women with a shared vision of transforming Birmingham into a powerhouse destination for Black entrepreneurship, beauty, and influence.
So what separates the Birmingham Belles from the original Jackson crew? According to the cast, it comes down to diversity and depth. Amber Jones points to the sheer variety the Birmingham women bring — different personalities, career paths, backgrounds, and relationship dynamics — calling it a mix of culture, careers, and personal life that sets them apart. Funmi Ford adds another layer: Jackson doesn't have a Nigerian on their cast — and that, she says, is the biggest difference. The diversity in stories, she emphasizes, is what truly matters.
Beyond the casting, there's also a larger statement being made about how the South is perceived. Ford pushes back on what she calls an outdated narrative around Alabama — one she encounters frequently when traveling for Fashion Week and elsewhere — noting that the questions she gets asked about the state reveal just how much the outside world has underestimated it.
What sets the Birmingham cast apart, Jones says, is relatability: "There are so many layers: marriage, careers, friendships. Everybody can see themselves in someone."
With glamour, ambition, and emotional authenticity at its core, Belle Collective: Birmingham explores the real-life balancing act of business, motherhood, marriage, friendship, faith, and personal reinvention. The show is produced by Carlos King's Kingdom Reign Entertainment — the same creative force behind the original franchise.
The Birmingham Belles aren't here to compete with Jackson. They're here to write their own story. And from the looks of it, they've got plenty to say.
Belle Collective: Birmingham airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on OWN.