I left everything. For truth. For freedom. For this.
Once, I had it all —
a thriving fashion business,
a home hidden in the woods near Moscow, with a private pool, gym, silence, and beauty.
I built a life of art, independence, and creation.
But when Russia bombed Ukraine, I couldn’t stay silent.
My family is from Odesa and Crimea. This war wasn’t just political; it was personal.
So I did what most wouldn’t dare:
I left.
I left comfort, success, everything I owned —
and crossed continents with four dogs, one suitcase, and a fire that wouldn’t die.
I slept in my car.
I lived on nothing.
And still — I created.
Today, I stand in Beverly Hills.
I design. I build. I transform.
I sew lawless clothes by hand.
I sculpt beauty in my studio.
I make things no one else dares to make.
This isn’t fashion; this is defiance. This is resurrection. This is BelLacherta.
And it’s only the beginning.

Maxine R Bellay.