We were lucky to catch up with Brianna Colbert recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brianna thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Before I became Chef Bri, I had to take risks.

Some of those risks meant relocating, struggling, and pushing through moments that felt impossible. I left my mother’s home and moved to Mississippi to pursue culinary arts. That decision changed my life — but it wasn’t easy.

During my college years, I had to stay grounded and focused no matter how hard things became. There were many days when the only food I had to eat was what we prepared in our culinary labs. I remember seeing empty refrigerators and empty cabinets, and instead of letting that break me, it fueled me.

Those moments didn’t weaken my dream — they strengthened it.

Every struggle shaped me. Every sacrifice seasoned me. And every risk prepared me to become the Chef Bri I am today.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

A little background about me.

My passion for food began when I was just a child. I remember watching my mother cook — somehow making full meals out of what seemed like nothing. That alone sparked my curiosity. I was amazed at how creativity, love, and faith could turn the simplest ingredients into something meaningful.

As I got older, my late brother and I would cook together and call ourselves “chefs.” He used to say he was Emeril Lagasse. After his passing, I took that pain and turned it into purpose — a purpose that makes me feel connected to him every single day I step into the kitchen.

Over the years of learning and growing, I faced many trials and tribulations. Doubt, worry, and moments of lost faith tried to become barriers in my life. But they didn’t last long. I refused to let them.

After graduating from culinary school, I relocated to Florida to fully pursue my dreams. Shortly after that move, COVID hit. I lost my job and had to survive off unemployment. It was a season of uncertainty, but also a season of transformation.

One client reached out for a private dinner.

That one opportunity changed everything.

From that moment, inquiries started coming in nonstop. One booking turned into another. And another. What felt like a setback became divine alignment. Since then, God has grown my business tremendously — and it’s still in its early stages. This is only the beginning.

I also recently survived a seven-year domestic violence relationship. That chapter of my life didn’t break me — it strengthened me. It added to my drive, my resilience, and my hunger to build a life rooted in freedom, purpose, and passion.

Every loss, every setback, every risk — it all shaped Chef Bri.

And I’m just getting started.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Building my audience on social media was challenging at first. There were moments when it felt like I was posting into a void — creating, sharing, and showing up without seeing immediate results. But I made a decision to stay consistent, stay authentic, and stay focused on my vision.

Over time, that consistency began to pay off.

My audience started growing across all platforms. Engagement increased. Support increased. And most importantly, trust increased. What started as simply sharing my passion turned into a powerful tool that connected me directly to clients. Social media became more than just content — it became a bridge that led people straight to my website and into my services.

I learned that consistency builds visibility, and visibility builds opportunity.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One story that really illustrates my resilience is the season when I relocated to Florida to pursue my culinary dreams — and shortly after, COVID hit.

I had just taken a leap of faith. I left stability behind to build something bigger for myself. Then the world shut down. I lost my job and had to survive off unemployment. It was one of the most uncertain times in my life. Bills didn’t stop. Doubt tried to creep in. Fear was loud.

But I didn’t quit.

One client reached out to book me for a private dinner. Just one. I treated that dinner like it was the biggest opportunity of my life. I gave it everything I had. That one booking led to referrals. Then more bookings. Then nonstop inquiries. What looked like a setback turned into the very thing that launched my business.

At the same time, I was also healing from a seven-year domestic violence relationship. I had to rebuild not just financially, but emotionally and mentally. That experience could have broken me — but instead, it built me. It strengthened my faith, my confidence, and my determination to create a life rooted in purpose and freedom.

Resilience, for me, has looked like choosing to move forward when everything around me said stop. It’s looked like cooking through grief, building through uncertainty, and believing in my vision even when the evidence wasn’t visible yet.

That’s what made me Chef Bri.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chefbriexperience.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_chefbri__/?hl=en
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefbriexperience

Image Credits

Jovan, MGX MEDIA