'RHOBH' Star Garcelle Beauvais' Haitian Roots Are the Driving Force Behind Her Mission to Help Humanity (Exclusive) ...Saudi Arabia

Garcelle Beauvais is many things: an actress, a mother, a reality TV star, a friend and an advocate, to name a few. Her newest title, Parade Changemaker, is one she holds close to her heart — and for which she gives credit to her Haitian roots.

"Coming from Haiti and living in Haiti really shaped me into who I am because we really didn't have a lot," the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star exclusively tells Parade. "But when I was little, I didn't realize I didn't have a lot. I think that my roots grounded me into who I've become in terms of wanting to give back [and] in terms of being so grateful to be where I am. It would be selfish not to give back, to not show my children that it's important to do something, to leave a mark that you've done a little bit in the world. I think if everybody does just a little bit, it will change the world."

Though she had a few acting credits under her belt when she first started out in Hollywood, Beauvais' career really kicked off after she boldly showed up to late producer Aaron Spelling's office — unannounced — with her reel in hand to pitch herself for the 1990s TV show Models Inc. After portraying Cynthia Nichols on the series that ran for one season from 1994 to 1995, Beauvais solidified her rising-star status with roles on The Jamie Foxx Show and NYPD Blue long before being cast on Bravo's RHOBH.

? SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox ?

And while Beauvais' career has soared to new heights over the years, there wasn’t a singular moment that sparked her passion for using her platform to give back.

"We didn't see careers as platforms back in the day. Everybody was hustling, trying to do their thing," she tells Parade. "But for me, I always wanted to do something, whether it was raising my kids doing lemonade stands to help whenever something happened, whether it was [in] Haiti or everywhere. It was just more about, 'I’ve got to do something.'"

Greg Doherty/Getty Images

The reality star tells Parade that her sense of urgency to pitch in when and where she can isn't limited to doing one thing.

"Sometimes it's donating money, and sometimes it's actually getting on the ground and doing something," she says. "So I started getting involved with different charities, like the March of Dimes, Step Up for Women's Network and [various work in] Haiti, all different types of things."

As for the organizations she chooses to work with, Beauvais says she asks herself, "Where do I fit in that feels authentic?" Many of those organizations, however, naturally fall into the category of women helping women, young girls and children. And at the drop of a hat, she's ready to put the work in.

After multiple wildfires broke out across Los Angeles in early January, Beauvais hit the ground running with CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort), an organization she's "really proud" to be involved in. The fires completely decimated the Altadena and Pacific Palisades communities, destroying over 18,000 homes, buildings and other structures while scorching over 55,000 acres overall. Tens of thousands of Southern California residents were displaced and at least 29 people died.

Courtesy of Garcelle Beauvais

There was never a doubt in Beauvais' mind that she wanted to do whatever she could to help.

"I ended up going to the Dream Center in downtown [Los Angeles], where the donations were through the roof. I bought a car full of things myself. But when I got there, it paled in comparison to what they had," she recalls. "I went to one of the shelters in Pasadena, and that was heartbreaking because [there were] rooms full of people sleeping on cots, and you're sleeping next to people that you don't know [whom] you've just met, and everybody is in a daze. It was hard to watch."

Related: How to Help Those Affected by the California Wildfires: Resources, Donations, More 

Beauvais' work isn't limited to putting in effort behind the scenes, though. The actress served as executive producer and star of Lifetime's Black Girl Missing, which follows a mother who enlists amateur internet sleuths to help find her missing daughter after authorities and the media write off her case and focus on a missing white girl instead. The film, which won an Astra Award and a Gracie Award, was inspired by the true stories of missing Black and Brown women.

"We thought, it's an important movie to do. Will it resonate? Will people watch it? Will it make a difference? And boy, was I surprised," she tells Parade before reiterating the importance of the film's message.

"We can tell you about the Natalee Holloways, we can tell you about all these women. And I want to make sure people understand that I'm not saying that those women don't count," Beauvais declares. "If a Black or Brown person goes missing, we need the same attention that everybody else gets."

Courtesy of Garcelle Beauvais

The decision to show photos and names of real missing women at the end of the film proved to be a powerful one.

"Two of the women that I named were found," she says. "So that was incredible. And we didn't know that was going to happen."

Even with the incredible work she's done throughout her lifetime, Beauvais isn't stopping any time soon.

"I just feel like it's my duty. I feel like we're losing humanity in a lot of ways. And I want to help," she says, later reflecting on what being a Changemaker truly means to her.

"A Changemaker is someone who is taking what they've been given and trying to do good with it," she tells Parade. "I think it's our responsibility as human beings to step up when needed. And I think that's what a Changemaker does."

Courtesy of Garcelle Beauvais

But being a Changemaker isn't limited to how big one's platform is, Beauvais explains. It's about finding "something that you love" that will give you the momentum to keep creating change.

"I think passion is the driving force, right? If you're just doing it just to do it, I don't think you'll stick with it. I think it's wanting to do something that you feel you can be of help with," she says. "I think that's the key to wanting to help: wanting to do something. I think that's what it takes. Passion and compassion."

Related: Spread the Love! 25 Gifts That Give Back (And Feel Good To Give) 

As for what she'd say to her younger self as a little girl living in Haiti who will one day change the world, Beauvais gets emotional at the thought.

"I would tell little Garcelle, 'Don't be so scared.' Because I was really scared. Like, of everything — of the dark, of a lot of things," she says. "[I would tell her] that it's all going to work out in a way that you couldn't possibly imagine. So just keep dreaming, being open, and don't ever lose that little girl in you."

Part of that dream for Beauvais, she says, is continuing to advocate and do work on behalf of Haiti and its communities to get back to a place of people before politics.

Courtesy of Garcelle Beauvais

"My hope for people in Haiti is to get a chance. I feel like it's one thing after another. If it's not a natural disaster, it's politics," she explains. "I would love to see Haiti like it was when I was growing up, where people were out in the street having a good time and dancing. You hear music, you see vendors on the street, you see these beautiful women with big baskets on their heads. It felt to me like happy times. And I would like to see that. I would like for us to be in a better place where kids are not scared to go to school, where people are not afraid to go to work and be outside of their homes."

"Haiti needs a voice," she continues. "And there are a lot of people out there doing work on behalf of Haiti. I know other things happen in other places and our attention sometimes goes away. But for me, I will try to bring it back to Haiti until we're in a really good place."

Related: Garcelle Beauvais Says 'It Means Everything' to Be the First Black Housewife on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( 'RHOBH' Star Garcelle Beauvais' Haitian Roots Are the Driving Force Behind Her Mission to Help Humanity (Exclusive) )

Also on site :

• Popular Chip Brand's Summertime Exclusive Flavor Is Too 'Interesting' Not to Try
• No Way: FBI Assesses That Venezuela Facilitating Migration of Gang Members to US
• Shannon Sharpe accused of choking female production assistant at Fox Sports prior to $50M rape lawsuit: report