Reading Time: 5 minutes

When the founder of Bodyscape Chantelle-Lee Barrett first opened the doors to her Portmore wellness space, she wasn’t just launching a business; she was creating the kind of sanctuary she once needed herself. 

After spending years in her corporate job she found herself searching for something simple yet elusive, space to breathe.

She knew she needed somewhere she could slow down, reconnect, and release the tension that life had quietly layered onto her shoulders. What began as a quiet vision has since blossomed into one of Jamaica’s most beloved self-care destinations, a place where intention meets beauty and where clients come not just for services, but for restoration.

“As a female who had recently relocated to the Portmore area, I had a need for a space where I could truly breathe again and reconnect with myself,” she recalls.

In that longing, the seed of Bodyscape took root; not as a business idea, but as a moment of self-awareness that would eventually evolve into a movement.

From the beginning, every detail of Bodyscape has mirrored chapters of her personal story. From the scents, the services, to even the atmosphere, each element of the brand reflects lessons learned about balance, restoration, and cultivating a sanctuary.

“I always envisioned more than just a spa; I wanted an experience that nurtured both the body and the mind. Self-care transforms confidence and energy, and I felt I needed to share that in a meaningful, consistent way,” she shares.

Chantelle wanted clients to walk in and feel something she once desperately needed: safety and serenity.

Over the years Bodyscape has built the reputation of a very intentional wellness brand.

What she built with Bodyscape wasn’t merely a beauty space; it was a sanctuary constructed from lived experience, empathy, and intention.

The Birthplace of the Brand: Naming the Vision

The name came to her as both metaphor and mission.

“The name Bodyscape came to us as a symbol of artistry, the idea that our bodies are living landscapes, each unique and deserving of care and appreciation,” Barrett says

To her, the work of wellness is sculptural. It reshapes how we move, think, and feel.
“It represents transformation,” she states. “The way touch, skincare, and relaxation can sculpt not just how we look, but how we feel within ourselves.”

Bodyscape became an invitation to approach the body as something sacred, both a canvas and a sanctuary.

The Leap: Starting Before She Felt Ready

Some founders begin with a business plan. Chantelle began with a leap of faith.

“The first step was securing the location before even putting my idea on paper,” she admits. “It was less about perfection and more about believing that if I started with purpose, the rest would follow.”

Purpose, it turns out, is an architect.

It built the service menu, the atmosphere, the team and provided Chantelle with the confidence to keep going even when she thought it was overwhelming.

As it turned out one of her biggest early challenges was learning to hold two demanding worlds at once.

“Running a spa is both heart and business,” she says. “Balancing that alongside my corporate job took time.”

But Barrett took it all in stride and held on to her purpose.

That purpose became the compass that directed her steps and so she endured that period by learning to manage the dual roles required by building systems, leaning on her team, listening to client feedback, and constantly returning to her why.

That “why” became the backbone of Bodyscape.

The Moment Bodyscape Found Its Place

Every brand dreams of the moment it reaches cultural recognition, when the public begins to describe it in terms the founder once whispered to themself.

For Bodyscape, that moment came unexpectedly.

The dedication Barrett had poured into the company paid off and there came moments of unexpected conversations where it became clear that her spa had become more than a business.

“There were instances when clients started describing Bodyscape, not just as a spa, but as a community,” Barrett recalls. “I’d go to trade shows or even the supermarket and just hear the love people had for the brand.”

That was when she knew Bodyscape had shifted from business to belonging; it had ultimately become a community.

“When people began associating the brand with consistent care, luxury, and being customer- focused, I realised we had found our voice.” Barrett says

Clients weren’t just booking appointments; they were describing Bodyscape as a place that consistently delivered warmth, luxury, and care.

When asked, “How has customer feedback influenced the evolution of the brand?” Barrett’s response was one that shows how Bodyscape values its customers.

She states that, “Customer feedback has shaped almost everything. I’ve learned to truly listen to what clients say, and what they don’t say.”

This deep listening inspired not only service refinement but product innovation in the form of EPPE Skincare.

“Introducing an entire line of skincare products came directly from our clients. Those products are now among some of the best on the market.” Barrett says.

As Bodyscape evolved, at the core the brand has been guided by the community that had developed from the brand.

When asked about the philosophies that steer the company Chantelle answers without hesitation.

“Consistency, Quality and Innovation.”

She shares that these three pillars stand at the heart of Bodyscape’s identity.

“Every decision is measured against them from the products we use to the people we hire. I believe in doing things with intention, not just for aesthetics or profit, but for real impact on how someone feels when they walk out our doors.” Barrett shares.

A Journey Summed Up in Three Words

When asked to describe Bodyscape’s journey in three words, Chantelle describes it as transformative, resilient and purposeful.

“Transformative because this journey has changed lives, including my own.
Resilient, because it hasn’t been easy, but every challenge refined us and purposeful, because everything we do ties back to helping others feel confident and cared for.” She says

These words read like a thesis, sharing the emotional blueprint of what has built Bodyscape as a brand.

Chantelle shares that her hope is that Bodyscape will be remembered not simply as a spa, but as a movement, one that redefines self-care in Jamaica.

“If Bodyscape inspires even one person to care more deeply for themselves, then that is the legacy I would be most proud to leave,” Barrett says

In a fast-paced world, Bodyscape stands as a reminder that self-care isn’t an indulgence. It is a return to self, a journey of healing, confidence, and quiet transformation.

From a personal need for peace to a brand that has touched lives, Bodyscape stands as a testament to what intention, resilience, and heart can build; a reminder that true wellness begins within.