From Rejection to the Stage: Bronté Terrell’s Story

What’s your story, and how did you become an Instructor?

I trained as an actor, completing a three-year degree at a leading drama school in London. While studying, my mum introduced me to a Legs, Bums and Tums class – my first ever experience as a participant! We couldn’t walk for a week afterwards haha! A little later, she dragged me to my first spin class, taught by the amazing Instructor Vicki Banks, and I was hooked.

After graduating in 2013, I balanced acting work with gaining my Level 2 Exercise to Music qualification. This is when I discovered cover instructing as a way to support my acting work.

As I trained in Les Mills programs, I felt increasingly torn. Acting was what I had worked so hard for, but fitness gave me something different – a sense of belonging and the chance to create inclusive spaces where everyone feels welcome, no matter what their background. Teaching was where I finally felt accepted and able to be myself.

Over time, what started as covering classes around acting jobs and auditions became something much bigger, and I realized my heart was pulling me in a completely different direction.

I’m amazed to think that from not being able to walk for a week after my first class, I am now presenting globally – it’s incredible how life works out, right?

How has your fitness journey impacted you personally?

I’ve felt the most grounded and aligned in the past few years than I have in a long time. Looking back, I realize how poor my mental health was during almost 10 years of rejection, closed doors, and never feeling good enough – from amazing highs to weeks of crying and not wanting to get out of bed because of the relentless lows.

My relationships suffered as a result, and I went years without recognizing who I was. I was a shadow for a long time. Being a group training Instructor has helped me reconnect with myself and the important people around me.

You’re one of the Presenters featured prominently in RISE: Search for the Ultimate Trainers – what does the docuseries reveal that would most surprise a regular participant?

Possibly the lows as well as the highs. We are all normal human beings at the end of the day. When I first started out as a Presenter, I read really awful comments about my body image online, and to this day, I have to quieten those voices. I’m just one story among many like this, so yes – the lows as well as the highs.

And for people who don’t teach group training, it also shows how full-on and challenging it can be. What Instructors do is incredible, and I’m so grateful for my teammates, coaches, everyone at Les Mills, and for the opportunity to have such a positive impact on people.

Do you ever feel like “Bronté the Instructor” is a character? Does that ever conflict with who you are off stage?

My biggest focus over the past couple of years has been finding who Bronté is when teaching and bringing out my most authentic self. The person you see teaching is who I am. It was a huge learning curve at the beginning, but now I present on stage exactly as I do in my Monday night class.

As Instructors, there is a sense of amplifying yourself when we teach – but the key is amplifying your authentic self.

During the filming of RISE, you traveled to venues across the globe. What was your favorite?

Different stages draw on different tool sets. The stage in Amsterdam was quite small, which meant movement had to be more precise and intricate, but it created a really intimate setting. I absolutely loved that! It felt like teaching a class and truly connecting with your people – that was really special.

Do you crash after major events or busy teaching blocks, and what advice would you give to other busy Instructors?

I do crash after big events, but not as intensely as I used to. Now I listen to what I need and put non-negotiables in place. My biggest one is sleep – I need nine hours a night. Most things feel better after a good night’s sleep, and food of course, haha.

I also balance high-energy strength training with yoga for mobility and injury prevention. Beyond that, it’s about calming my nervous system – long baths, walks, candles, and downtime. I’ve also been enjoying glimmer hunting, focusing on small moments of joy.

Do you ever teach classes while feeling low or disconnected, and how do you handle it?

I’ve definitely coached classes feeling empty, low, or disconnected. Life has ups and downs, and sometimes you still have to show up and teach through them. Music is huge for me – it can completely shift how I feel.

Focusing on the members helps pull me out of my own head and into something bigger. People come in with their own experiences, and part of our job is to meet them there and help lift them. Those moments of connection are a real privilege.

There was also a time during my first filming trip to New Zealand when I received life-changing news – my grandad, who was a father figure to me, was terminally ill. I had to decide whether to stay or go, but he encouraged me to take the opportunity.

Looking back, I wasn’t fully present during that filming block, but it taught me a lot about resilience, perspective, and the importance of community and support.

How has being an Instructor changed you? What have you learned?

Being an Instructor has helped me define my core values. Knowing them – especially inclusivity – drives everything I do. Inclusivity is so important to me as a woman of color. I want everyone who comes to my class, no matter their background, age, race, gender, or sexual orientation, to feel accepted and included.

As Instructors, we have the ability to create safe spaces for people who may not feel accepted anywhere else. That is really special.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given that you still use today?

One of my favorite quotes is from Kylie Gates: “In a room of 100 people, 99 may love you, and one may not. Don’t let that one person define you – your people will find you."

I’ve also learned I am a feeling person and to trust my gut. I know when I am aligned and when I am not. Showing up as your most authentic self is when things flow most freely. And setting boundaries – that’s key.

You can catch Bronté in episode 2 of RISE: Search for the Ultimate Trainers, a new YouTube docuseries that takes viewers behind the scenes of elite performance at the highest level of group training.

Watch how she deals with ADHD, dyslexia, and juggling regular life with life on stage.