b'Journey to HappinessCharell Star turns pain into purposeBY ELLEN DONKERCharell Star recently wrote a book titled Trash Bag Tales & Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life. Photo by Julia Maloof Verderosa.W hen you talkliving with her great-grandmother (her GG) whenwas the place where I felt the most re-toCharellwardedandthemostsafe.Myteach-Star, its likeers, regardless of when I would come in yourechat- the school year, would just help me get tingwithacaughtupandsometimesmovemeto good friend.the gifted class. Star immersed herself in Shesbub- her classes and signed up for all the after-bly, upbeat, interested and honest. A Ma- school and weekend programs she could plewood resident since 2017, Star worksfind.in marketing and as a lifestyle TV correspondent,she felt nothing but love and acceptance. Her con- Herhardworkandgritpaidoff.Asahigh having appeared on NBC New York Live, AKC. tented life came to an abrupt end when she awokeachiever, Star was awarded a scholarship to attend TV, and Fox Good Day New York, among others.to find her belongings stuffed in a black trash bag.a boarding school for high school. Moving from But shes particularly proud of her advocacy workHer GG had become sick and with no warning aHarlem to a school that was in the middle of a for children in foster care because shes been theresocial worker moved her to a foster home. So be- working cattle ranch in Arizona was extremely diffi-herself.gan a pattern of moves to foster homes and stintscult. Star stood Now Star has written a book, titled Trash Bagwith various family members, including her fatheroutasaBlack Tales & Other Stories from an Accidentally Hap- and grandmother, coupled with abuse and neglect. scholarshipkid py Life. In it, she tracesStar was bounced around to many homes un- in a sea of white herjourneyofchild- til the end of fourth grade. Unexpectedly, she wasfacesandwas hood neglect and abusereunited with her mother, who had gotten cleanbulliedbythe alongsideherresilienceand was able to win custody of her from the state.other girls. that has allowed her toMoving once again (this time from a caring home),Combined flourishandcarveoutshe had to figure out how to be with a parent shewithhermany a life of optimism withbarely knew. It was hard. Star felt guilty for gettingyearsoffoster herhusband,Stephenthe supposed happy ending while doubting thatcareandthe Chiger,and3-year-oldthis new arrangement would work out.openwounds son, Cole. Given the frequent moves and accompanyingofabusethat Stars earliest memo- trauma, Stars performance at school could haveshe writes wereCharell Star in 2nd grade. She Charell Star wrote awas bounced around to many book about her journey. ries go back to her timesuffered. Instead, she excelled, saying that schoolraw and unad- homes during this time.12/ matters magazine / fall 2025'