You remember the scene. A car is hooked, a person is screaming, and suddenly, a woman who looks like she could bench press a semi-truck steps out of the cab. She’s wearing those signature wrap-around shades. She doesn’t argue; she just handles business. That was Bernice. If you watched truTV between 2011 and 2014, Bernice from South Beach Tow wasn't just a character. She was a force of nature.
People still post clips of her today. There’s the one where she seemingly falls off a multi-story building, hits the pavement, and then just... gets up and keeps chasing the guy. It’s legendary. It’s also, if we’re being real, completely ridiculous.
But behind the scripted "reality" of Tremont Towing, there’s a real person named Lakatriona Brunson. And honestly? Her real life is actually more impressive than the staged fights on the streets of Miami.
The Truth About Tremont Towing
Let's clear the air. South Beach Tow was a "dramatized reenactment" show. That’s the polite way of saying most of the wild stuff was staged. The show was produced by Jennifer Lopez (yeah, that J.Lo) through Nuyorican Productions. While the company, Tremont Towing, was a real business in Miami, the explosive fights and superhuman feats performed by Bernice were scripted for maximum cable TV chaos.
Bernice wasn't actually a full-time tow truck driver during the show's peak. She was an actress and an athlete playing a version of herself.
Why does that matter? Because some people felt cheated when they found out she didn't actually survive a three-story fall. But that's missing the point. Bernice of South Beach Tow was a character created by a woman who was already a local legend in the Miami sports scene. She brought an energy to the screen that you just can't fake, even if the "theft" of the car was planned in advance by a production assistant.
Who is Lakatriona Brunson?
Lakatriona Brunson—the woman behind the Bernice persona—is a powerhouse. Born and raised in Miami, she was a standout athlete long before cameras started following her around. We’re talking about a woman who played power forward for Tennessee State University. She wasn't just some person they found at a casting call. She was a veteran of the Miami Fury, a team in the Independent Women's Football League.
She played defensive end. If you’ve ever seen a IWFL game, you know those women hit hard.
Breaking Glass Ceilings in Florida
In 2016, Brunson did something that made more headlines than any tow truck repossession ever could. She was named the head football coach at Miami Jackson High School.
This was huge. She became the first female head football coach in the entire history of the state of Florida.
Think about the pressure of that for a second. In a state where high school football is basically a religion, they handed the whistle to "Bernice." She wasn't doing it for the cameras, either. She was already a certified Physical Education teacher at the school. She knew these kids. She lived in their neighborhood.
What Bernice of South Beach Tow is Doing in 2026
If you’re looking for her on your TV screen today, you might be disappointed. Brunson has largely stepped away from the "reality star" spotlight to focus on her community and her health. She’s 48 now, and she’s still a fixture in Miami.
She hasn't completely disappeared, though. She’s active on social media (check her out on Instagram under @southbeachtowbernice), where she still rocks the shades and the tough-love attitude. She’s also leaned into the "Bernice" brand for appearances and local business ventures.
There’s been plenty of gossip about her net worth—some sites claim she’s worth millions thanks to "Yeezy sneaker deals," but let’s be skeptical. Most of those "celebrity net worth" sites are guessing. The reality is likely more modest: a solid career as a teacher, coach, and former TV personality. She’s a working-class hero who caught a lightning bolt in a bottle with a truTV contract.
Why We Still Care About the "Bernice" Era
Why does Bernice of South Beach Tow still trend on TikTok and YouTube?
It’s the authenticity of her attitude, even if the scenarios were fake. In a world of polished, "perfect" influencers, Bernice was a loud, aggressive, unapologetic Black woman who didn't take any crap from anyone. She was the ultimate "don't mess with me" icon.
- The Comedy: Her one-liners were gold.
- The Physicality: Even knowing it was staged, seeing a woman toss a grown man like a ragdoll is satisfying TV.
- The Memeability: She is the patron saint of "I’m too old for this."
How to Follow Her Career Today
If you want to keep up with the real Bernice, don't look for a South Beach Tow reboot. That ship has sailed. Instead, look toward Miami’s high school sports scene and her social media presence.
- Check her Instagram: She frequently posts life updates and "Bernice-isms."
- Look for Miami Sports News: She remains an advocate for women in coaching and youth athletics in South Florida.
- Watch the Re-runs: truTV and various streaming platforms still carry the old episodes. They’re still a blast, even if you know the "broken" windows were probably sugar glass.
The legacy of Bernice of South Beach Tow isn't about whether the show was "real." It’s about Lakatriona Brunson using a caricature to carve out a space for herself in entertainment and then using that platform to break real-world records in sports.
She’s still the baddest driver in the yard. Only now, she’s driving change in her community.
To stay updated on what the rest of the Tremont crew is doing, you can look into Christie Ashenoff’s recent ventures in the towing industry or Robbie Ashenoff’s various media projects. But for most fans, there’s only one Bernice.
Keep an eye on local Miami coaching announcements; Brunson usually has her hands in something impactful for the next generation of athletes. If you ever find yourself in Miami, just remember: park legally. You never know who’s watching the lot.