by Jamila Lizet White

September 10, 2020

Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images

“How someone could demean your value because of the color of your skin; I will never forget that.”

The saying you have to be twice as good to get half as far unfortunately proved to be true yet again. During a time when Sister, Sister surpassed the ratings of Friends, it still wasn’t enough to land Tia Mowry and her twin sister Tamera Mowry-Housley on the cover of a popular teen magazine. The 42-year-old actress shared with Entertainment Tonight the discrimination she faced while growing up in the industry.

Fighting back tears, Mowry explained a time where she wishes she would’ve spoken up.

“My sister and I, we wanted to be on the cover of this very popular magazine,” she said. “We were told that we couldn’t be on the cover of the magazine because we were Black and we would not sell.”

Mowry recalls that even as an adult, this moment had a lasting effect.

“I will never forget where I was. And I wish I would’ve spoken up. I wish I would’ve said something then. I wish I would have had the courage to speak out and say that wasn’t right.”

The Family Reunion actress also expressed how growing up in the industry as a young black girl in the spotlight lead to her feeling insecure about herself which in return resulted in the use of diet pills.

The mother of two is using this moment to provide a strong foundation for her 9-year-old son Cree and 2-year-old daughter Cairo to always know their worth.

“I always say Cairo you are so beautiful. You’re smart. And the same thing even with my son,” she shared. “Because I know what it feels like for someone that you’ve looked up to for someone to devalue your worth, and I don’t want my children to ever, ever feel that and not have the strength or the foundation to not believe it.”

Tell us: What are you doing to instill a strong foundation in your children?

TV One

Our Favorite Black Female Leads From the '90s and the 00's Are STILL Gorgeous

33 photos Launch gallery

Our Favorite Black Female Leads From the '90s and the 00's Are STILL Gorgeous

1. Karyn Parsons

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2. Tia Mowry Hardrict

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3. Dawnn Lewis

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4. Brandy

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5. Elise Neal

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6. Whoopi Goldberg

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7. Lynn Whitfield

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8. Angela Bassett

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9. Tichina Arnold

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10. Sheryl Lee Ralph

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11. Yvette Nicole Brown

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12. Holly Robinson Peete

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13. Queen Latifah

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14. MC Lyte

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15. Regina King

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16. Mari Morrow

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17. Gabrielle Union

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18. Halle Berry

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19. Meagan Good

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20. Regina Hall

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21. Vivica A. Fox

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22. Lela Rochon

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23. Garcelle Beauvais

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24. Robin Givens

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25. Jenifer Lewis

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26. Sanaa Lathan

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27. Lisa Raye

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28. Tatyana Ali

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29. Nia Long

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30. Jada Pinkett Smith

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31. Tamera Mowry Housley

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32. Loretta Devine

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33. Jackee Harry

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TV One Continue reading Tia Mowry Fights Back Tears While Reflecting on Discrimination She and Twin Tamera Mowry-Housley Faced as Young Hollywood Stars

Our Favorite Black Female Leads From the '90s and the 00's Are STILL Gorgeous

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