Style
Tia Mowry: It's A Magical Time
Tia and Tamera Mowry were 16-years-old when they became pop culture icons thanks to their sitcom, Sister, Sister. Now, almost two decades later the identical twins are still shakin' up our family tree with sibling synchronicity on Style's Tia & Tamera.
Season one chronicled Tia's journey to motherhood and Tamera's journey down the aisle -- now, in season two, the ladies are figuring out how to juggle their careers with all these newfound responsibilities. I caught up with Tia Mowry to talk about learning to balance work and motherhood, discovered her incredibly mature approach to this duality and found out her biggest reality TV regret!
TheInsider.com: This was your first experience with reality TV, what was it like watching yourself throughout the first season?
Tia Mowry: Oh god ... the first time I watched the episodes I was mortified [laughs]. It's not every day that you see yourself just being you. I haven't even really gotten used to seeing myself on television playing a character, so just seeing myself as myself was tough. So was seeing myself get bigger throughout my pregnancy. I mean, I didn't realize I got that big [laughs]. But overall it was a great experience that taught me a lot.
Insider.com: If watching yourself was the toughest part, what was your favorite part?
Tia: I really enjoyed seeing the dynamic Tamera and I have. We really are best friends. When you see us together, it's like Yin and Yang – that was cool, that was fun.
Insider.com: Do you feel like you approached season two differently having been through it once?
Tia: No. I mean, you do try to behave differently at first, but that stops around the tenth hour of the first day [laughs]. You just forget the cameras are there. But I will tell you, I definitely made sure my wardrobe was more on point this season. I mean, people are watching. Apparently I forgot that in season one.
Insider.com: What are you excited for fans to see in season two?
Tia: I'm really excited to show fans the mother and son dynamic I now have with Cree. At first, I was hesitant about putting him out to the world for scrutiny. But, overall, he is my biggest gift, so why not share that with the world. Let everyone see the thing that makes my heart beat. I wanted to share that I am just like everyone else. I am a working mom and there are challenges that come along with that. I want moms to feel like they can relate to me and my son and our family.
Insider.com: Balance seems to be a big theme this year, true?
Tia: Oh yea, big time. I personally believe that just because I'm a mom, I don't have to lose my identity. I believe women have all different roles in their lives – wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, professionals … and I don't think we should neglect any of those other roles just because we've brought life into the world. I saw my mom do that. And I credit her for where I am today as a result of that, but she gave up her life for her kids – which is amazing and wonderful. But once your kids grow up and move on, there's an emptiness inside. They don't know what to do with themselves and I want to educate moms out there that it's OK to continue to go after your goals and dreams because it's easy to get lost while focusing on your child. Yes it's challenging and hard and you'll feel guilty – but trying to be the best you can be doesn't make you a bad mother.
Insider.com: Filming on this season is on-going, what have you yet to do that you're excited for?
Tia: My sister and I are going to the Bahamas on July 15 to meet our family – my mother is from Nassau, but we've only met my mom's immediate family. We've never seen deeper than that, so we're taking our cousins to do a little treasure hunt to find where our roots are. We've never met them before, but we're told they're on an island outside the Bahamas so we're just going to go.
Insider.com: You've experienced major professional success both with and without your sister -- is it better having her your by your side?
Tia: It is the best part because it's so full circle. We started in this business together, we went to college and did our own thing – which we still are to some degree. But to work together again is very rewarding. And our fans are so loyal. Tamera and I must be doing something right if people are still invested in our lives.
Insider.com: Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen were very vocal about wanting people to stop mentioning them with an ampersand -- could you ever envision a time where you feel the same?
Tia: I think there was a time where we were kind of forcing the world to see us individuals. As a twin, people automatically link you together the second you come into this world. Still to this day, I will be by myself and people will ask me about Tamera. So there's a phase of rebellion, of wanting to be your own person. I think Tamera went through it more than I did, but I do feel like it's so right to be together. We grew up in the womb together, we were created together, so whenever we do stuff together, it just feels magical.
Tia and Tamera airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on Style.












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