Tia and Tamera Mowry attended ESSENCE’s Black Women in Hollywood luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel today. While on the red carpet, the twins chatted with ESSENCE.com about honoring writer and executive producer Mara Brock-Akil, who will receive this year’s Visionary Award.
“I look up to Mara,” said Tia. “I emulate Mara. I’ve worked with her for almost six years. I got to see her as a mother, businesswoman and a wife. Being women, we have so many different facets to our personalities. She didn’t ignore any of those different facets. She’s an amazing mother, wife, creator and executive producer. Just because you have children at home doesn’t mean you have to give up on your dreams and aspirations of being leaders in this business.”
Tamera echoed much of Tia’s respect for Brock-Akil: “I learned about Mara through Tia and going to the set. She’s such a powerful woman, but she does it with class and so much beauty. You can’t help but want to be her.”
Tia’s first memory of The Game and Girlfriends creator was of her sitting on a cart flipping through a script and talking to her kids on her cell phone. “Seeing how she balanced and juggled that,” Tia said, gleaming with admiration, “I realized it can be done!”
The twins also opened up about the joys of motherhood.
“Cree is thriving,” Tia said. “He is so smart. He is such a happy baby. He knows his alphabets. He loves to read. But he is hitting the terrible 2s stage. He’s 20 months. He’s become a little bit of a nudist. He doesn’t like to put on clothes.”
Tamera, who gave birth to her son Aden in mid-November, says she’s enjoying the experience. “He is kicking now. He’s noticing his legs, arms and hands. He’s so sweet. I feel so blessed to have such an amazing child. I hope he stays that way when he’s in his 2s.”
Reporting by Yolanda Sangweni