The Truth About Tia And Tamera Mowry's Relationship
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At a young age, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley received public recognition for co-starring on the beloved '90s sitcom "Sister, Sister." Transitioning into adulthood in an industry that can often have devastating effects on child stars is no easy feat. However, in the Mowry twins' case, they've always had a shoulder to lean on. With numerous projects, television movies, series, and talk shows, the sisters have found plenty of success both together and apart.
Along the way, they've faced issues such as personal parenting choices, therapy, and the Covid pandemic, always coming out stronger and remaining closer than ever. Fans of both women are certainly rooting for their continued success, both in their personal lives and their career paths. Mowry-Hardrict and Mowry-Housley's willingness to open up about their relationship with one another only has their fans craving for more information about what goes on between the pair and what keeps them closer than ever.
The sisters were close growing up
Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley shared a close-knit bond growing up in the spotlight. Initially gaining recognition for starring on the popular series "Sister, Sister," the Mowry twins avoided the controversy that often befalls young stars. In a 2011 interview with Vibe, Mowry-Hardrict credited their "traditional family" upbringing for keeping her and her sister grounded. "I think that Tamera and I grew up naturally; we didn't force anything in society. We didn't make any announcements that said, 'Look at us, we're adults."
Mowry-Hardrict went on to state that her and Mowry-Housley's decision to take a break from the entertainment industry also played a role in their current success. During their time away from television, the sisters went to college and studied abroad (according to E! News, the sisters attended Pepperdine University, and both received degrees in psychology). Mowry-Hardrict believes this kept them sensible and balanced. "My sister and I always kept busy," she said, adding that having Mowry-Housley by her side meant having someone there who always knew what she was going through.
Tia and Tamera Mowry starred on Sister, Sister
While both Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley have maintained successful careers and side projects, they are still remembered for the roles that initially thrust them into the spotlight. Mowry-Hardrict and Mowry-Housley co-starred on the sitcom "Sister, Sister" for six memorable seasons, playing twins reunited as teenagers after being separated at birth. Mowry-Hardrict starred as Tia, the studious twin who was the complete opposite of her mischievous, disorganized, boy-crazy sister, Tamera, played by Mowry-Housley.
With plenty of revivals and reboots of other popular franchises, fans of "Sister, Sister" were questioning whether the Mowry sisters would ever return to the series that made them famous. Back in 2017, Mowry-Hardrict told Entertainment Tonight that a revival was "closer than ever" and that she was "getting excited" about the potential return of the iconic show. Mowry-Hardrict stated that she'd want the show to "focus on the power of sisterhood."
Sadly for fans, it looks like that dream has now been crushed. In August, Mowry-Hardrict took to social media to answer some of the most frequently asked questions she received. Her response to whether or not "Sister, Sister" would have a reboot was, "no sorry!" In contrast, a week after Mowry-Hardrict's statement, Mowry-Housley said in an interview with "Daily Pop" that she would do a reboot under the right circumstances. "I want it, I want it, but the thing is everything has to align perfectly in that sense." That must have made for an interesting conversation between the pair.
Tia and Tamera Mowry have worked together throughout their careers
"Sister, Sister" was far from the only time Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley worked together. A year after the popular sitcom ended, Mowry-Hardrict and Mowry-Housley starred together in the family television movie "Seventeen Again," alongside their real-life younger brother Tahj Mowry. The Showtime film was the first dual appearance from the twins that saw them play relatives, but not sisters.
Then in 2005, Mowry-Hardrict and Mowry-Housley reunited on screen again for the Disney Channel Original Movie "Twitches." Two years later, they'd return to star in the film's sequel, "Twitches Too." In between the Disney films, Mowry-Hardrict would also guest star on an episode of Mowry-Housley's Lifetime show "Strong Medicine."
Outside of their work on the small screen, Mowry-Hardrict and Mowry-Housley have co-authored a tween book series called "Twintuition." The four books follow sisters Cassie and Caitlyn, twins who discover they have supernatural abilities. With plenty of memorable shared projects between them, there's no doubt that these sisters have a knack for creating entertainment for their fans, both on-screen and off, that reflects the bonds and powers of sisterhood.
The sisters had a reality series called Tia & Tamera
Beginning in 2011, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley starred together in a reality series called "Tia & Tamera," which followed the personal lives of the famous twins. However, after a successful run, fans of the celebrity twins were disappointed when Mowry-Housley confirmed on Twitter that they would not be returning for a fourth season. In a separate tweet, Mowry-Housley stated that she and her sister were "truly blessed" and that the series had fulfilled its purpose of showing the siblings' true selves.
Later in 2017, the Mowry-Housley revealed new information about what really happened with "Tia & Tamera." While discussing reality television on her talk show, "The Real," Mowry-Housley revealed that the negative portrayals of African-American women on reality TV were the real reason why she and her sister ended their own reality series. "Honestly, the reason why my sister and I stopped doing our reality show — one of the main reasons — is because they wanted to turn us into that," she stated. Mowry-Housley continued, saying that neither she nor her sister wanted to use artificial drama in their show. "My sister and I are all about positivity and love, and especially for the African-American community."
Tia and Tamera Mowry attended sibling therapy
According to Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley, sibling therapy has been beneficial in helping them maintain a healthy relationship. During their reality series "Tia & Tamera," the sisters had an episode titled "Failure to Communicate," which saw them go to a therapist to discuss their relationship with one another.
In an interview with Ebony, the Mowry sisters talked about their reality series and reflected on the episode. Mowry-Housley stated that they wanted the episode to show that they weren't "perfect." She added, "We're allowing ourselves to feel vulnerable. We are learning from each other." Similarly, Mowry-Hardrict said, "Tamera and I are not in therapy anymore but the impact that it's had on us is always expect the best from your sister."
Later in 2019, Mowry-Housley once again discussed the benefits of therapy in a clip from her show "The Real." Mowry-Housley stated that the twins decided to speak to a professional "because we were so different and we needed to learn how to communicate in a way that was positive for both of us." Mowry-Housley also explained that part of showing them in therapy was meant to promote the benefits of mental health counseling. She explained, "Growing up in a religious household, sometimes therapy is seen as a weakness."
The sisters didn't see each other for six months due to the pandemic
Like many families, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley were negatively affected by COVID-19. In a 2020 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Mowry-Hardrict became emotional when discussing not being able to physically see members of her family outside those in her home. She stated that even though she talked with her sister through FaceTime and texts, they hadn't actually seen each other in person.
In an Entertainment Tonight interview with Mowry-Housley later that year, the former talk show host revealed that at the time, she hadn't seen her sister in person in over six months. She stated that a surge happened when they were supposed to reunite, and they chose to err on the side of caution and not meet up physically. Mowry-Housley added, "But I know for a fact when we see each other ... we're gonna cry." She also confirmed that she was the longest the sisters had ever gone without seeing one another.
In March 2021, Entertainment Tonight interviewed Mowry-Hardrict againn and learned that she and her sister had finally been able to see one another in person. Mowry-Hardrict confirmed that the reunion was tearful, saying, "Yes, of course we were so happy to see each other." She added that she still hadn't seen her niece or nephew, but noted that both women were "very excited" about bringing their "whole entire family" together soon.
Tia and Tamera Mowry remain close as ever
A lifetime of working together on and off hasn't changed the close relationship between Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley. In a 2014 interview on "Larry King Now," the sisters discussed their attachment to one another. "The only thing we can't do is feel each other's pain," said Mowry-Housley. "But I know what she's thinking right now," Mowry-Hardrict chimed in. "She can't hide anything from me and vice versa." The two went on to make their bond clear as they continually finished each other's sentences and responded to questions in unison.
Recently, Mowry-Hardrict reflected on her connection with her twin on an episode of the "People Every Day" podcast. The actor stated that she believes the link between her and her sister is still active. "It's just a part of being a twin. You have that built in twintuition," said Mowry-Hardrict. She went on to say that she and Mowry-Housley refer to each other as "womb-mates." This statement was later reaffirmed on social media when the two referred to each other by this special name in birthday tributes. In her Instagram post, Mowry-Housley said, "#HappyBirthday to my womb-mate @tiamowry. I miss you so much!" She went on to say that she was looking forward to seeing her sister soon. and complimented Mowry-Hardrict on all of the things that made her a unique and strong person.
The sisters' children are close
Both Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley are mothers of two, and this similarly is just one more thing that brings the sisters (and their children) closer together. In a 2018 interview with People, Mowry-Hardrict reflected on how her relationship with her sister has been positively affected by the shared bond of motherhood. The mom of Cree Taylor and Cairo Tiahna said that despite both their busy lives, having children reminds them to prioritize family time. "When you see the kids play together it's just so amazing and beautiful." She later added, "The kids are so close and get a long so well. They act more like siblings."
As previously mentioned, Mowry-Hardrict and Mowry-Housley were physically separate for a prolonged amount of time due to the pandemic. Their quarantines had an impact on the children as well. After finally being able to reunite, Mowry-Housley shared a photo of the cousins playing together on Instagram. In the caption, she wrote, "These two. What an amazing treat for the two princesses to finally get together after a year!" She finished by saying that she hoped to have "more fun #family gatherings."
Tia and Tamera Mowry have separate parenting styles
Even though they're sisters, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley have vastly different parenting styles, particularly when it comes to discipline. In a 2019 interview with The Breakfast Club, Mowry-Hardrict brought up how her "non-traditional" methods differ from her sister's traditional style when it comes to parenting. Some of these dissimilarities included spanking, with Mowry-Hardrict stating, "She [Mowry-Housley] spanks her children. But I don't." She also mentioned that while her sister doesn't co-sleep with her children, Mowry-Hardrict does. Still, the former Disney Channel star said that the sisters "give each other advice and learn from each other" regardless of their techniques.
In a separate interview with Parents, while speaking about motherhood, Mowry-Hardrict stated that her relationship with her siblings was an essential aspect of her parenting style. "Every relationship is important, whether it be your significant other, your mother, your father, your best friend, and I really feel like your sibling relationship is also equally important." Mowry-Hardrict added that respecting all aspects of an individual was important to raising Cairo and Cree.
The sisters' families go on vacation together
Unquestionably, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley like to spend quality family time together, and they have the photos to prove it. In 2017, the sisters and their children had some family fun at Universal Studios Hollywood. In one picture, the sisters and their kids appear standing in front of a dressed-up Minion with huge smiles on their faces, with the caption, "We had a blast!" In another photo on Instagram, Mowry-Hardrict and her niece are shown holding hands. The heartfelt caption reads, "I think she's realizing I look just like her mommy. It's the most adorable thing. Love you my darling so much!"
Later in 2018, their families went on another vacation, this time taking a trip to Hawaii. Again, both shared plenty of pictures of themselves and their children, creating special memories. The Mowry sisters were actually raised in Hawaii, something that Mowry-Hardrict mentioned in one of the photo captions. She said the family's trip experience was beautiful, adding, "We get to share our love for Hawaii with our children and our husbands and it's like we never left."
The sisters unite their families for the holidays
Unsurprisingly, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley are no strangers to spending quality time together for the holidays. As previously mentioned, the families were forced to spend time apart due to the pandemic. However, their big family reunion actually happened on Easter, making the occasion even more special. On Instagram, Mowry-Hardrict gushed that the holiday was "full of #love, great #food, and great company."
Most recently, the sisters and their families came together for Thanksgiving. They enjoyed their epic holiday feast and offered up plenty of social media uploads, including videos, one of which showed the sisters making cornbread together (via Entertainment Tonight). Additionally, Mowry-Hardrict shared multiple images of the happy day with an Instagram post that she captioned, "We had the BEST Thanksgiving with lots of food, love, each other, and good vibes." As their previous interviews have already made clear, there's nothing more important to the Mowrys than a tight-knit family.