Tia Mowry Recalls Being Told Her Natural Hair Was “Distracting” During Auditions

Tia Mowry-Hardict loves her natural hair, but the actress and talk show host sat down with Elle and recalled a time when the entertainment industry made her feel deeply insecure about her tresses.

The 42-year-old “Sister, Sister” star revealed how Hollywood gave her insecurities about her curly hair and pressured her to straighten her hair as a teen.

“When we were younger, it was wonderful being able to wear our natural hair,” Mowry said about her and her sister’s Tamera’s time on their popular show.

Tia said as they grew up, the girls relied heavily on straightening their hair- even though the process damaged their natural hair.

“It was such a pivotal moment in the series because it was also a reflection of what was being pushed as ‘beautiful’ in society,” Mowry said. She even remembered an incident where a teen magazine refused to put the popular twin sisters on their cover, claiming the issue “would not sell.”

“In this business, if I had my hair curly, I was told, ‘Can you pull that back?’ On auditions, I was told, ‘It’s distracting,” she said.

Now, as a mom of 2, Tia, who was recently diagnosed with endometriosis, says she embraces her natural beauty and hopes to inspire others with her “wellness journey.”

“Black beauty to me is being unapologetic,” she said.