While she was starring in the ’90s sitcom Sister, Sister, Tia Mowry says she faced discrimination that she will “never forget.”

“So, my sister [Tamera Mowry] and I wanted to be on the cover of this very popular [teenage] magazine at the time,” the actress, 42, recalled during an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “We were told that we couldn’t be on the cover of the magazine because we were Black and we would not sell.”

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

While speaking with the publication, Tia also looked back at the insecurities she had while growing up in Hollywood.

“I would feel insecure about my hair because being young and being in this business, I never saw girls like me,” the Twitches star said. “I never saw girls that were embracing their curls, or I never saw curly hair being portrayed as beautiful.”

As the entertainment industry has evolved over the years, Tia said she sees more representation now more than ever.

“I love that now I’m seeing images that are really embracing natural, beautiful, curly hair and just beautiful Black women in all shades — dark, light skin, brown,” she gushed. “Representation is important and that really helped me, meaning me seeing those images is what helped me embrace my natural beauty.”

During the candid conversation, the mom of two —  who shares daughter Cairo and son Cree with husband Cory Hardrict — also opened up about how she’s raising her kids “to believe that they are worthy.”

“I’m always telling my beautiful brown-skinned girl that she is beautiful, and the same thing even with my son. I tell him how handsome he is. I tell him he is smart,” Tia explained. “I know what it feels like for someone to devalue your worth, and I don’t want my children to ever, ever, ever, feel that.”

When it comes to her career today, the former Disney Channel starlet continues to “inspire,” “encourage” and “bring joy to people” with her work.

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