Tia Mowry Debuts Sleek Bob, Talks Divorce And Self-Love In Of The Essence

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Tia Mowry opens up about life after her marital split in her new Essence cover story. The 46-year-old star is ready to step into a new chapter of life, one where self-care and happiness take center stage, following her emotional and public divorce from ex-husband Cory Hardrict in 2022. 

In some ways, parting from Hardrict, with whom she shares two children, has allowed Mowry to “spread her wings” and rediscover herself, as she shared in a candid conversation with Essence writer Brande Victorian. Mowry was married to the actor since 2008, and for years, she believed being a wife and mother was the ultimate goal. She became so focused on fulfilling those roles that she lost sight of the most important person in the equation—herself.

It wasn’t until Mowry began to rebuild her relationship with herself that she found the strength to make the difficult decision to end her marriage and to do so with a sense of peace.

“There are situations in life where a lot of women may not think that they have the choice that they do,” the Sister, Sisterstar told Victorian. “And it starts with going on this journey of understanding who you are—understanding your traumas, your behaviors, and loving on that inner child. Once you start to do the inner work, then you’ll get this Aha! moment—and you’ll look up and say, Wait a minute. I have a choice to live the life that I want to.” 

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Rather than retreating from the public eye, Tia Mowry faced her emotions head-on and chose to stay in the spotlight during her divorce, fully sharing her journey. She wanted to destigmatize the shame and “embarrassment” often associated with the end of a marriage. In November, Tia Mowry opened up on her reality TV show Tia Mowry: My Next Act, revealing that financial struggles and her ability to secure steady work in the industry—especially in comparison to her ex-husband, actor Cory Hardrict—were key factors that contributed to the breakdown of her marriage. By telling her divorce story openly and without shame, Mowry has gained a renewed sense of confidence and emerged as a strong advocate, encouraging other women not to “run away” when things get tough in their relationships. Instead, she believes the focus should be on prioritizing one’s emotions and well-being.

Mowry’s fresh perspective on love and marriage is evident in everything she does. For her Essence cover shoot, she exuded strength and elegance in a stylish mid-length tan trench coat paired with long leather gloves and sleek black thigh-high boots. Her chic bob haircut completed the look, perfectly mirroring the bold, empowered energy she now embodies.

We love to see it, Tia!

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