Living Her Best Life: Tia Mowry Shares the Greatest Lesson She’s Learned from “Stranger Things”
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In our series Living Their Best Life, Oprah Daily sits down with notable names to find out exactly that—from how they maximize each moment to the daily rituals that keep them grounded. Here, Tia Mowry shares why boundaries are necessary, the surprising lessons she’s learned from Stranger Things, and the kitchen gadget she can’t get enough of.
Stars who’ve grown up in the spotlight, much like Tia Mowry did, can often lose their luster after years of toxic Hollywood pressure. Mowry, though, seems to be shining brighter than ever. Along with twin sister Tamera, Mowry starred in the ’90s sitcom Sister, Sister, and has stayed booked and busy in the decades since. She’s donned an entrepreneurial hat, too, launching a cookware line, Spice by Tia Mowry, two cookbooks, a cooking show called Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix, and a wellness supplement company, Anser. All the while, Mowry is raising two kids alongside husband and fellow actor Cory Hardrict, and partnering with brands that align with her values.
Right now, the 44-year-old multi-hyphenate is promoting Marriott Bonvoy’s Boundless Bucket List contest, which is granting travel dreams to three winners. Visiting new places is important to her: Mowry promised her 11-year-old son, Cree, that they’ll travel to Japan when he’s old enough. “I’m all about creating memories. Material things come and go, but nobody can take away your experiences,” she tells Oprah Daily. “To be able to get out, explore, learn, and grow as a person is fantastic.” To enter the Boundless Bucket List contest, Pinterest users must create a board for their ideal trip—which, Mowry says, is just like designing a vision board. “I am a believer of vision boards,” she says. “I create a vision board every year.”
Maybe that’s why Mowry has so seamlessly glided from child stardom to bona fide businesswoman. Maybe it’s her devotion to crystals and essential oils. Or, more likely, it’s because she learned to say no, even if it meant seeming selfish to others. Regardless, Mowry knows how to live her best life. Ahead, she’s letting us in on her secrets.
Her Wellness Must-Haves
I’m collecting crystals and am really into amethyst. I put it on my necklace; I have them on my bathtub. I use them when I do yoga and will also use an essential oil. They’re just so incredible. I even burn essential oils for my daughter when she goes to sleep just to get her relaxed.
I’m all about wellness—probiotics, vitamin C. It’s an honest answer, especially in the climate we’re in right now. I want to make sure that I stay healthy not only for myself but for my children. They need someone to lean on, and if I am healthy and happy and full of energy, then I can do what I need to make my children happy.
Her Kitchen Inspiration
Of course, kitchen gadgets just make me happy and smile. I have my own line, so I am constantly thinking about the next thing and what is an essential. Right now, I am obsessing over lunch boxes. It’s back-to-school season, so I have these incredible lunch boxes that are like bento boxes, with this really cool locking mechanism that keeps everything inside and sealed so the food doesn’t end up on the bottom of your child’s backpack.
Her Stranger Things Obsession
I’m a Stranger Things fanatic, and the reason why—I mean, I really want to be friends with these kids—but the reason why I love this show is because even though it’s fantasy, you learn a lot. The thing I have taken away from this show is: Never be afraid to be yourself. That’s what I love about the characters. Each of them, they’re their own. They have this great tight-knit friendship, but they’re not forcing one or the other to be someone that they’re not. I just love that.
Music is something that saves the soul. In this season, what saved Max was music. Music is definitely that for me, even all the way down to meditation. When I meditate and when I’m listening to what’s called neural beats, which really focus on a certain brain wave to calm you down, it’s healing. Also the ’80s aspect, it’s nostalgic for me, from the music to the telephones to the “Le’go my Eggo,” to the bike riding—all of that. When I’m watching this show, I’m literally giddy.
Her Lessons Learned from Child Stardom
If I’m being very honest with you, I am really learning how to set boundaries. When you’re a child star, you grow up feeling like everyone is entitled to have access to you. You are on set, you’re making people laugh, you are exposed to the world, everybody knows you. It’s, Can I take a picture? Can I do this? Can I do that? I don’t mind doing those things; it felt like that was supposed to happen—like that’s what comes with the territory, the role of being an actor. But I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older to put boundaries up. That’s not just for people in the world. You can have boundaries with your friends, your family, your partner. And that is okay: learning about self-value, self-worth, and self-love, and not feeling like you’re being selfish or it’s wrong.
Her Break from Perfection
As women, we have societal pressures and standards that are put on us, that our role is to serve. That the better mom and wife you are is when you’re tired and exhausted, but that’s not true. It’s when your cup is filled and not half-filled. You have to fill up your cup first before you can be present and available to anyone else.
I’m unlearning that I have to be perfect—it’s okay to make mistakes because that is how you grow. Instead of putting so much pressure on yourself and feeling so depleted or frustrated, look at it as a way to love yourself.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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