Tamera

The sister act of identical twins Tia and Tamera Mowry has centered on their clean-cut image and bouncy charm. The formula served them well as perky child stars in their '90s sitcom "Sister Sister," their Disney Channel 'tween vehicle "Twitches" and the more mature "Double Wedding" on Lifetime. The well-scrubbed image mirrored their off-screen lifestyle. Openly religious, the Mowrys were content to seek more uplifting roles rather than emulate their young peers. The sisters stayed true to their values — no trashy horror movies, sex tapes, battles with eating disorders, kids out of wedlock, club-hopping or revolving-door boyfriends.

Tamera Mowry-Housley and her husband Adam Housley are expecting their first child. "Adam and I are excited about having a baby and the blessing that he or she will bring to our lives and to our family and friends," the pregnant Mowry-Housley told People magazine. "We can't wait to meet this little miracle!" The former "Sister, Sister" star, 33, and Housley, 40, got hitched   last May in Napa Valley, where her husband's family owns a vineyard. They and are expecting their baby in November.

Uniformity and high gloss typify the usual guests on TV talk shows. So no wonder the Mowry twins stand out, from their mocha complexions to the way they end each other's sentences or speak as a chorus when talking earnestly and passionately about their favorite topic. The Big Guy. "The world has this way of seeing God as judgmental and mean," said Tamera. "But he's full of love," said Tia. "He's full of mercy and . . . " "His mercy endures forever," said Tamera.

The sister act of identical twins Tia and Tamera Mowry has centered on their clean-cut image and bouncy charm. The formula served them well as perky child stars in their '90s sitcom "Sister Sister," their Disney Channel 'tween vehicle "Twitches" and the more mature "Double Wedding" on Lifetime. The well-scrubbed image mirrored their off-screen lifestyle. Openly religious, the Mowrys were content to seek more uplifting roles rather than emulate their young peers. The sisters stayed true to their values — no trashy horror movies, sex tapes, battles with eating disorders, kids out of wedlock, club-hopping or revolving-door boyfriends.

Howard Rosenberg's article about the Mowry twins brightened up my day ("The 'Sister, Sister' Sisters Share the Glory," March 12)! It is truly refreshing to know that in Hollywood there are young people like Tia and Tamera who are willing to risk being branded as "corny" because they are standing for what they believe is the right thing to do. This world could certainly use more Tias and Tameras. More power to these, not only physically but also spiritually, beautiful twins! TESS ONGSUECO-FAICOL, Ontario Thank you for writing about two very nice people and their beliefs without feeling the need to ridicule them.

Tamera Mowry-Housley and her husband Adam Housley are expecting their first child. "Adam and I are excited about having a baby and the blessing that he or she will bring to our lives and to our family and friends," the pregnant Mowry-Housley told People magazine. "We can't wait to meet this little miracle!" The former "Sister, Sister" star, 33, and Housley, 40, got hitched   last May in Napa Valley, where her husband's family owns a vineyard. They and are expecting their baby in November.

The story of James Lee, a sixth-grade student at St. James' Episcopal School in Koreatown, isn't an easy one to write. Three years ago, James' mother died of cancer. And before the loss could settle in, his father's clothing sales company lost a major retail contract, and the business went under. Then in January, James complained of a headache and seemed disoriented at school. He ended up at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and the diagnosis was devastating. The bright, shy young boy — who had hoped to get into Harvard-Westlake School this fall — had a malignant, inoperable brain stem tumor.

Tia and Tamera Mowry of the TV series "Sister, Sister" and Regan Gomez Preston from Warner Bros.' "The Parent 'Hood" will host "Celebrating Black Youth," a showcase of talented young people from South-Central Los Angeles, at 3 and 8 p.m. on March 16 at the West Angeles Christian Arts Center. Tickets are $7 in advance; $10 on the day of performance. Information: (213) 733-8707.

Tamera Thomas of the UC Irvine women's basketball team was named Big West Conference player of the week Tuesday. Thomas, a guard, led the Anteaters to a victory over Texas El Paso in the championship game of the UCI/Newport Beach Marriott tournament. She scored 16 points and had a career-high six steals. She also scored 16 points in a first-round game against Texas Christian.

It just sounds like stereo. To get any individual sense of either Tia or Tamera Mowry, stars of the WB sitcom "Sister, Sister," you must get them to talk on the phone one at a time. Because when they're both on the line, they'll talk in unison--and give the same response. Despite their many acknowledged similarities, the 17-year-old identical twins are the first to point out their differences: Tia's voice is higher. She's neater, too, and it's Tamera who has the mole under her left cheek.

Howard Rosenberg's article about the Mowry twins brightened up my day ("The 'Sister, Sister' Sisters Share the Glory," March 12)! It is truly refreshing to know that in Hollywood there are young people like Tia and Tamera who are willing to risk being branded as "corny" because they are standing for what they believe is the right thing to do. This world could certainly use more Tias and Tameras. More power to these, not only physically but also spiritually, beautiful twins! TESS ONGSUECO-FAICOL, Ontario Thank you for writing about two very nice people and their beliefs without feeling the need to ridicule them.

Uniformity and high gloss typify the usual guests on TV talk shows. So no wonder the Mowry twins stand out, from their mocha complexions to the way they end each other's sentences or speak as a chorus when talking earnestly and passionately about their favorite topic. The Big Guy. "The world has this way of seeing God as judgmental and mean," said Tamera. "But he's full of love," said Tia. "He's full of mercy and . . . " "His mercy endures forever," said Tamera.

ABC's "Sister, Sister" is an amiable comedy series about identical twins who reunite at age 14 after having been parted at birth and adopted separately. No big laughs but lots of smiles. It introduces Tia and Tamera Mowry as Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell. Neither knows the other exists until they stumble upon each other while shopping with their respective adoptive single parents.

Junior Tamera Thomas made a three-pointer with 28 seconds left to help give UC Irvine a 69-67 victory over Nevada in a Big West Conference women's basketball game Monday at the Bren Center. UC Irvine (9-5, 6-1) led, 60-48, with 7 minutes 44 seconds left but Nevada (2-11, 0-7) went on a 19-3 run to lead 67-63 with 2:09 left. Thomas' basket put the Anteaters ahead, 68-67.