In 2013, BET introduced the world to Mary Jane Paul (played by Gabrielle Union), a successful TV news anchor from Atlanta who seems to have it all together… except for her love life, that is.
For the past six years, we've gotten to know and love Mary Jane through the ups and downs of egg freezing, family drama, and lovers quarrels, but last year, BET announced that it would all come to an end in an epic two-hour movie finale premiering on April 23rd.
Being Mary Jane, created by Mara Brock Akil, was originally named "Single Black Female" and resonated with women across the nation because it was one of the few shows that featured a three-dimensional black woman as the main character. Mary Jane, born Pauletta Patterson, dressed well, had a thriving career and judging by her fabulous crib and foreign whip, had a significant amount of disposable income but struggled to balance her personal and professional life in the midst of her success.
Throughout the series, the show's characters have confronted a number of issues that black women face on a daily basis. Mary Jane's vulnerable and multifaceted character archetype showed that a woman can be wealthy and still feel empty. Mary Jane proved that a woman can come from an affluent family and still encounter drug addiction and teenage pregnancy within that household. And she also proved that a woman can have it all together and still be deathly afraid of being alone.
In the final season of BMJ, Mary Jane is finally on the cusp of having it all: a fine ass man, the job of her dreams, and a semi-stable family life. The 4th season ended with her millionaire boo, Justin (played by Micheal Ealy) down on one knee, but after almost a decade, will she finally get her happily ever after?
We'll find out on Tuesday, April 23rd! Until then, here's everything we know about the finale so far:
You Can Have Your Own Slice Of Mary Jane's Wedding Cake
Courtesy of BET Networks
BET announced that you can get your OWN slice of Mary Jane's wedding cake baked by New York Times best-selling cookbook author, Ayesha Curry, in an edible Instagram experience held in New York on April 20th at Brooklyn's Atlantic Terminal at the intersection of Ashland Place and Hanson Place. We've pretty much grown up with Pauletta, so it's only right that we get a personal invite to the wedding, and from 1:30 to 7:00 PM, you can show up to say goodbye to Mary Jane by getting your own slice of the interactive 9-foot tall, 4-tiered wedding cake-style edible billboard.
Head of Original Programming at BET Networks, Connie Orlando had this to say:
"'Being Mary Jane' drew viewers in with its raw and honest voice, enabling fans to connect with our beautifully flawed heroine in more ways than one. With this interactive experience, we are creating a unique space for our audience to celebrate Mary Jane Paul and take a 'piece' of their favorite show with them."
Harpo, Who This Man?
Courtesy of BET Networks
All my life I had to fight to meet men as fine as Morris Chestnut and Micheal Ealy, and in teasers for the finale, it seems like Mary Jane has BOFFUM all to herself. In the teasers, we see a steamy exchange between the TV news anchor and the illustrious Morris Chestnut, leaving us to wonder… Mary Jane, who this man?! In a 15-second clip, we see Mary Jane in a stunning wedding dress, leading us to believe there are some nuptials to be said in the two-hour finale. but who will she meet at the altar?
*Alexa, play "How Will I Know?" by Whitney Houston.
Oh… Baby, Baby
Courtesy of BET Networks
In the final episode of season 4, we see Mary Jane taking steps to get impregnated by a sperm donor after accepting that she and Justin's relationship may be over for good, but during a teaser clip of the show, we see a shocked Mary Jane as she examines the results of a mysterious pregnancy test. Did Mary Jane finally go through IVF, or is one of her steamy suitors her baby zaddy?
So much scandal, so many secrets! The end of Mary Jane's story will finally be revealed on the 23rd, and I'm fully prepared for my wig to be snatched. I'll bring the wine and popcorn, who's hosting the viewing party?!
Featured image courtesy of BET Networks.
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In a xoNecoleexclusive, the iconic actress opens up about embracing this season of her life, new projects, and overall being a “bad motherfucker.” Gabrielle reveals that she was 37 years old when she was diagnosed with perimenopause and is still going through it at 51 years old. Mayo Clinic says perimenopause “refers to the time during which your body makes the natural transition to menopause, marking the end of the reproductive years.”
“I haven't crossed over the next phase just yet, but I think part of it is when you hear any form of menopause, you automatically think of your mother or grandmother. It feels like an old-person thing, but for me, I was 37 and like not understanding what that really meant for me. And I don't think we focus so much on the word menopause without understanding that perimenopause is just the time before menopause,” she tells us.
Gabrielle Union
Photo by Brian Thomas
"But you can experience a lot of the same things during that period that people talk about, that they experienced during menopause. So you could get a hot flash, you could get the weight gain, the hair loss, depression, anxiety, like all of it, mental health challenges, all of that can come, you know, at any stage of the menopausal journey and like for me, I've been in perimenopause like 13, 14 years. When you know, most doctors are like, ‘Oh, but it's usually about ten years, and I'm like, ‘Uhh, I’m still going (laughs).’”
Conversations about perimenopause, fibroids, and all the things that are associated with women’s bodies have often been considered taboo and thus not discussed publicly. However, times are changing, and thanks to the Gabrielle’s and the Tia Mowry’s, more women are having an authentic discourse about women’s health. These open discussions lead to the creation of more safe spaces and support for one another.
“I want to be in community with folks. I don't ever want to feel like I'm on an island about anything. So, if I can help create community where we are lacking, I want to be a part of that,” she says. “So, it's like there's no harm in talking about it. You know what I mean? Like, I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change. I'm just getting better and stronger and more intelligent, more wise, more patient, more compassionate, more empathetic. All of that is very, very welcomed, and none of it should be scary.”
The Being Mary Jane star hasn’t been shy about her stance on therapy. If you don’t know, here’s a hint: she’s all for it, and she encourages others to try it as well. She likens therapy to dating by suggesting that you keep looking for the right therapist to match your needs. Two other essential keys to her growth are radical transparency and radical acceptance (though she admits she is still working on the latter).
"I was a bad motherfucker before perimenopause. I’m a bad motherfucker now, and I'll be a bad motherfucker after menopause. Know what I’m saying? None of that has to change. How I’m a bad motherfucker, I welcome that part of the change."
Gabrielle Union and Kaavia Union-Wade
Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images
“I hope that a.) you recognize that you're not alone. Seek out help and know that it's okay to be honest about what the hell is happening in your life. That's the only way that you know you can get help, and that's also the only other way that people know that you are in need if there's something going on,” she says, “because we have all these big, very wild, high expectations of people, but if they don't know what they're actually dealing with, they're always going to be failing, and you will always be disappointed. So how about just tell the truth, be transparent, and let people know where you are. So they can be of service, they can be compassionate.”
Gabrielle’s transparency is what makes her so relatable, and has so many people root for her. Whether through her TV and film projects, her memoirs, or her social media, the actress has a knack for making you feel like she’s your homegirl. Scrolling through her Instagram, you see the special moments with her family, exciting new business ventures, and jaw-dropping fashion moments. Throughout her life and career, we’ve seen her evolve in a multitude of ways. From producing films to starting a haircare line to marriage and motherhood, her journey is a story of courage and triumph. And right now, in this season, she’s asking, “What’s next?”
“This is a season of discovery and change. In a billion ways,” says the NAACP Image Award winner. “The notion of like, ‘Oh, so and so changed. They got brand new.’ I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
"I want you to be brand new. I want me to be brand new. I want us to be always constantly growing, evolving. Having more clarity, moving with different purpose, like, and all of that is for me very, very welcomed."
She continues, “So I'm just trying to figure out what's next. You know what I mean? I'm jumping into what's next. I'm excited going into what's next and new. I'm just sort of embracing all of what life has to offer.”
Look out for Gabrielle in the upcoming indie film Riff Raff, which is a crime comedy starring her and Jennifer Coolidge, and she will also produce The Idea of You, which stars Anne Hathaway.
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Feature image by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
