NEED TO KNOW
Jemima and Evroy Anglade came up with a special idea for their twins’ first birthday
Daughters Elora and Iyanna were transformed into baby versions of Tia and Tamera Mowry from early seasons of Sister, Sister
Photographer Nikki Cee tells PEOPLE about bringing the theme to life
A twin mom had the perfect theme in mind for her daughters’ first birthday.
Jemima Anglade welcomed daughters Elora and Iyanna during the pandemic. The twin mom says her daughters are “the perfect balance everyone in our family needs.”
“Leading up to their birthday, we were trying to come up with a theme that was well-suited. We thought about all the shows and movies they love, and then a light bulb just went off in our heads!” the mom tells PEOPLE.
“We started thinking about characters and shows we enjoyed growing up. Then, voila! We thought to ourselves, ‘We have twins, and we loved Sister, Sister from back in the day.’ It just made total sense, and it aligned with the distinct personalities that Tia and Tamera [Mowry] had on the show.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
NCee Photography
Elora and Iyanna Anglade’s “Sister, Sister” photoshoot
Of her daughters, Jemima says, “They’re both very supportive of one another, they protect each other, they get into spats at times, and even though Elora is older, they can switch roles and play the ‘bigger sister’ depending on the situation. As you can see, I think our theme choice was spot on!”
The adorable photoshoot drew inspiration from early season looks where twins Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry-Housley would match. On the show, the pair portrayed twins who were separated at birth and each adopted by a different parent. After a chance meeting at a shopping mall, Tamera’s father, Ray Campbell (Tim Reid), allows Tia and her mother, Lisa Landry (Jackée Harry), to move into his home so the girls can be together. The series aired from 1994 to 1999.
Jemima shared her vision with photographer Nikki Cee, who was “immediately excited” to bring it to life.
“I wanted to make sure that their outfits looked like something Tia and Tamara would’ve worn on the show,” Cee details. “I wanted to also make sure I incorporated some elements of school, so I added books and a mini locker. I had to add ‘Go home, Roger’ and some posters that would’ve been on their wall in the show. The actual show title was a must, and the microphones were a final touch because they both have such beautiful singing voices!”
NCee Photography
Elora and Iyanna Anglade with big brother Aiden
When the images were first shared in January 2024, they went viral, to the surprise of both Jemima and photographer Cee.
“We were quite blown away, to say the least. We thought to ourselves, ‘It looks like people really like this theme, too!'” Jemima says.
“It’s been fulfilling for me,” says Cee. “It’s one thing to do what you love, but it’s another to have such beautifully sweet responses of admiration and appreciation for it. It makes it worthwhile for me on the hard entrepreneur days and it fuels the fire for me to continue being inspired to create more new things.”
Jemima and her family are grateful to have the photos to look back at, especially now that the twins are 4 and coming even more into their own.
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Tia and Tamera as Tia Landry and Tamera Campbell in 1993 for “Sister, Sister”
“Pictures represent a snapshot in time that often sparks your memory as soon as you see them. You’re able to get a sense of how you felt at the time, the context of life as a whole, and what it took to curate such a special moment that we’ll always be able to look back on,” Jemima says.
“It’s literally a special moment and memory that they can even share with the people they love as they grow older. It represents the love that sisters share for one another. It represents a beautiful connection. And, as twins, it represents a bond that can never be broken.”
Today, “The twins love immersing themselves in a good book. They enjoy playing outside with family and friends. Their big brother, 6-year-old Aiden, is enamored by them but also protective. They’ve also taken on the intricate and wonderful personalities of Mom and Dad, which makes us do a little self-reflecting at times, so we’re always striving to improve as individuals. They truly make life exciting, keep us sharp, and keep their brother busy, too.”
“Their addition to our family has been a blessing,” Jemima concludes.
Read the original article on People
