Before “Insecure,” “Run The World,” or “Love Is…,” we had BET’s “Being Mary Jane,” Premiering in 2013, the show — created by the brilliant Mara Brock Akil — delivered more than just an incredible storyline; it was a vulnerable, neccessary love letter to the struggles and various nuances that Black women face in their lives.
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From complex family dynamics to navigating personal and professional relationships, “Being Mary Jane” spoke directly to many Black women, and the people deserve another chapter from Mary Jane Paul.
“Being Mary Jane” followed the life of Mary Jane Paul (played by Gabrielle Union), a successful, high-profile new anchor who, on the surface, appeared to have it all. Though our girl was thriving professionally as a journalist, behind closed doors, she was battling the weight of loneliness, fertility challenges, mental health issues, friendships, and the overall pressure of being a successful Black woman in her field.
Ideally, Mary Jane was the blueprint, but her personal pain was a mirror reflecting the lives of Black women, and some of us didn’t realize it until years after the show ended.
Though the show took its final bow in 2019, fans are still living for its timeless content. Just take a scroll through TikTok or engage in conversations on X or Threads, and you’ll see that women are consistently sharing their admiration for the show.
“I really miss the show ‘Being Mary Jane,’” content creator @thatnursecancook wrote on Threads. “So many good shows deserved a longer run.”
Fashion stylist Kelly Augustine wrote on Threads, “Rewatching ‘Being Mary Jane’ at 38 years od is DOOZY. It’s very healing.”
Though Mary Jane was a fictional character, fans found her life to be relatable. On TikTok, you will see women – and some men – recounting their thoughts on the show and its impact, as it imitates life through art. Even the late content creator Malik Taylor shared how we had to mature to fully appreciate the groundbreaking show.
Rewatching the series as an adult reveals layers we have missed in our 20s. Watching her navigate the messiness of life created both deep empathy and, at times, side-eyes, for how her life was panning out on screen. Mary Jane wasn’t being dramatic; she was acting as an emotional human.
When Mary Jane posted notes across her bathroom mirror, the only thing missing from the scene was to play Beyoncé’s “Me, Myself, and I,” because Black women have found themselves having to pour into their own cups.
And her love life? Chile, it was a beautifully complicated mess, and we were eating up all the drama. For four seasons, fans were captivated by Mary Jane’s love life, especially being caught up between her two greatest loves, Andre Daniels (Omari Hardwick) and David Paulk (Stephen Bishop), the one who got away. In the early seasons, we saw how Mary Jane was willing to bend moral rules to continue a relationship with Andre, even after she confessed it to his wife.
One YouTube user highlighted the scene’s “realness,” noting the wife sought to understand her lying husband, not fight Mary Jane. The user even concluded, “Mary Jane wasn’t the other woman; she was a victim.”
Not only was she a victim in her romantic relationships, but also within her family, including her best friend, Lisa Hudson (Latarsha Rose). The hard pill we had to swallow: sometimes loyalty can be wrapped up in resentment and emotional pain.
One TikTok user said, “With friends like Lisa, who needs enemies?” Well, was she lying?
If you watched the entire series, you will nod your head in agreement because we have all witnessed this painful dynamic in our own lives. All Mary Jane wanted was her chance at happiness, so in the finale, she got just that by marrying the man who was meant for her, Justin.
Now, years later, we can’t help but wonder: What would the next chapter for Mary Jane look like today? Did she have children? Did she sustain her marriage? Has she set stronger boundaries with her family? Did she pivot in her career? Start her own empire?
The show has created so many ideas of what it can be now, but we are grateful for what it remains: a reflection of a Black woman who has to show up every day with emotional wounds, in hopes of being seen the same way we see ourselves.
One TikTok user concluded our exact sentiments, “This show didn’t get the credit it deserved. It was ahead of its time.”
Straight From 
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