Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts Share Message Behind Historic 'Essence' Cover (Exclusive)

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Niecy Nash and Jessica Betts are making history. The 52-year-old actress and her 39-year-old bride cover the March/April 2022 «Black Women in Hollywood» issue of , becoming the first same-sex couple to cover the magazine.On the cover, Nash and Betts both pose topless, with the former looking at the camera as the latter lovingly cradles her face.

Only Entertainment Tonight has exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of their stunning photo shoot airing on Thursday, and Nash talked about the message behind their historic cover.«What I am hoping happens with our cover is that it will normalize people just loving who they love and not having to explain it or defend it but just do it,» Nash says.Betts agrees, noting, «Spreading love and supporting each other, you know, it's a beautiful thing to be able to support each other… so I think this message is very clear that we should love and support each other regardless of our race, gender, or sexualities.»In the accompanying interview with , the women open up about their unexpected love story.«Not only was it challenging for me to realize I’m having feelings for a woman that I’ve normally had for a man...

but it was compounded by the fact that this is my friend,» Nash explains. «I thought, 'What I do not want to do is anything that would allow this person to not be in my life for the rest of my life.' So I backed up.

I was very afraid.»Ultimately, Nash conquered her fears, and jumped into a relationship with Betts. When the pair announced their marriage in August 2020, Nash was shocked by the public reaction to the news.