How Brandy Is Carrying On Whitney Houston’s Legacy With Her Role As Cinderella In Descendants

Brandy remembers her Cinderella her co-star Whitney Houston as she reprises her iconic role as the Disney princess.

Exclusively with PEOPLE, the actress opens up about what it was like to play Cinderella again in the new Disney+ film. Descendants: The Rise of Redtwo decades after starring in the 1997 Rodgers & Hammerstein TV movie.

“It’s such an honor and such a blessing to be able to inspire people, to be able to have a purpose in that way, to be able to encourage young girls to dream big and go after what they want,” Brandy says of her breakthrough role, which marked the first black Cinderella.

“I didn’t know it when I first played Cinderella, I didn’t really know what an impact it was going to have,” Brandy continues. “But knowing it now, when I look back, it’s like, ‘Wow.’ And then to have the opportunity to play her again is just a continuous source of inspiration.”

As Brandy reprises her role alongside Cinderella starring Paolo Montalban as King Charming, she also reflects on the impact music icon Houston – aka her on-screen godmother – had on her.

“She’s such a big part of my life, she’ll always be a part of me,” Brandy says of the singer, who died in 2012 at the age of 48. “Before she passed away, she told me to always be myself, always be authentic, always inspire, and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”

In fact, she’s carrying on Houston’s legacy by imparting those same words of wisdom to her younger co-stars, including Malia Baker, who plays her on-screen daughter.

“She just gave me the best advice, which was to stay authentic and stay grounded,” Baker recalls to PEOPLE of Brandy’s sweet words. “I hope I can keep that in mind as time goes on, because I think that was her best advice. Just stay grounded in who you are. Remember what you love and the people you love throughout this crazy process. She’s an OG for a reason.”

Kylie Cantrall, who plays Red in the film, echoes that sentiment, noting that in addition to being an incredibly talented singer, Brandy is simply a lovely person. “She looks like a princess. Malia and I have always talked about it,” she says. “Everything she does is so regal. She has this angelic aura that is really magnetic. She’s a princess on and off screen.”

Over the years, Brandy has spoken fondly of Houston and the time they spent together filming the 1997 TV movie, noting that working with her music icon was a true Cinderella moment.

“We had some beautiful, fun times that I will always remember,” Brandy recalled to PEOPLE in 2021, when the hit film was released on Disney+. “She’s truly my angel, and I’m so grateful that she gave me this opportunity.”

Descendants: The Rise of Red will premiere on Disney+ on July 12.