How Brandy Is Continuing Whitney Houston's Legacy with Cinderella Role in Descendants (Exclusive)

Brandy is remembering her Cinderella costar Whitney Houston as she reprises her iconic role as the Disney princess. 

Speaking with PEOPLE exclusively, the actress discusses what it was like playing Cinderella again in the new Disney+ film Descendants: The Rise of Red, two decades after starring in Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1997 TV film.

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

“I didn't know it at the time when I first played Cinderella, I didn't really know the impact it was going to have,” Brandy continues. “But to know it now is, to look back, it's like, ‘Wow.’ And then, to get an opportunity to play her again is just continued inspiration.” 

As Brandy reprises her role alongside Cinderella costar Paolo Montalban as King Charming, she’s also reflecting on the impact music icon Houston — a.k.a. her onscreen godmother —had on her. 

“She's such a part of my life, forever she will be a part of me,” Brandy says about the late singer, who died in 2012 at age 48. “Before she died, 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 continuing Houston’s legacy by providing those same words of wisdom to her younger costars, including Malia Baker, who plays her onscreen daughter. 

“She just gave me the best advice of remaining authentic and staying grounded,” Baker recalls to PEOPLE of Brandy’s sweet words. “I hope to be able to take that with me as I go along, because I think that was her greatest advice. Just stay grounded to who you are. Remind yourself of what you love and the people you love as you go throughout this crazy process. She's an OG for a reason.” 

Kylie Cantrall, who stars as Red in the film, echoes those sentiments, noting that on top of being an incredibly gifted singer, Brandy is just a sweet person. “She is so princess-like. Me and Malia always talked about that,” she says. “Everything she does is so regal. She just has this angel aura about her that's really magnetic. She's a princess on and off screen.” 

Over the years, Brandy has spoken fondly of Houston and their time together filming the 1997 TV movie, noting that getting to work with her music icon was a real-life Cinderella moment. 

"We had some beautiful, funny moments that I can remember forever,” Brandy recalled to PEOPLE in 2021 when the hit film was released on Disney+. “She's really my angel, and I'm just so appreciative to her for this opportunity."

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