25 years later: 'Girlfriends' cast reunites for a celebration that warms the heart

If you were a teen in the early 2000s, "Girlfriends" was more than just a comedy; it was therapy, laughter and Tuesday nights on the couch.

Reggie Hayes, who played William, the beloved friend and confidant to the women in the show, recently shared a photo collage with Persia White, Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones and creator Mara Brock Akil.

The internet went crazy in the best possible way.

The reunion that melted our hearts

On September 11, Hayes posted images from a dinner at the legendary Chateau Marmont, captioning the moment: “It was a grea(t) night at the Chateau Marmont getting to see the old gang. Everybody was looking great and feeling happy. Happy 25th anniversary.”

Yes, the spelling wasn’t perfect, but the vibe was immaculate. The evening was filled with nostalgia as the cast reminisced about their times on set over candlelight and shared heartfelt toasts celebrating not just their iconic show but their enduring friendship.

The warm ambience of the restaurant, along with shared laughter and stories, made it a night to remember for everyone present.

Seeing them back together, Lynn (White), Maya (Brooks), Toni (Jones), plus Brock Akil, who gave us those sharp edges and soft moments of "Girlfriends", felt like looking into a time capsule.

The kind you open expecting dust and silence, but instead, find warmth, laughter, inside jokes, and old magic.

Fans were quick to comment things like: “Watching 'Girlfriends' in your 30s hits so different. We need this every year.”

Watching "Girlfriends" in your 30s or 40s isn’t the same as watching it in your teens. You catch more emotional nuance, the contradictions in characters, the complicated decisions that don’t have clean endings.

There was something deeply comforting in seeing these stars together living, unfiltered, still linked by something that mattered deeply to many of us.

This isn’t just a pretty photo op. It’s a milestone. "Girlfriends" premiered in 2000 and ran until 2008, spanning eight seasons. Over that time, it explored what friendship really means, balancing careers, family, heartbreak, and ambition with real, flawed characters you rooted for.

Joan Clayton (Tracee Ellis Ross) was the attorney always trying to do right; Maya Wilkes was juggling creative life and motherhood; Lynn Searcy was the free-spirited (but type-A) art lover; Toni Childs (Jill Marie Jones) was the glamorous, fierce and forgiving one.

As "Girlfriends" hits its 25th anniversary, US audiences get to relive every moment for a weekend marathon of the show.

When I watch "Girlfriends" today, everything hits a little deeper:

Friendship isn’t perfect: Disagreements, jealousy, life choices, they’re messy. And that’s okay.

Growth is slow but constant: The characters didn’t become perfect overnight. They evolved sometimes through heartbreak, sometimes through triumph.

Representation matters: "Girlfriends" was big because four Black women got to have full lives, ambitions, loves, fears, and were not defined by one stereotype. Brock Akil was doing important work behind the scenes.

Nostalgia as healing: Reuniting, remembering, it’s not just about the past. It reminds us of who we were, what we needed, and how those stories helped us feel seen.

Where are they now?

Ellis Ross has become a powerhouse; more shows, more public voice, more style. She’s gone far beyond Joan Clayton.

Brooks, White and Marie Jones have had ups and downs, but their work in film, activism and art continues. They still carry that Maya/Lynn/Toni energy: unapologetic, complex and vibrant.

Brock Akil continues to break ground, creating stories on screen and off that centre black women with nuance.

This reunion photo also reminds us that friendships can last, even when life takes people in different directions. Time passing doesn’t always mean losing the spark or connection.

But more than that, it’s proof that some bonds, fictional or not, leave real marks.

Those characters shaped how we saw ourselves, our friendships, and our hopes. Seeing them together again reminds us that we mattered too.

If you’re like me and watched "Girlfriends" as a kid, rewatched episodes in university, and now look back with a new perspective, you understand.

This isn’t just a throwback. It’s a celebration, a reminder, and an invitation to rewatch, reflect and maybe reconnect with people who mattered in our own stories.