After Kerry Washington beat her for the Olivia Pope role in "Scandal," Dwayne Wades' leading lady Gabrielle Union holds no ill feelings as she is soon to embark in a new role for the upcoming BET series Being Mary Jane.

In fact, Union views Olivia, a black female lead character who is popular on TV, as an inspiration. It forced the Bad Boys II actress to discover the role made just for her.

"I said to myself, 'Oh my God, these roles are out there,'" Union said. "It showed me that you don't have to settle. Luckily, the success of her and the show bred more work. Just from the audition process, I knew that I couldn't go backward."

Now Dwayne Wades' actress girlfriend thinks she has found that role as she is set to star as Mary Jane in the BET new original series Being Mary Jane.

"I didn't get Scandal, but I got something better — which is my own show," Union said. "It's all about building a legacy. This new opportunity is something I feel that can grow."

Union says this character is very different from her numerous roles playing a "good girl who meets the bad guy from the other side of the tracks."

"If you loved me for one thing and may not have liked me in something else, this role gives the audience a chance to see that I can do more than one thing," said Union.

Being Mary Jane premieres Tuesday night as a two-hour movie. In January it will return with eight episodes. Mary Jane is a TV news anchor who has difficulty prioritizing work, love, and family.

Follow @ZeeMeekPeek