Four decades of Whitney Houston's career in wax

Whitney Houston immortalized in wax at Madame Tussauds.

The singer's mother Cissy, her brothers and former manager were at the museum for the unveiling ceremony.

Four decades of Houston's life are reflected, a decade in each statue.

And they look so lifelike that it was hard for Houston's mother Cissy to get too close to them.

SOUNDBITE: Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mother, saying (English):

"I'm sorry, I don't want to take a picture with it. I love it, don't get misconstrued on why I didn't, but I don't want to. I love it and I'm proud of her."

With the one-year anniversary of Houston's death approaching, the star's former manager, Pat Houston says the family is taking it one day at a time.

SOUNDBITE: Pat Houston, Whitney's former manager, saying (English):

"This is the very, very beginning of her career here. You know the innocence of Whitney, the very soft sweet Whitney Houston. Look at her. You know, this is the woman Whitney, you know. This is me, this is who I am right here."

The figures are a first for Madame Tussauds - it has never before made, and unilaterally released, the likenesses of one personality's life.

And for Cissy Houston, her daughter remains always in her heart.

SOUNDBITE: Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mother, saying (English):

"Thank you so much for honoring my daughter who was my life actually. I have two wonderful sons and I love them dearly. But my baby was my baby."