Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage has opened up about her early struggles in the music industry and the transformation that reshaped her public image.
The mother of one in a recent interview disclosed that she was once a tomboy before her ex-husband and former manager, Tunji “TJ” Balogun, rebranded her appearance to suit market demands.
She disclosed how Balogun encouraged her to lose weight, hit the gym, wax her eyebrows, wear wigs, and adopt a more glamorous persona.
“He literally changed my whole appearance. I wasn’t like that in L.A. when he met me. I used to be a songwriter in the studio wearing baggy jeans and a t-shirt,” Savage recalled.
The “Somebody’s Son” crooner said that the transformation initially sparked both attention and criticism when she returned to Nigeria, but it also marked the beginning of her rise in the industry.
Reflecting on her bold 2024 single Wanted, she said the sexiness in the music video felt groundbreaking at the time, especially as it came just after her marriage.
“There was a lot of press saying, ‘She’s not going to be desirable anymore. She’s finished. Her time is gone.’ So, I was like, let me do something crazy. That was me being rebellious. Naturally, I’m not sexy — I’m a tomboy — but TJ saw a gap in the market and pushed me to fill it,” she explained.
Despite the bold new image, Savage said she faced serious backlash. Her fashion choices were heavily criticised, and she was even denied stage time at shows due to her outfits.
“I would be backstage and not get called to perform because someone in power didn’t like what I was wearing. There was a time Love Me was banned from TV,” she revealed. “I was discouraged. I ran back to L.A.”