Award-winning Afrobeats singer Tiwa Savage has opened up about her early struggles in the music industry and the transformation that reshaped her public image.
In a recent interview, Savage revealed that she was once a tomboy before her ex-husband and former manager, Tunji “TJ” Balogun, overhauled her appearance to suit market demands.
According to the singer, 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.
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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.”
Savage also recalled being rejected by major Nigerian record labels early in her career. “I went to all the labels—Storm Records, Mo’Hits, EME—they all said no,” she said. However, with encouragement from her team and fans, she returned to Nigeria and eventually carved out her space in the music scene.
