June 21, 2025 | By Rhoda | Gistlover Entertainment
Afrobeats superstar Tiwa Savage has opened up about her dramatic transformation from a tomboy to one of the genre’s most recognized sex symbols.
Speaking on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast with Joey Akan, the award-winning singer-songwriter shared candid details about how her early image was far from glamorous. She recalled dressing in oversized, baggy clothes during her early days as a songwriter abroad.
Tiwa credited much of her image overhaul to her ex-husband and former manager, Tunji “Teebillz” Balogun. Upon returning to Nigeria to launch her solo career, it was Teebillz who helped craft her now-iconic public persona.
“The sexiness in my ‘Wanted’ video back in 2024 was a shock to a lot of people,” Savage said. “At the time, I had just gotten married, and there was so much talk like, ‘She’s not going to be desirable anymore. Her time is over.’ I wanted to push back and do something bold.”
Despite the attention, Savage admitted that the transformation was never rooted in vanity.
“I wasn’t trying to be sexy just for attention. That’s not who I am naturally—I’ve always been a tomboy. But Teebillz saw a market gap and told me I needed to lose weight, go to the gym, wax my brows, wear wigs. He completely rebranded my look. That wasn’t me when he met me in L.A.”
She described how jarring the shift was, having gone from casual studio sessions in jeans and tees to becoming the face of edgy Afro-glam.
“He wanted to create an ‘African Rihanna or Beyoncé.’ I agreed, but once we returned to Nigeria, the backlash was intense. My style drew criticism, and I eventually retreated back to L.A.”
Tiwa recounted moments of rejection and censorship, including performances being canceled and even her hit single ‘Love Me’ being banned from television.
“I’d be backstage at shows, and they wouldn’t let me perform—sometimes because someone influential didn’t approve of my outfit. It was disheartening.”
Still, she persisted. A conversation with industry insider Bizzle reminded her of her growing female fanbase and reignited her resolve.
“I’ve told this story before—how I went to every major label, from Storm Records to Mo’Hits and EME, and they all said no.”
Despite early setbacks, Tiwa Savage’s resilience and reinvention ultimately paid off, cementing her status as one of the most influential figures in Afrobeats.
