Afrobeats star Tiwa Savage has opened up about her early career, revealing a dramatic shift from tomboy to sex symbol — a transformation she credits to her ex-husband and former manager, Tunji “Teebillz” Balogun. According to Eyes of Lagos, Tiwa shared her story on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast with Joey Akan.
🔊 “Naturally, I’m not sexy. I’m a tomboy,” she confessed. “When I was a songwriter in L.A., I wore baggy jeans and T-shirts. But when I moved back to Nigeria, Teebillz said I had to lose weight, go to the gym, shape my brows, wear wigs… he totally rebranded me.”
Her bold image in the 2014 “Wanted” video caused an uproar, but Tiwa explained it was her way of pushing back against criticism from those who said she had lost her appeal after marriage.
💬 “I was being rebellious. People said I was done. So I did something wild. But the backlash came — my videos were banned, I was ignored at shows, and told to stop wearing revealing clothes.”
She also recalled being turned down by top labels like Mo’Hits, EME, and Storm Records — a far cry from the global icon she is today.
🔥 From rejection to reinvention, Tiwa Savage’s story is a reminder that being overlooked can be the beginning of a powerful legacy.
