Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has shared that she wasn’t always the stylish and sexy star people see today. She said that before becoming famous, she used to be a tomboy who dressed in baggy clothes. Back then, she worked as a songwriter abroad and didn’t focus much on her looks.

Things started to change when she met her ex-husband and former manager, Tunji Balogun, also known as Teebillz. According to her, he played a big role in changing her image. After she moved back to Nigeria to become a singer, Teebillz helped rebrand her into a more fashionable and appealing music star.

Tiwa talked about her bold move in the music video for her 2024 single “Wanted.” She explained that she had just gotten married at that time, and there was a lot of talk in the media saying her career was over. People said she wouldn’t be desirable anymore because new female artists had arrived. So, she decided to shock everyone by doing something daring and sexy in the video. She said it wasn’t just about trying to look sexy—because she didn’t feel naturally sexy. She described herself as more of a tomboy, but her ex-husband believed she could fill a gap in the market.

Teebillz told her she had to lose weight, start going to the gym, shape her eyebrows, and wear wigs. He changed her entire appearance. She said she wasn’t like that when she lived in Los Angeles. Back then, she wore t-shirts and jeans in the studio and didn’t care much about fashion.

He wanted to present her as an African version of Rihanna or Beyoncé. Tiwa agreed and went along with the idea. But when she returned to Nigeria with her new look, people criticized her heavily. She said it affected her deeply, and she even ran back to Los Angeles because she felt discouraged.

She remembered being invited to shows in Nigeria and not being allowed to perform because of her outfits. Sometimes, they would say the governor’s wife didn’t approve of her clothes. Her song “Love Me” was even banned from being shown on TV. At one point, she felt like giving up.

However, her friend Bizzle encouraged her to continue. He told her that many women loved her and were inspired by her. That gave her strength to come back to Nigeria and keep pushing. Tiwa also recalled how hard it was when she first returned and tried to get signed. She said every major record label turned her down, including Storm Records, Mo’Hits, and EME.