“I Was A Tomboy Before My Ex Rebranded Me”, Tiwa Savage

Afrobeats queen Tiwa Savage has opened up about her early days in music, revealing a surprising transformation from tomboy to sex symbol — all thanks to her ex-husband and former manager, Tunji “Teebillz” Balogun.

Speaking on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast with Joey Akan, Tiwa shared how her fashion and public image dramatically changed when she returned to Nigeria to launch her singing career.

“Naturally, I’m not sexy. I’m a tomboy,” Tiwa admitted.

“When I was a songwriter in L.A., I used to wear baggy jeans and T-shirts. But when I came back to Nigeria, Teebillz said I had to lose weight, hit the gym, wax my brows, wear wigs… he completely rebranded me.”

Her 2014 music video for “Wanted” sparked major controversy, but Tiwa says it was her way of pushing back against critics who claimed she was no longer desirable after marriage.

“I was being rebellious. People said my time was up. So I did something crazy. But I got backlash — banned videos, snubbed at shows, and told not to wear skimpy outfits.”

She also revealed how major record labels like Mo’Hits, EME, and Storm Records rejected her at the start — a far cry from the powerhouse artist she is today.

From rejection to reinvention, Tiwa’s journey is proof that being underestimated can be the start of something iconic.