Tiwa Savage Reveals Ex-Husband Teebillz Transformed Her From Tomboy To Glamorous Star

Tiwa Savage has opened up about her evolution from a tomboy to one of Africa’s biggest pop stars, crediting her former husband and ex-manager, Tunji “Teebillz” Balogun, for the major transformation that shaped her public image.

In a recent interview, the award-winning singer revealed that before fame, she was a simple songwriter in Los Angeles, often dressed in baggy jeans and t-shirts. But all that changed when Balogun took over her image and career direction.

“He literally changed my whole appearance,” Tiwa said. “I wasn’t like that in L.A. when he met me. He told me, ‘You have to lose weight, go to the gym, start waxing your eyebrows, and wear wigs.’ He completely rebranded me. The aim was to create the African Rihanna or Beyoncé.”

Tiwa admitted that despite not being naturally inclined to glamor or sex appeal, she took a bold step with the visuals for her 2014 single Wanted, especially after media reports doubted her relevance post-marriage.

“That was me being rebellious. People were saying I wasn’t going to be desirable anymore, that my time was up. So I said, let me do something crazy. But it wasn’t just to be sexy — because I’m not naturally like that — I’m a tomboy,” she explained.

The transformation wasn’t without backlash. Tiwa recounted being banned from performing at some events and even having her Love Me video banned from TV. “There were shows where I’d be backstage and they wouldn’t call me on because the governor’s wife didn’t like my outfit,” she recalled.

After facing rejection from major Nigerian record labels like Storm Records, Mo’Hits, and EME, Tiwa briefly returned to L.A., discouraged. But she said a call from her now-manager, Bizzle, reignited her passion. “He told me the ladies were loving me. So I came back,” she added.

Despite the hurdles, Tiwa Savage went on to become a powerhouse in the music industry — bold, unfiltered, and unapologetically herself.