Ace Afrobeats singer Tiwa Savage has come to the defense of her fellow artist, Ayra Starr, amid ongoing criticism from Nigerians regarding Starr’s dress sense. In a recent interview with Kiss FM, UK, Savage reflected on her own experiences of being heavily scrutinized for her “sexy” fashion style and “risky” lyrics during the early days of her career.
As a mother of one, Savage recalled being thrown under the bus for her fashion and lyrical choices when she was younger. She expressed her admiration for Ayra Starr, noting that she is particularly fond of the young singer because of their similar experiences in the music industry.
Despite the criticism aimed at the 21-year-old Ayra Starr, Savage highlighted Starr’s resilience and continued success on the global music scene. Speaking emotionally during the interview, Savage stated, “I love Ayra [Starr]. I’m obsessed with her. She’s amazing and genuine, too. It makes me emotional because when I started, I got criticised a lot for dressing too sexy and my lyrics being too risky.”
Savage further encouraged Starr to embrace her style, saying, “So, seeing someone, Ayra now…If I see her wearing the short skirts as they [critics] say, I’m like, ‘Make it shorter.’ And she looks amazing, she’s extremely talented. Yeah, she’s a star.”
Through her supportive remarks, Tiwa Savage emphasized the importance of staying true to oneself and applauded Ayra Starr for her talent and authenticity despite the backlash.