Nigerian singer Tems has spoken out about the importance of embracing individuality and authenticity in personal style, rejecting the notion that there should be a standard for how people dress.
In a recent interview with Karefa Johnson from Essence Magazine, Tems discussed how her unique dress sense reflects her commitment to being true to herself rather than adhering to societal expectations.
“You should be yourself even if something else is expected of you. You win, automatically, when you are yourself, no matter what that looks like. That’s why there’s variety,” Tems explained.
She addressed the pressure for artists and women to conform to specific styles, asserting that individuality should not be compromised for the sake of meeting standards.
“We’re different and are not all meant to be the same. And I know there’s a standard, but there shouldn’t be one. There shouldn’t be a standard for what people should dress like if they’re artists, or what people should dress like if they’re women. I just feel like we’re all unique. There shouldn’t be a requirement. That’s what I mean by standard. There shouldn’t be a requirement or some kind of expectation that you dress a certain way,” Tems stated.
When asked if she recognizes her influence as a role model for self-love and authenticity, Tems expressed appreciation and reinforced her belief in the importance of being true to oneself.
“I appreciate that that’s what’s coming across. And I do think people should be themselves. I can’t really be anybody else. It’s just not going to work. You are doing yourself a disservice by trying to be someone else. You should just be who you are. Once you start trying, you’ve already missed the road. That’s a takeaway from how I live my life for sure,” she concluded.