Nigerian artist Tems recently shared her thoughts on personal style and self-expression, emphasizing the importance of authenticity.
In an interview with Karefa Johnson for Essence Magazine, Tems explained that her distinctive fashion sense comes naturally from her commitment to being genuine, rather than from any desire to send a specific message.
“You should be yourself even if something else is expected of you,” Tems said. “You win, automatically, when you are yourself, no matter what that looks like. That’s why there’s variety.”
Tems also addressed societal pressures regarding fashion norms, particularly for artists and women. She argued that individual differences should eliminate the need for a universal dress code. “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.”
When Karefa Johnson asked if Tems recognizes her impact as a symbol of self-love and authenticity, Tems expressed her appreciation for the role model status. “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 said.
