Why I used to wear three bras in my 20s – Waje

Nigerian singer Waje has opened up about her long-standing struggle with body image, revealing that she once went to great lengths to conceal her physique during her younger years.

The 45-year-old artiste shared that in her 20s, she would wear up to three bras at once in an attempt to minimise the appearance of her upper body, which made her feel self-conscious.

She made the revelation on a recent episode of the *Her Next Chapter* podcast hosted by Tope Olowoniyan, where she reflected on her journey toward self-acceptance and confidence.

According to Waje, her discomfort with her body began long before motherhood and influenced her fashion choices and public appearance.

“Even before I had my child, I have always been heavy at the top. I used to hide it. In my 20s, I used to wear like three bras. I used to be very uncomfortable about how heavy I was at the top,” she said.

She noted that the insecurity affected more than just her looks, as it also shaped her confidence and interactions with people at the time.

However, she explained that things took a positive turn after she became a mother, describing the experience as transformative in how she perceived herself.

“Things really changed for me. Motherhood also played a big time in how I was seeing my body. I became more comfortable,” she added.

Waje also credited her close circle of friends for helping her grow past that phase, saying their support strengthened her ability to ignore criticism and build confidence.

She specifically mentioned rapper M.I Abaga and dancer Kaffy as part of the support system that stood by her.

“The encouragement helped me to build thick skin and ignore negative comments from people,” she said.

The singer also revisited her early life struggles, including becoming pregnant at 16 and raising her child after the man involved denied responsibility.

“I was 16. I didn’t tell my mom till about five months,” she said.

She explained that the situation became more complicated when the man denied paternity after her family reached out.

“My mom had gone to his family and said, okay, so your son and my daughter… and he was like, no, it’s not him.”

Waje revealed that years later, the man returned, expressing a desire to reconnect with their daughter.

“At some point he came back and he was like, I was young… I want to meet my daughter.”

However, she said she approached the situation carefully, prioritising her child’s stability.

“Many times when fathers or mothers are protecting their child, it’s because you already know that this person is not stable. This person can come and destabilise the life of the child.”

Despite the challenges, Waje emphasised her commitment to providing the best future for her daughter, particularly in terms of education.

“I had always said that my daughter would get the best education that I can afford.”