While being named one of Glamour‘s 2025 “Women of the Year,” South African singer Tyla is opening up about girlhood, feeling pretty at her predominantly Black high school after insecurities at her predominantly White primary school, plus more.
RELATED: Tyla Speaks Out After Her Team Shuts Down ‘Coloured’ Question During Breakfast Club Interview
South African Singer Tyla Recalls Controversial ‘Colored’ Remark
In addition to posing for a plethora of glammed-up photos, the 23-year-old South African superstar sat for a conversation on beauty, fashion, music, viral trends, therapeutic technology, and more. During her interview, Tyla also talked about the different racial experiences she had while being born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa.
In 2020, after the Grammy Award-winning “Water” singer first hit the scene, she notably made headlines after referring to herself as “coloured (or colored).” She again went viral after avoiding questioning about the comment during an interview with The Breakfast Club. In America, the term is seen as offensive. It’s notably looked at as an antiquated Jim Crow–era label to segregate Black people.
However, in South Africa, being “colored” has a completely different connotation. It’s its own distinct racial classification for those who may have Black, Asian, and European roots. As for Tyla, she has a diverse heritage and blood, including Indian, Zulu, Mauritian, and Irish descent.
Until apartheid end, in the 1990s, being “colored” meant Black children were given poor education compared to White ones. Since South Africa desegregating, Tyla was torn between alienating and insulting the Black people in her homeland by appeasing Black people in America, or leaving her new fans confused as to why she won’t identify with their “African American” label, despite presenting like them.
Subsequently, when asked about having her identity misinterpreted, she said:
“I’ve always related to Black Americans. I saw myself in artists like Aaliyah and always looked up to them. I think at first, I was very taken aback, because I was kind of confused. I’ve only known one thing for 23 years of my life; then I got to travel and learn about other cultures, other people. I learned what their normal was. I think it’s beautiful to meet people that are curious to know about how things are back home and to find the things we do have in common.”
South African Singer Tyla Recalls Feeling Insecure At Predominately White Primary School And Finally Feeling Pretty At Predominantly Black HS
Earlier this year in February, Tyler addressed her identity battle. She admitted how she “hated herself” after peers bullied her in school over her hair texture and skin color. Tyla also doubled down on avoiding The Breakfast Club questioning her controversial “colored (coloured)” comment. She said, one can be “both Black and coloured.”
Now, in October 2025, Tyla is talking about the first time she felt represented in the media. While playing Glamour‘s “Girlhood Firsts” game, she said:
“I think I would always just see myself in characters that were of color. Like, Bratz, for sure. ‘Totally Spies,’ the girl with the bob.”
When asked when was the first time she felt beautiful, she said:
“Even though I felt pretty in primary school, my primary school was predominantly White. All the guys just wanted the White girls and they were beautiful. But, it just kind of made me feel a little bit insecure. So, when I went to high school, just being in a school that was now predominantly Black, I felt more comfortable and beautiful. And I became friends with a lot of girls that made me feel beautiful. Girls that would wear their hair natural. Because I would straighten my hair a lot in primary school. Yeah, high school was really where I just mainly had my hair curly and wild, and natural.”
Tyla sat for another segment, Glamour‘s “Screen Time” game. During this segment, she pulled out her phone and went through her Notes app, Voice Notes app, and more. She also talked about wanting to work with Frank Ocean. Tyla also shared how she dearly wants to meet Janet Jackson, and all about her fun storytime-selfie with Shakira.
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