South African music sensation Tyla has added another milestone to her already skyrocketing career by gracing the cover of the March 2025 issue of British Vogue.
The “Water hitmaker made history this week when she became the first African artist to achieve a billion streams on Spotify for a solo song and also inked a partnership deal with Nike.
Tyla’s cover picture was photographed by Rafael Pavarotti and styled by George Krakowiak.
The shoot features Tyla in high-fashion looks from top designers, including Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, and Balenciaga.
She opened up about her life in her inclusive cover story interview with British Vogue contributing editor Funmi Fetto.
In the interview, Tyla reflected on her journey, describing how her global success has shaped her into a bolder, more confident artist.
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The singer also addressed the negative feedback she received about her identity when she called herself “colored.”
This backlash was a result of a TikTok video she made back in 2020, which later resurfaced in 2023.
In the video, Tyla referred to herself as a “colored South African“, with many people pointing out that the word “colored” was previously used as a negative term in the United States to describe Black people.
However, she recalled feeling like she had “no control” at the time, stating that,
“People took it and… It just went so far that I didn’t know what to do. The way people painted me… And I understand that word is a sensitive word to people, so I don’t blame people for being touched about it,” she told the publication.
“I just would have wanted an opportunity for people to actually truly listen and learn.”
Meanwhile, Tyla admitted that she acknowledges that there will still be people who don’t fully understand her explanation.
But she feels comfortable with her own identity at this point: “I’m at a point where I know who I am. I know I’m a Black woman, and I know I’m a colored woman as well, and you can be both and the people that care to learn, they understand now. And that’s enough for me.“
As this sensational artist prepares for the next chapter of her career, this Vogue cover will cement her status as a global star who is redefining the African music and fashion landscape.
