Unveiling Tina Turner's Enduring Legacy

Tina Turner, THE Queen of ROck ‘n’ Roll had the world captivated with her powerhouse vocals, electrifying stage presence, incredible fashion and was renowned for her immense resilience.

Her recent passing has us all mourning the loss of an extraordinary talent but let's not forget the legacy she left behind. Here are five powerful life-lessons she taught us, that will resonate with many I’m sure, and for generations to come:

1) The woman who never gave up.

Tina Turner’s life was marked by hardship and adversity. From a tough childhood to an abusive relationship to the unimaginable loss of her children, she encountered obstacles that could have broken anyone's spirit. Yet Tina defied defeat, and absolutely refused to allow circumstances to define her. Instead she harnessed an extraordinary amount of grit and resilience, and paved her own path to stardom, inspiring millions of others to persevere in the face of adversity. In the words of Farah Nazeer, Chief Executive at Womens Aid ‘Tina showed that survivors of abuse can be the most incredible, strong women and can rebuild their lives and their dreams.’

2) The Beauty of Happiness.

When it comes to beauty, Tina had a radical perspective. ‘“My greatest beauty secret is being happy with myself. I don’t use special creams or treatments—I’ll use a little bit of everything. It’s a mistake to think you are what you put on yourself. I believe that a lot of how you look is to do with how you feel about yourself and your life. Happiness is the greatest beauty secret.”

Her words remind us that beauty is many things, but most importantly, yes, have fun with beauty products, but don’t lose focus on nurturing yourself from within. Do the things that make you happy. After all, a genuinely happy person exudes a beauty that cannot be matched.

3) The power of reinvention.

Tina Turner's stardom as we know it was born one from one of the greatest and profound re-inventions ever, and it was far from a straight line. Tina began her career with then husband, Ike Turner's Kings of Rhythm in 1957, and first appeared on record under the name Little Ann. But in 1967, after 14 years of abusive marriage to Ike, she escaped, and armed with just 36 cents and a movil card she strived to pursue her own solo career. But it wasn’t until 1984, at the age of 40, Tina ignited what was described as "one of the greatest comebacks in music history". Her album Private Dancer took the WORLD by storm, going mutli platinum, yes PLATINUM, and she quickly became one of the best-selling artists of all time. She literally went from something, to nothing, to everything, reinventing herself by evolving and willing to explore different styles and genres until she made it. Her resilience and willingness to step into the unknown serves as an extremely powerful reminder for us to embrace opportunities of reinvention, regardless of our age, even when they’re out of our comfort zones.

4) Smashing Through the Glass Ceiling.

As an African American woman in the predominantly white male-dominated rock music, she broke barriers and blazed a trail for future generations, inspiring some of the greatest musicians today, such as Beyonce. She was the first woman, as well as the first Black artist, to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone. The immense influence that had then, and now, cannot be overstated - proving that talent, dedication and determination know no boundaries.

She became a symbol of empowerment for women and minorities, irrefutably proving that dreams can be achieved, irrespective of what society says.

5) The Power of Music.

Now, let's talk about the magic of Tina Turner's music. She was one of the rare people, whose voice had the power to mend hearts, uplift spirits, and ignite hope. With every soul stirring performance and unforgettable, legendary hits like ‘Whats Love Got to Do With It’, and Simply the Best’ Tina did more than give us melodies and lyrics. She delivered heartfelt messages of love, resilience, and power straight to the depths of our souls. Her songs were not merely tunes to be heard; they were profound expressions of human emotions, serving as a soundtrack to our joys, sorrows and triumphs.

Now, let's raise a toast, and turn up the volume to ‘Simply the Best’ as we reflect on Tina’s extraordinary journey and the timeless, empowering legacy she left behind, and of course, her greatest gift. Her music.