Tina Turner was ‘as famous for my legs as much as my voice’

Tina Turner in all black performing

Tina Turner was ‘as famous for my legs as much as my voice’

She knew how to use her legs.

Iconic Tina Turner, who died on Wednesday aged 83, believed her glamorous games were as remarkable as her powerhouse vocals.

“Sometimes I think I’m as famous for my legs as my voice,” she said the sun in April, one month before her death.

“I only had my legs on show as it made it a lot easier to dance,” added the “Legs” singer, who reportedly secured her pins for a spectacular $3.2 million. “And then it became part of my style.”

The legendary artist was the queen of rock ‘n roll and the high cut slit. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer paraded her pins on stage in short, sparkling numbers that captivated audiences at her sold-out shows.

“Sometimes I think I’m as famous for my legs as my voice,” she said.
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Tina Turner album cover
The “What’s Love Got to do With It” singer wasn’t particularly fond of her legs when she was growing up.
Alamy Stock Photo

Filled with shimmering microskirts, leather hotpants or glittery tights, Turner’s legs added to her electric stage presence, which was fueled by her raspy, commanding vocals and captivating choreography.

Vogue even named Turner’s pair as one of “the best leg moments in history” along with Marilyn Monroe, Twiggy and Cindy Crawford. Her toned pins were in stark contrast to the ultra-thin supermodels of her heyday.

But she wasn’t always fond of her prized limbs. In her memoir “That’s My Life,” she admitted that she was “the last person” to ask about her infamous legs.

“Growing up, I always thought they were too tall and skinny. I felt like an awkward pony so I never wanted to show them,” Turner famously wrote Taught Mick Jagger to dance. “When I wore short skirts on stage, it was for a practical reason – they gave me the freedom to move, and I really like to move.”


Tine Turner in orange minidress on stage
For Turner, shorter hemlines offered freedom—both on stage and in life.
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Historic, hem lines represented more than a bold Fashion statement—they symbolized liberation.

If her skirt length and cleavage height are any indication, then Turner was unashamedly unleashed, especially after fleeing her abusive marriage to musician Ike Turner.

“When I look back, I can see the story of my life through the clothes I wore,” said “The Best” singer Fashion-n1249582″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>NBCNews in 2020. “There was always a connection.”

In her career’s infancy, she wore skirts that brushed her ankles or barely went above her knees. She didn’t finds her style stepping into the 70swhen it shimmers, fringed dresses have become her staple.


Tina Turner in angel wings
The daring designs allowed Turner to spread her artistic wings and finally feel “free” for the very first time.
Getty Images

Wearing custom wigs from designer Bob Mackie that made her feel like “flying” after her divorce, Turner recalled being on her own, “free for the very first time”.

“I felt so elegant in my gown, like a princess. But that gown was a prison, just like my marriage,” the free-spirited singer said of her hemlines. “I wanted to move, so my skirts became shorter and less constricting because freedom was important to me, on stage and in life.”

All Turner wanted was to “look glamorous and exciting without being immodest” in a way that celebrated femininity but didn’t exploit it.


Tina Turner in black and white image dancing on stage
“I hope women will learn that they should dress to express their own strength and beauty and not bow to someone else’s idea of ​​what is fashionable,” she said.
Getty Images

Tina Turner in gold, sparkling one piece on stage
Almost every ensemble shined in the spotlight.
Getty Images

Mackie, who worked with Turner during her legendary music tenure, a number of named flashy ensembles for her. Feathers, beaded dresses and glittering embellishments quickly became part of Turner’s wardrobe, encompassing her vibrant energy.

Some of her most famous looks: a dress shaped like flamesa cascade of tail feathers, and leather one-pieces.

At her core, Turner was a trailblazer. In addition to her unparalleled talent and rise to popularity as a black female solo artist, she has a symbol of resilience after leaving Ike and clawing her way upstairs.


Tina Turner in 2009 in black sparkly pants with lower half legs
Even towards the end of her career – her touring days completed by 2009 – she bared her legs.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Her tumultuous journey to success led to triumphant liberation, as seen through her catalog of outfits spanning decades.

“I hope women will learn that they should dress to express their own strength and beauty and not bow to someone else’s idea of ​​what is fashionable,” she told NBC News.

Tina Turner was ‘as famous for my legs as much as my voice’

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