TIFA spells it out

Dubbed the dancehall diva, reggae/dancehall artiste Tifa has overcome many challenges - including criticism due to deformity of her legs - thus breaking the stereotype of how a successful female in the music industry should look. As one of Jamaica's most loved celebrity icons, Tifa has been known to advocate for women's economic and social rights, as well as promote body confidence through her snappy lyrics in singles like, Got It Like That, Hype Don't Pay My Bills and Legal Rights (a collaboration with Bugle), among others. Turn to Page C2 and enjoy the engaging mind of Latifa 'Tifa' Brown.

Gleaner: You have been contemplating a name change for a while. Why would you want to change your name at this stage of your career?

TIFA: Due to its frequency in media. Even with its uniqueness, the first things that appear when you search for the name LaTifa or Tifa, other popular entertainers or characters such as Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy come up into the results. I would like a hashtag that is my own when it is searched for.

G: What's the number one 'uh-oh' wardrobe moment you've ever had?

T: As you can see, my breasts are very heavy (36D, to be exact) and I try to wear those skimpy tops. At a recent Memorial Weekend performance in Virginia, one mind tell me to put a nude bra underneath my diamond studded bra - and so said, so done. It popped. Patrons had to point it out to me when it did. Luckily, I had pinned it, so when they looked good, they realise it wasn't my boob.

G: You plan a weekend trip with friends and one friend explains that he or she is unable to go, but gets upset at the rest of you for still going. How do you react?

T: If we made down payments or paid for certain things already and it's non-refundable, we're going. Unless the situation is related to a death in the family or something detrimental resulting in them postponing. Otherwise, I am just going to allow them to have their tantrum and proceed. I also wouldn't tag them in images if they're being petty, and I wouldn't rub it in the person's face. Most I will do is tag and caption the photo 'missing you or wish you were here'.

G: If you could be transformed into an animal, which would you choose and why?

T: I am a Sagittarius and we love our personal space, and wi nuh love when persons touch us up. I don't have a favourite anything; I like what I like when I like it. We have phases. So I think I would choose to be transformed into a snake, (probably like that Britney Spears snake that was beautiful but it's feared) because nobody is going to want to too touch me up. Mi shed mi skin and get a different pattern and change up when mi feel like.