jt and tina turner walk into a bar

hard work is a virtue i fear

big hair, the biggest heels, and even bigger presence. the blueprint for my early twenties. all of which i’ve taken from one tina turner.

high on my list of inspirations, it warmed my heart to hear the following story of tina:

“…it's strategy, definitely, that she doesn't get credit for. I think it's also charm. I think there's probably not a man that's ever met Tina Turner that wasn't halfway or all the way in love with her - and probably some women, too. There's not enough that can be said. I think it was three nights at the Ritz in New York City, which was a calculated move to get everybody out that had ever liked her during that Ike era to come out and see that she's still the rock 'n' roll queen. And it worked. She and her manager - they literally just got on the phones and called everybody that they knew, every publicist, every manager, every songwriter, every star.

Hey. How are you doing? It's Tina. I know we haven't spoken in a while. Hey, what - are you going to be in New York this week? Now, we know the humility and the difficulty of doing that kind of thing. And she was doing it. And they turned up. And the world never been the same since then. She came out sweating, barely any clothes on. You know, like, the photos from that night - it makes Studio 54 look, like, very - like, look like Disneyland.”

source: npr.

what is a woman, if not her work ethic? once a certain level has been transcended, it feels like you’re only going backwards to do the so-called grunt work to ascend even higher. but mastering grunt work, the not-so-glamorous business of dotting every i and crossing every t, is what separates the greats from the “okays.” just ask jt (formerly of the city girls), who is embarking on a fairytale journey to establish herself as the belle of the ball—the city cinderella—through hard work, excellent execution, charm, and a whole lot of talent.

there were those who laughed at jt for touring throughout clubs and bars earlier this year to promote her debut solo album when she had previously performed in stadiums and festivals years prior as ½ of the city girls. but nothing beats a cult following. wasn’t it gaga who said she got her start performing in clubs?

so, if you want to be fabulous; “the best” as tina said, do not neglect the grunt work. not now, and certainly not when you can pick up the phone and simply say, “hey, it’s me.”

sweet dreams,

a diouana woman