Tanerélle Stephens, widely known as Tanerélle, recently opened up about her powerful journey of healing from childhood trauma and embracing self-love.
In a candid interview with Dose of Society, the singer and model shared her story of overcoming colorism, bullying, and self-doubt to reach a place of inner peace.
Growing up in the South as a dark-skinned Black woman, Tanerélle faced severe bullying rooted in colorism.
“Coming up in the South and being a dark-skinned woman, colorism was a very big thing,” she revealed, recalling harsh insults she endured as a young girl. “Gorilla, tarantula, ugly, burnt—I’ve heard it all,” she said, noting that those experiences deeply affected her self-image.
After years of grappling with feelings of worthlessness, she considers finding self-love one of her greatest achievements.
“At 30 years old, I finally love myself,” she shared. “It’s something I’ve struggled with my entire life.”
Tanerélle credits therapy and honoring her inner child for helping her find acceptance and peace.
“A lot of pain got me here, and a lot of therapy has helped it become a success,” she explained.
Tanerélle now wakes up with a newfound appreciation for herself, saying:
“It feels nice to wake up and feel pretty, to feel like I have a big heart, and like I’m a decent person.”
She offered advice for others seeking self-love:
“Your body is doing everything it can at every second of the day to keep you here, to make sure that you survive. Off the bat, you need to love yourself for that.”
She encouraged people to nurture self-worth from within, warning that looking externally for validation can lead to dependency on others.
“If you’re looking to the world to give you that love, you get codependent,” she said, stressing the importance of finding fulfillment within.
Tanerélle’s message of resilience and self-empowerment have resonatesdwith fans who’ve followed her career.
