She knew how to use her legs.
The iconic Tina Turner, who died Wednesday at 83, believed her glamorous gams were just as remarkable as her powerhouse vocals.
“Sometimes I think I’m as famous for my legs as much as my voice,” she told the Sun in April.
“I only had my legs on show so much as it made it much easier to dance,” added the “Legs” singer, who reportedly insured her pegs for a show-stopping $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 & Roll Hall of Famer paraded her pins onstage in short, sparkling numbers that captivated audiences at her sold-out shows.
Topped by dazzling micro skirts, leather hot pants or glittery tights, Turner’s legs added to her electric on-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” alongside 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 lauded limbs. In her memoir “That’s My Life,” she admitted to being “the last person” to ask about her infamous legs.
“When I was growing up, I always thought they were too long and skinny. I felt like an awkward pony, so I never wanted to show them off,” wrote Turner, who famously taught Mick Jagger how to dance. “When I wore short skirts onstage it was for a practical reason — they gave me the freedom to move, and I really like to move.”
Historically, hemlines have represented more than a daring fashion statement — they symbolized liberation.
If her skirt length and slit height are any indication, then Turner was unabashedly unshackled, 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,” she told NBC News in 2020. “There was always a connection.”
In her career’s infancy, she wore skirts that brushed her ankles or barely went up over her knees. She didn’t find her style stride until the ’70s, when glittering, fringed frocks became her staple.
Flaunting custom wigs from designer Bob Mackie that made her feel like “flying” following 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 got shorter and less constricting because freedom was important to me, onstage 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.
Mackie, who worked with Turner during her legendary music tenure, designed a number of flashy ensembles for her. Feather plumes, beaded frocks and shimmering embellishments quickly became part of Turner’s wardrobe, encompassing her vibrant energy.
Among her most famous looks: a dress fashioned like flames, a cascade of tailfeathers, 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 became a symbol of resilience after leaving Ike and clawing her way to the top.
Her tumultuous journey to success resulted in triumphant liberation, as seen through her catalog of outfits that span decades.
“I hope women will learn that they should dress to express their own power and beauty, and not bend to someone else’s idea of what’s fashionable,” she told NBC News.
