Tionne 'T-Boz' Watkins, lead singer of TLC, achieved monumental success with the girl group despite battling a severe case of sickle cell disease throughout her career. Her decision to pursue performing arts was deemed hazardous due to the chronic illness.

• Tionne Watkins was born with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) on April 26, 1970, a genetic blood disorder disproportionately affecting Black people and causing excruciating pain.
• TLC became the most successful girl group in American history, selling over 15 million copies of their album CrazySexyCool and over 10 million copies of FanMail.
• Watkins' unique form of sickle cell, called sicklethal, combined sickle cell type SC with arthritis and beta-thalassemia, leading to misdiagnosis until she was 28 years old.
• The group faced extensive financial exploitation, requiring them to use $3 million from their second album's earnings to buy out their brand name from Pebbitone.