Just when we thought ECQ is here to give us the blues, here comes Queen Bey serving us inspiration
For its September 2021 issue, fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar US centers its glossy on the life, art, and evolution of Beyoncé. Dressed in the best Americana-inspired pieces, she goes back to the rodeo in style with the best fashions from her label Ivy Park, her latest brand ambassadorship with Tiffany and Co., and other design houses, from Gucci and Valentino to Givenchy and Schiaparelli.
The feature dives deep into her transformation and the different shoes the pop icon wore through her more than two decades career. In her candid exchange, Beyoncé answers some of people's misconceptions about her, her latest endeavors, her "once and future," ultimately, inspiring every Beyhive around the globe. Here are some of the new things we learn from her.
Clap backs are best serve through art
In the feature, Beyoncé shared that her previous agency told her that her fans do not respond well to her photos that are in black and white, which she described as ridiculous and pissed her off. To prove the agency wrong, she presented her album, "I Am... Sasha Fierce" in black and white aesthetic, which is one of her biggest commercial successes.
At age 19, the former Destiny's Child member experienced criticism about gaining weight. And in return, she wrote "Bootylicious."
"I woke up one day and refused to feel sorry for myself," she says. "It was the beginning of me using whatever life handed to me and turning it into something empowering to other women and men who were struggling with the same thing."
Doing good to others is best way to go
Apart from producing chart-topping hits, Beyoncé also advocates for goodwill. In 2013, the pop star established her BeyGood initiative where she aims "to inspire others to be kind, to be charitable, and to be good."
The program has done remarkable jobs domestically and internationally, from hurricane relief, educational scholarships, and supporting women's rights to assisting minority businesses and pandemic aid.
Never fall for false reality
Beyoncé also reminds everyone of the benefits of having an invaluable screen break. As our world becomes small and connected by the single thread of the internet, we should never forget that there is still "much to discover outside of our phones."
"Our reality can be warped because it’s based on a personalized algorithm. It shows us whatever truths we are searching for, and that’s dangerous," she muses. "We can create our own false reality when we’re not fed a balance of what’s truly going on in the world."
Drawing boundaries has its purpose
A lot of things happened in Beyoncé's career in her 20s, from becoming a solo artist to building Parkwood Entertainment. But one of the lessons we could learn from her is the power of saying no. It is all about being in control of your narrative and drawing the line between your life and your work, which is often misconstrued.
"I’ve fought to protect my sanity and my privacy because the quality of my life depended on it," Beyonce says. "A lot of who I am is reserved for the people I love and trust. Those who don’t know me and have never met me might interpret that as being closed off. Trust, the reason those folks don’t see certain things about me is because my Virgo ass does not want them to see it....It’s not because it doesn’t exist!"
Ivy Park latest line is rooted on her Texan upbringing
After doing music and film, Beyoncé has also dipped her toes into fashion entrepreneurship with her brand Ivy Park. And after successful collaborations in the past, her brand's latest collection mirrors her days growing up in Texas and the black culture in it.
"One of my inspirations came from the overlooked history of the American Black cowboy. Many of them were originally called cowhands, who experienced great discrimination and were often forced to work with the worst, most temperamental horses," she explains. "We were inspired by the culture and swag of the Houston rodeo."
She is Queen Bee—literally!
During quarantine, the "Lemonade" singer discovered what honey can do to help her with her insomnia and agitation. This led her to building her own honey farm at home.
"I found healing properties in honey that benefit me and my children," Beyoncé says. "And now I’m building a hemp and a honey farm. I’ve even got hives on my roof!"
Read the full feature here.