One app for all your study abroad needs
Truly, a queen ruling the international music scene as well as a headstrong bosswoman, Beyoncé has come a long way from being a young talented girl from Texas to winning 28 Grammys and fiercelyconquering the world! Hailing originally from Houston, Texas, she started her singing career winning the first talent show and left the audiences impressed with her mesmerizing voice! Beyoncé participated in many such talent hunts as a kid and then amazed the world when she became the lead singer of ‘Destiny’s Child’! That’s where Queen Bey’s phenomenal journey began so get ready as we bring you the life and success story of Beyoncé, the epitome of Girl Power!
Explore the Educational Journey of Kamala Harris, A Woman of Many Firsts!
A Born Performer
Born on September 4, 1981, Beyoncé grew up as a shy kid with very few friends which led her parents, Mathew Knowles and Tina Knowles to send their daughter to dance lessons so that she could “make friends more than anything else.” But when they witnessed her sparkling presence on the stage, they were left in awe of her confidence and this is where the little Beyoncé found her calling. She loved performing as a kid so she participated and won many talent contests and seeing her come alive on stage, her parents also realized that she was a born performer!
She attended Parker Elementary School which was known as a music magnet school. She later went to the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and Alief Elsik High School.
Girl’s Tyme to Destiny’s Child
Auditioning for an all-girls entertainment group with her best friend Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé was put in a girl band call Girl’s Tyme along with Rowland as well as LaTavia Roberson. An R&B producer Arne Frager, noticed the band and brought them to another talent show, called Star Search featuring on national television. A year later, the band lost on the show and Beyoncé’s father who was the band manager decided to resign from his role and the family went through some rough days changing apartments battling finances. The band didn’t give up still as the girls kept performing as opening acts for other other established and by 1996, they were signed by a major label.
The band also changed their name inspired by a biblical reference, Destiny’s Child as they signed with the international label, Columbia Records. They released their self-titled album in 1998 and stunned the world with songs like Jumpin Jumpin, Say My Name and Bills, Bills, Bills.
Battling Depression
As two of the band members, Roberson and Luckett expressed their disdain for Matthew’s work as the band manager, Faraah Franklin and Michelle Williams were brought on board replacing the two girls. Beyoncé was blamed by media for the split and she went into depression. She later confessed that the band won its first Grammy during that time and she knew that no one would take her depression seriously. She later confided in her mother about her depression and took her help in fighting and conquering it. In 2001, the band decided to take on a hiatus to discover their solo music journeys!
Priyanka Chopra’s Journey From a Small Town Girl to a Global Superstar!
Flying Solo
Kickstarting her solo career, Beyoncé starred in Austin Powers in Goldmember, a comedy film and later also acted in The Fighting Temptations, a musical comedy. She also made her first solo single ‘Work It Out’ during this time and later released her solo album, Dangerously in Love in 2003. It was the lead single of this album, titled Crazy in Love which topped Billboard charts and paired her with her now-husband and then-boyfriend, Jay-Z.
She went on to release many internationally lauded albums from B-Day, Dreamgirls to the stunning I Am…. Sasha Fierce. She also won many awards and wooed the audience with songs like All the Single Ladies, Who Runs the World, Halo and many more!
Beyoncé & Jay-Z: The Power Couple
Beyoncé married rapper Jay – Z in 2008 and were dating from 2001. Their marriage went through many ups and downs through the years. There were cheating and affair allegations against Jay-Z but the couple worked and got past all of this and other difficulties together. Beyoncé suffered a miscarriage in 2010, to deal with this loss she started working on her new music. But gratefully, she announced her next pregnancy on MTV Video Music Awards 2011 after the performance which became the most-watched broadcast in MTV history, pulling in 12.4 million viewers. Beyoncé and Jay-z have three children, Blue Ivy Carter and the twins Rumi & Sir Carter.
The Modern-Day Feminist
In an interview with British Vogue, Beyoncé called herself a Modern-day feminist and also added “I do believe in equality and that we have a way to go and it’s something that’s pushed aside and something that we have been conditioned to accept,” She believes in equality and has always been bold about her opinions. Songs like ‘Run the World’, ‘All the Single Ladies’ have become international anthems for girl power giving her the title of Queen Beyoncé.
Coachella Turned into Beychella
Becoming the first black woman to perform at the coveted Coachella, Beyoncé gave an inspiring performance celebrating the incredible Black culture. Her set was two hours long but she didn’t miss a step and had the same energy till the end. Beyoncé also showcased African American culture beautifully. She released her own documentary in 2019, called Homecoming, a Netflix Original! It received two Grammy awards for Best Music Film and NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Variety – Series or Special.
Empowering Black Community
“We need to reshape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead.“
Putting powerful presence to the right use, Beyoncé is always ready to voice the concerns of the Black community on her social media handles to donating $1.5m to the black lives movement. Beyoncé also dropped Surprise Song ‘Black Parade’ To Benefit Black-Owned Small Businesses On Juneteenth. Black parade was just not a song, it was a charity single by Beyoncé which was a tribute to her hometown, Texas celebrating the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, also known as Juneteenth.
Black Parade was also a wake of George Floyd’s death and for the people who were protesting and demanding justice for him. All the funds collected from the song’s earnings were donated to the BeyGOOD foundation which helps Black-owned small businesses. The single celebrated black culture, pride, activism and history and left a strong impact that the sale of black-owned business increased. The song was also nominated for a grammy.
Inspiring Speech to 2020 Graduates
As a true boss babe who never misses an opportunity to empower females and speak about racism, sexism, Beyoncé gave a beautiful speech in a virtual commencement celebration that was organized because graduates of 2020 could not get a convocation ceremony due to the pandemic. All the inspirational leaders, celebrities and creators from around the world were brought together. International leaders like Barack and Michelle Obama, famous band BTS, singers like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga and many more were part of it. Beyoncé gave a 10-minute inspiring speech in which she congratulated the class of 2020 and also paid tribute to George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.
From a Guinness Record to Becoming an Entrepreneur!
Beyoncé has won a Guinness Record for having the ‘Most Liked Image on Instagram’ in 2017 when she announced her second pregnancy to the world. The image received a whopping 6 million likes and Queen Bey presently has over 168 million Instagram followers becoming the 9th most followed celebrity on the social media app!
She also founded her own management and entertainment company known as Parkwood Entertainment in 2010 and launched Ivy Park, an activewear clothing brand joint venture between Parkwood and Topshop. She has also invested in WTRMLN WTR, a water start-up, founded by women.
Charitable Works
Beyoncé is always ready to support international causes and has Beyoncé founded Survivor Foundation with Kelly Rowland, her Destiny’s Child bandmate. Survivor Foundation helped victims of Hurricane Katrina.
“The most alluring thing a woman can have is confidence.”
Queen Bey is also the co-founder of Chime for Change which helps women by providing them health and educational facilities. She also recently founded BeyGOOD Foundation for Covid-relief during the pandemic in order to help people in need of basic necessities like food, clothes, household supplies.
Awards and Achievements
Beyoncé became the first African-American woman to receive the Songwriter of the Year award by ASCAP. She has won 13 Billboard music awards, 24 Grammys and has been nominated 79 times. Beyoncé has performed twice at the Superbowl.
Find Out How Taylor Swift Went From Being a Country Singer to Miss Americana
Beyoncé is truly awe-inspiring as she became a global female pop star while managing her marriage and three kids, running multiple charities & empowering women everywhere! For Beyoncé the social media is not just for promoting new song releases, it’s a platform where she demands justice for the black community. She is a feminist and activist who is bold & fierce about her opinions.
A true diva is graceful and talented, and strong, and fearless and brave and someone with humility.
Becoming a powerful bosswoman and ruling the world with her shining stage presence, empowering words, kindness, compassion and fierceness, Queen Beyoncé has proudly held on to her black roots as well as inspired women of every age from around the globe! There is only one thing left to say Hail QueenBey! For more such awesome content, keep watching this space at Leverage Edu!
45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today.
