Whenever one contemplates the steamroller that is Beyoncé Knowles, one important question comes to mind: How does she do it?
Even in the drama-filled, chaotic circus that is showbiz, the reigning queen of R&B is happily married to hip-hop mogul Jay Z, and recently became a proud mother of a baby girl, Blue Ivy Carter.
No one other than Beyoncé can manage to kick out other members of the girl group that made her name, to pursue solo superstardom, and still look like an angel – an angel with a killer curvy bod, at that.
In between massive world tours, Pepsi endorsements and setting up her own fashion label, the House of Deréon, Beyoncé added “acting” to her resume, starring in films as varied as Goldmember to the Oscar-nominated Dreamgirls.
Plus, she’s only 30 years old.
Before the autobiography comes out, we step back in time and trace Beyoncé’s evolution from teen singer to global superstar.
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Beyoncé: All grown up
1998: Destiny’s Child
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Sasha wasn’t always fierce. Here, Beyoncé Knowles was a fresh-faced 17-year-old, and everyone was just learning to say her name. She shared singing duties with Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Robertson and LeToya Luckett in the earliest incarnation of girl group Destiny’s Child. We’re pretty sure that this sari outfit would never have made it to her label, the House of Deréon.
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2001: She’s the survivor
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Two line-up shuffles later, Destiny’s Child becomes a trio, and Beyoncé wins her first Grammy for co-writing the hit Say My Name. Survivor, another number she writes, becomes a chart-topper and helps shifts more than four million copies the group’s third album. Even now, the writing’s on the wall: Beyoncé, the apparent leader of the trio, seems destined to tear ahead of the pack. Sorry, Michelle and Kelly.
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2002: Beyoncé’s big year
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Yes, the hair does probably give you a clue. Beyoncé makes her big-screen debut as Foxxy Cleopatra, alongside Mike Meyers, in the Austin Powers movie Goldmember. It turns out to be a box-office moneymaker. She also does a cameo in Jay Z’s music video Bonnie & Clyde, so no prizes for guessing that this is where their love story began. To top off a successful year, Beyoncé replaces Britney as the spokesperson for Pepsi – a sign that she’s truly arrived.
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2003: She’s crazy... In Love
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The anthem of the summer is Crazy in Love, and the masterminds behind it are none other than Jay Z and Beyoncé, who has just released her first solo record Dangerously in Love. The electrifying musical and physical chemistry between the two R&B giants is seen on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards, where they perform their hit song. Beyoncé also scoops up three gongs at the VMAs, which pales in comparison to the five Grammys she wins the following year.
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2006: The diva is born
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Now that she’s closed the chapter on Destiny’s Child for good – the group recorded their last album in 2004 – she throws her energy into fashion, her sophomore album and some serious acting. Teaming up with her mother Tina, Beyoncé starts high-end couture line House of Deréon, and puts out another platinum album, B’day. She also stars alongside Jennifer Hudson in the critically acclaimed movie, Dreamgirls.
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2008: Beyoncé marries Jay Z
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She’s nothing short of a drama queen, but interestingly enough, Beyoncé’s marriage to long-time beau Jay Z in New York was a low-key and “secret” affair that was hushed up for many months. When she finally opened up to Essence magazine about tying the knot, she simply said, “We’ve been together a long time… We always knew it would happen.”
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2008: Meet Sasha Fierce
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Beyoncé releases her No.1 double album, I am… Sasha Fierce, which spawns the monster hit Single Ladies, starts a worldwide dance craze and unveils a brand new look for the singer. Always the chameleon, she goes peroxide blonde and dresses like a 60s housewife for the movie, Cadillac Records, where she portrays music legend Etta James.
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2011: Beyoncé becomes a mother
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After months of speculation, Beyoncé proudly shows off her baby bump while performing on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards in late August. This is her first child with Jay Z, and even as a mummy-to-be, she still looks positively bootylicious – after all, she coined that word, and you can look it up in the Oxford English Dictionary.
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