Beyoncé looks sensational on the cover of September’s issue of Harper’s BAZAAR – and has opened up in a candid chat about dieting, body image and her mental health.
Posing in a sparkling bejeweled top for one of the stunning snaps, the singer, who turns 40 next month, sizzles for an array of looks as she commands attention in the editorial, boldly stating that she is learning to ‘break the cycle of poor health and neglect’.
She said: ‘In the past, I spent too much time on diets, I’m learning to break the cycle of poor health and neglect. My health, the way I feel when I wake up in the morning, my peace of mind, the number of times I smile, what I’m feeding my mind and my body – those are the things that I’ve been focusing on.
Bold, Beautiful, Bey! Beyoncé looks sensational on the cover of September’s issue of Harper’s Bazaar in a sparkling bejeweled top – and has opened up in a candid chat about dieting, body image and her mental health
‘Mental health is self-care too. Focusing my energy on my body and taking note of the subtle signs that it gives me. Your body tells you everything you need to know, but I’ve had to learn to listen.
‘I think like many women, I have felt the pressure of being the backbone of my family and my company and didn’t realize how much that takes a toll on my mental and physical well-being.
‘I have not always made myself a priority. I’ve personally struggled with insomnia from touring for more than half of my life.
‘It can be easy to lose yourself very quickly in this industry. It takes your spirit and light, then spits you out. I’ve fought to protect my sanity and my privacy.’
Raw: The singer, 39, sizzles for an array of looks as she commands attention in the editorial, bolding stating that she is learning to ‘break the cycle of poor health and neglect’
Queenly: ‘I think like many women, I have felt the pressure of being the backbone of my family and my company and didn’t realize how much that takes a toll on my mental and physical well-being,’ she told the publication
Beyoncé has built her company, Parkwood Entertainment, into a media conglomerate, launching a fashion line, IVY PARK, alongside it.
The mother of three – who shares nine-year-old Blue Ivy and four-year-old twins Rumi and Sir, with husband Jay-Z – is the face of Tiffany & Co. with her husband.
On the changing world of celebrity culture and how to protect her inner self, the Crazy In Love chanteuse said: ‘Throughout my career, I’ve been intentional about setting boundaries between my stage persona and my personal life. My family and friends often forget the side of me that is the beast in stilettos until they are watching me perform.
‘It can be easy to lose yourself very quickly in this industry. I’ve seen it countless times, not only with celebrities but also producers, directors, executives, etc. It’s not for everyone.
Majestic: ‘I have not always made myself a priority. I’ve personally struggled with insomnia from touring for more than half of my life,’ she added
She said: ‘It can be easy to lose yourself very quickly in this industry. It takes your spirit and light, then spits you out. I’ve fought to protect my sanity and my privacy’
‘Before I started, I decided that I’d only pursue this career if my self-worth was dependent on more than celebrity success. I’ve surrounded myself with honest people who I admire, who have their own lives and dreams and are not dependent on me. People I can grow and learn from and vice versa.
‘In this business, so much of your life does not belong to you unless you fight for it. I’ve fought to protect my sanity and my privacy because the quality of my life depended on it. A lot of who I am is reserved for the people I love and trust.’
On how the women in her life have influenced her, she said: ‘My closest friends are brilliant women who run companies, are entrepreneurs, mothers, wives, and close family.
‘[Destiny’s Child co-stars] Kelly [Rowland] and Michelle [Williams] are still my best friends. I gravitate toward strong, grounded women like my incredible sister, Solange. She is full of wisdom, and she is the dopest person I know.’
‘I watched my mother nurture and heal those women in her salon, not just by making them look and feel beautiful but by talking with them, listening to them, and connecting with them.
‘I’ve seen how much Black women’s emotions are attached to our hair and beauty. The beauty industry does not always understand these emotions and what we need. I want to build a community where women of all races can communicate and share some of those secrets, so we can continue to support and take care of each other.
‘I want to give women a space to feel their own strength and tell their stories. That is power.’
On the inspiration behind her new IVY PARK collection, the Signs songstress explained: ‘This collection is a mixture of my childhood growing up in Texas and a bit of American history.
‘I grew up going to the Houston rodeo every year. It was this amazing diverse and multicultural experience where there was something for every member of the family, including great performances, Houston-style fried Snickers, and fried turkey legs.’
Beyoncé is in the midst of recording new music, much to fans’ delight.
‘With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love, and laugh again,’ she said, referencing the pandemic. ‘I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible.
‘I’ve been in the studio for a year and a half. Sometimes it takes a year for me to personally search through thousands of sounds to find just the right kick or snare. One chorus can have up to 200 stacked harmonies.
‘Still, there’s nothing like the amount of love, passion, and healing that I feel in the recording studio. After 31 years, it feels just as exciting as it did when I was nine years old. Yes, the music is coming!’
On what she hopes the next decade will bring: ‘My wish is for my 40s to be fun and full of freedom. I want to feel the same freedom I feel on stage every day of my life. I want to explore aspects of myself I haven’t had time to discover and to enjoy my husband and my children.
‘I want to travel without working. I want this next decade to be about celebration, joy, and giving and receiving love. I want to give all the love I have to the people who love me back.’
‘I want to continue to work to dismantle systemic imbalances. I want to continue to turn these industries upside down. I plan to create businesses outside of music. I have learned that I have to keep on dreaming.
‘I want to show that you can have fun and have purpose, be respectful and speak your mind. You can be both elegant and a provocateur. You can be curvy and still be a fashion icon. I wish this freedom for every person.
‘I have paid my dues and followed every rule for decades, so now I can break the rules that need to be broken. My wish for the future is to continue to do everything everyone thinks I can’t do.’
Check out the full portfolio, which runs in 24 editions of Harper’s BAZAAR around the world, on newsstands now.