Beyoncé Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence for Harper's Bazaar, Lensed by Campbell Addy

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Beyoncé Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence for Harper's Bazaar, Lensed by Campbell Addy AOC Fashion

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is revered worldwide. As she prepares to celebrate her 40th birthday on September 4, the star is ready to listen to her own inner voice.

During the years of making herself a star music talent, businesswoman, activist, Black cultural hero, philanthropist, mother to four-year-old twins Rumi and Sir and nine-year-old Blue Ivy, and wife to JAY-Z, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter learned the power of putting in the work. “Vision and intention weren’t enough; I had to put in the work,” Beyoncé explains in the September 2021 Harper’s Bazaar US cover story.

The September issue of Harper’s is the first time in a decade that Beyoncé has appeared on the cover of the magazine.

For the majority of her life, including her childhood, the mega-talent had not only ambition and a desire to create excellence in her life. Beyoncé had standards — the highest standards for herself. She explains:

If something wasn’t helping me reach my goal, I decided to invest no time in it. I didn’t feel like I had time to “kiki” or hang out. I sacrificed a lot of things and ran from any possible distraction. I felt as a young Black woman that I couldn’t mess up. I felt the pressure from the outside and their eyes watching for me to trip or fail. I couldn’t let my family down after all the sacrifices they made for me and the girls. That meant I was the most careful, professional teenager and I grew up fast. I wanted to break all of the stereotypes of the Black superstar, whether falling victim to drugs or alcohol or the absurd misconception that Black women were angry. I knew I was given this amazing opportunity and felt like I had one shot. I refused to mess it up, but I had to give up a lot.

Tiffany & Co jewelry is worn throughout the fashion story ‘The Once & Future Beyoncé.’ With her husband JAY-Z , the couple have been named new faces and ambassadors for the luxe jewelry brand. LVMH, Tiffany’s new owner, is now an equal owner with JAY-Z of his champagne brand Armand de Brignac, aka ‘Ace of Spades’.

Beyoncé’s narrative for Harper’s is illuminating and deeper than others we’ve read. She tells a wonderful story about agencies and “formulaic corporate companies” that’s truly wonderful. She’s always sought to surround herself with creative, innovative thinkers, but sometimes there’s just no escaping sterile, corporate thinking.

Like there was the time this agency told her that her audience didn’t like black and white photography. It had to be color. ‘And how do you know that,’ Beyoncé wondered to herself. ‘Market research’ was the answer, and the modern music icon wasn’t having it. She was beyond aggravated:

It pissed me off that an agency could dictate what my fans wanted based on a survey. Who did they ask? How is it possible to generalize people this much? Are these studies accurate? Are they fair? Are all the people I’m trying to uplift and shine a light on included? They’re not. It triggered me when I was told, “These studies show…” I was so exhausted and annoyed with these formulaic corporate companies that I based my whole next project off of black and white photography, including the videos for “Single Ladies” and “If I Were a Boy” and all of the artwork by Peter Lindbergh for I Am…Sasha Fierce, which ended up being my biggest commercial success to date. I try to keep the human feeling and spirit and emotion in my decision-making.

Beyonce Drops ICY PARK Winter Joy Collection from IVY PARK x adidas

Beyonce Drops ICY PARK Winter Joy Collection from IVY PARK x adidas

Queen Bey releases her third collection in her IVY PARK x adidas collab, this time for the launch of her latest winter-ready capsule fittingly entitled “ICY PARK”. The Lemonade artist imagines a winter wonderland world led by global citizens like Hailey Bieber, Gucci Mane, Kaash Paige, Akesha Murray and more.

“On the apparel side, the two parties turn to playful monogram graphics and cozy materials such as faux shearling and performance towel terry to infuse into its pieces. Tight-to-the-body activewear, lifestyle tracksuits and accompanying accessories are available for both men and women, all of which lean on vibrant and seasonally-appropriate hues of pink, blue and a snowy white,” writes adidas about the collection dropping February 19.

Beyoncé by Close Friend Melina Matsoukas in ELLE US January 2020 'Ask Me Anything'

Beyonce by Melina Matsoukas in ELLE US January 2020 ‘Ask Me Anything’

American music video, film, commercial and television director Melina Matsoukas, two-time Grammy Award winner and four-time MTV Video Music Awards winner for her "We Found Love" and "Formation" music videos, shoots her close friend Beyoncé in ELLE Magazine’s January 2020 cover story and interview ‘For Beyoncé, Creativity Is the Ultimate Power’.

Karen Langley styles the superstar in a mix heavy on selects from her IVY Park line. In a candid ‘Ask Me Anything’ narrative, Beyoncé responds to fan queries via email, Facebook and Instagram.

Smithsonian Acquires Tyler Mitchell's Beyoncé Portrait for Vogue US September 2018

Smithsonian Acquires Tyler Mitchell's Beyoncé Portrait for Vogue US September 2018

Photographer Tyler Mitchell shares a spectacular piece of news about an image from his September 2018 Beyoncé cover editorial. In an embarrassing acknowledgement of racism in the fashion industry, Mitchell became the first African American photographer to shoot the cover of Vogue in its 125-year history.

Clearly, positive energy infused Mitchell’s editorial from every direction, so much so that one of his Vogue images has been acquired into the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection in Washington, D.C.

The selected photo sees Beyoncé on location just outside of London, wearing a sequin-covered Valentino dress and exuberant Philip Treacy London headpiece.

“A year ago today we broke the flood gates open,” Mitchell wrote of the news on Instagram. “Since then, it was important to spend the whole year running through them making sure every piece of the gate was knocked down.”

As a concerned photographer, who is socially and politically engaged, Mitchell sees the Beyoncé shoot as an empowerment opportunity

“We’ve been thingified physically, sexually, emotionally. With my work I’m looking to revitalize and elevate the black body.”

We share the entire editorial in celebration of Mitchell’s growing success, Queen Bey herself, and the New Day society global citizens desire.

Coachella Beyonce x Balmain Collection Launches July 2018 To Benefit United Negro College Fund

Balmain announced Tuesday its Beyonce x Balmain collection inspired by the 22-time Grammy Award winning artist's April 2018 Coachella wardrobe. 

The new collection will launch at Balmain's Paris flagship store from 7pm to 9pm July 13, featuring monogrammed 'BK' hoodies and shirts in black, yellow and pink to match Queen Bey's costumes. The merchandise will roll into other Balmain boutiques as well as Harrods, Barneys New York, Net-a-Porter and more retailers the following day July 14.

Beyonce released Coachella merchandise including windbreakers, crewnecks, tees and shorts with Greek letters in April to promote her HBCU (historically black colleges and universities) message. Now Balmain will bring her costume designs to life with a prominent Balmain logo with Greek Deltas replacing the As. 

Rousteing believes the "iconic" outfits "will long remain in my generation's collective memory."

"I can say today, with absolute confidence, that collaborating with Beyonce on her Coachella concerts is destined to be one of the most important and treasured memories of my career. Why? Because Beyonce," Rousteing says in a statement. "She's a goddess, blessed with an incredibly beautiful voice and a moral vision to match ... Her level of obsessive perfectionism matches mine, so we loved poring over everything — literally everything — together."

Proceeds of the forthcoming Balmain collection will benefit the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to help students of color attend college. Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing called it a "need to repay an obvious debt for the inspiration we received from [HBCUs'] signature spirit and legacy." He worked with Beyonce for months to craft each symbolic look, including a cape and headpiece that nodded to Egyptian queen Nefertiti, a crest with Black Power motifs and several logos with Greek letters that reference college culture. via THR

Beyoncé Donates Proceeds Of 'Mi Gente' Remix To Puerto Rico & Hurricane Relief

Beyoncé appears on a new remix of "Mi Gente" by J Balvin and Willy William for a good cause, the superstar announced on Instagram Friday. Continuing her threesome images on Instagram, Queen Bey struck a hopeful, optimistic colorful tone Friday, in this killer button-up dress, vertical stripes dress from Solzce London. Off White cinches her post-babies waist with a yellow belt. 

Queen Bey also shared a list of charities on her website that are sending aid to those affected by Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Maria, and the recent earthquakes in Mexico. They  include CEMA, UNICEF and Somos Una Voz, according to a release from Republic Records.The Houston native also promotes organization to support her hometown. Find out how you can help here and listen to her sing in Spanish in the remix above.

Rumi and Sir Carter's fabulous mom -- and Blue Ivy's, too -- was in New York Friday, arriving with husband JAY-Z, who will appear on Saturday Night Live as a musical guest with host Ryan Gosling. 

Beyoncé showed off a plain white V-neck short sleeve T-shirt accented with bright yellow detachable ribbed wool and cashmere-blend sleeves from Calvin Klein’s Fall 2017 ready-to-wear collection. Designer Raf Simons created the removable statement sleeves to effortlessly drape off the shoulders with the idea of layering them over anything from outerwear to sleeveless pieces.

She accessorized with a pink Diane von Furstenberg Soiree bag and color coordinated earrings, also from DVF.

Beyoncé As Venus & Virgin Mary Shares Rumi and Sir Carter Pics In World Debut

Beyoncé introduced the world to her new babies, Rumi and Sir Carter, on Instagram at 1am EST July 14, 2017. 5 hours later, the Botticelli-inspired image had 5 million likes, writes Vogue. The twins were one month old. The image was taken by Awol Erizku, who worked previously with David LaChappelle.

In a smile-worthy post, The Guardian's Hadley Freeman writes that Beyoncé is currently on a mission to make Liberace look understated. The new mum is wearing a lavishly ruffled Palomo Spain duster and is presumable photographed at the house she and her family are renting for $400,000 a month. Freeman continues:

Most pleasing of all is the suggestion, from the pose and styling, that she is simultaneously Botticelli’s Venus and the Virgin Mary, but better than the latter because she is holding not one but two babies: the memorably named Rumi and Sir Carter. Has Beyoncé given birth to two messiahs? Look at the photo, people. Images don’t lie.

Beyoncé Launches Formation Scholars With Four Full 2017/2018 Scholarships For Young Women

Beyoncé used the first anniversary of 'Lemonade', the world's best-selling album in 2016, to launch Formation Scholars -- full college scholarships for four young women -- one for each of the participating institutions: Berklee College of Music, Howard University, Parsons School of Design and Spelman College, her site explains. 

"To add to the celebration of the one-year anniversary of Lemonade, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter announces the establishment of Formation Scholars awards for the 2017-2018 academic year, to encourage and support young women who are unafraid to think outside the box and are bold, creative, conscious and confident."

Scholarships may only be used by women for the study of creative arts, music, literature or African-American studies.  The funding is part of the #BeyGOOD initiative, an organization which has in the past provided funding for such causes as those affected by the Flint water crisis and to homeless populations and sick children around the world.