Beyoncé continues to show us why she is the Queen. Dressed in a white gown and a floral headpiece, the music icon graces the cover of VOGUE’s September 2018 issue.
This issue is special and historic — and it’s all thanks to Beyoncé. She made some boss moves when she handpicked 23-year-old Atlanta native Tyler Mitchell to shoot the cover. It is the first time in VOGUE history that a Black photographer has shot the cover.
In her cover story, Beyoncé opens up about how her body has changed since motherhood (and accepting her body for what it is), opening doors for a new generation of creatives, being free and much more.
Check out excerpts from the interview below.
On pregnancy and body acceptance: After the birth of my first child, I believed in the things society said about how my body should look. I put pressure on myself to lose all the baby weight in three months, and scheduled a small tour to assure I would do it. Looking back, that was crazy…After the twins, I approached things very differently. I was 218 pounds the day I gave birth to Rumi and Sir. I was swollen from toxemia and had been on bed rest for over a month. My health and my babies’ health were in danger, so I had an emergency C-section…During my recovery, I gave myself self-love and self-care, and I embraced being curvier…I think it’s important for women and men to see and appreciate the beauty in their natural bodies. That’s why I stripped away the wigs and hair extensions and used little makeup for this shoot.
On opening doors for new artists: It’s important to me that I help open doors for younger artists. There are so many cultural and societal barriers to entry that I like to do what I can to level the playing field, to present a different point of view for people who may feel like their voices don’t matter.
On her freedom: I don’t like too much structure. I like to be free. I’m not alive unless I am creating something. I’m not happy if I’m not creating, if I’m not dreaming, if I’m not creating a dream and making it into something real. I’m not happy if I’m not improving, evolving, moving forward, inspiring, teaching, and learning.
Read the full interview on VOGUE. You can her On the Run with her hubby in a city near you.
