Here’s how Tommy Hilfiger discovered Destiny’s Child
Klaudia//October 16, 2025
Destiny’s Child was an American girl group whose final lineup comprised Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Being the girl group’s primary lead singer and co-songwriter, Beyoncé was able to establish herself as the group’s breakout star and set herself apart. But she wasn’t always a star and not everyone knew her back in the day. In fact, there’s a funny story behind how she was discovered by Tommy Hilfiger’s founder Thomas Jacob Hilfiger, back in 1997, who went on to doll up celebrities in his clothes, before he had the money for advertising.
“I was doing a fashion show at Macy’s in Herald Square, New York City,” Tommy recalled on a podcast episode.
His brother Andy mentioned that there was no music for the show because the DJ hadn’t shown up. Spotting three girls shopping nearby in Tommy Hilfiger outfits, Andy said, “They sing; maybe they could perform.”
Tommy replied, “Why don’t we bring them on stage in exchange for some clothes?” And so that’s what they did, not realising who the trio are.
“It turned out to be Destiny’s Child,” Tommy said, prompting the host to laugh and remark, “That’s ridiculous.”
“They performed an entire set during the fashion show,” he continued. “Afterwards, I asked Andy, ‘Who’s that girl in the middle? Her voice is incredible.’ He said, ‘That’s Beyoncé.’”
Tommy, who established his brand in 1985, wanted to make Tommy Hilfiger a “non-exclusive brand”.
“I wanted to reach a broader audience and I didn’t have money for advertising at the time,” he said in an interview. “But I thought if I had cool musicians wearing the clothes, then their fans would come to me and want to emulate the stars.”
He dressed Destiny’s Child, when they were starting out, upon discovering them.
“I was first with using celebrities in advertising for fashion,” he said. “This is before (fashion) magazines used celebrities on their covers.”
“I wanted to reach a broader audience and I didn’t have money for advertising at the time,” he added, explaining that he thought if he got “cool musicians” to wear his clothes, then he would be able to reach their fans, who would make a much bigger audience.
“I was doing a fashion show at Macy’s in Herald Square, New York City,” Tommy recalled on a podcast episode.
His brother Andy mentioned that there was no music for the show because the DJ hadn’t shown up. Spotting three girls shopping nearby in Tommy Hilfiger outfits, Andy said, “They sing; maybe they could perform.”
Tommy replied, “Why don’t we bring them on stage in exchange for some clothes?” And so that’s what they did, not realising who the trio are.
“It turned out to be Destiny’s Child,” Tommy said, prompting the host to laugh and remark, “That’s ridiculous.”
“They performed an entire set during the fashion show,” he continued. “Afterwards, I asked Andy, ‘Who’s that girl in the middle? Her voice is incredible.’ He said, ‘That’s Beyoncé.’”
Tommy, who established his brand in 1985, wanted to make Tommy Hilfiger a “non-exclusive brand”.
“I wanted to reach a broader audience and I didn’t have money for advertising at the time,” he said in an interview. “But I thought if I had cool musicians wearing the clothes, then their fans would come to me and want to emulate the stars.”
He dressed Destiny’s Child, when they were starting out, upon discovering them.
“I was first with using celebrities in advertising for fashion,” he said. “This is before (fashion) magazines used celebrities on their covers.”
“I wanted to reach a broader audience and I didn’t have money for advertising at the time,” he added, explaining that he thought if he got “cool musicians” to wear his clothes, then he would be able to reach their fans, who would make a much bigger audience.