Beyonce: I guess I am a modern-day feminist
The clue is in the hip-shaking, woman-empowering pop songs.
But now Beyonce has confirmed what we knew anyway – she is “a modern-day feminist”.
The stunning megastar, 31, says women should be able to dote on their husbands and children, be clever, successful and sexy and still call themselves feminists.
And, appearing on the cover of Vogue’s May issue in a midriff-baring top and sequinned pencil skirt, the singer, said to be worth £190million, more than proves the point.
“Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything?” the mother-of one asks readers of the fashion bible.
“I’m just a woman and I love being a woman. If you’re attractive then you can’t be sexy, and you can’t be intelligent? What is all of that?... I don’t know .
“That word can be very extreme. But I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality, and that we have a way to go and it’s something that’s pushed aside and something that we have been conditioned to accept. But I’m happily married. I love my husband.”
The lucky man is 43-year-old hip-hop mogul Jay-Z – real name Shawn Carter – and their daughter is Blue Ivy, one.
“I feel like Mrs Carter is who I am, but more bold and more fearless than I’ve ever been,” Beyonce says. “It comes from knowing my purpose and really meeting myself once I saw my child.
“I was like, ‘OK, this is what you were born to do.’ The purpose of my body became completely different. The way I view it and everything. There’s a sensuality and an audacity that I’m OK with sharing. And I’m not uncomfortable about it. I’m not shy about it.”
And Beyonce is not averse to her little girl following in her famous footsteps.
“I hope she figures it out. Whatever makes her happy, I’m there,” she says, “I do feel like I’m going to be honest with my daughter.
“I definitely want my daughter to have goals and drive and passion – it has to be a balance.
Right now, she just likes tempo. She likes salsa – anything with a beat. Which makes sense because I was on tour when I was pregnant, and then I went on to her dad’s tour and the 808 (drum machine) was probably shaking the womb.”
Speaking of tour, Vogue also learnt the sheer strength of will - and hard work - it takes to launch a world tour, take the Superbowl by storm and sing for President Obama.
"I'm always bruised somewhere - my legs, my hips," she says of the gruelling preparations that make for those spectacular shows. "But you've already started so you've just gotta fight through it."
As well as her dazzling cover image, Beyonce appears inside the magazine in a more relaxed photoshoot. In one photo she wears just black underwear and a sweatshirt.
But it is a case of nothing but the best for the star – her waffle-knit top is from Chanel’s spring/ summer collection.
But now Beyonce has confirmed what we knew anyway – she is “a modern-day feminist”.
The stunning megastar, 31, says women should be able to dote on their husbands and children, be clever, successful and sexy and still call themselves feminists.
And, appearing on the cover of Vogue’s May issue in a midriff-baring top and sequinned pencil skirt, the singer, said to be worth £190million, more than proves the point.
“Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything?” the mother-of one asks readers of the fashion bible.
“I’m just a woman and I love being a woman. If you’re attractive then you can’t be sexy, and you can’t be intelligent? What is all of that?... I don’t know .
“That word can be very extreme. But I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality, and that we have a way to go and it’s something that’s pushed aside and something that we have been conditioned to accept. But I’m happily married. I love my husband.”
The lucky man is 43-year-old hip-hop mogul Jay-Z – real name Shawn Carter – and their daughter is Blue Ivy, one.
“I feel like Mrs Carter is who I am, but more bold and more fearless than I’ve ever been,” Beyonce says. “It comes from knowing my purpose and really meeting myself once I saw my child.
“I was like, ‘OK, this is what you were born to do.’ The purpose of my body became completely different. The way I view it and everything. There’s a sensuality and an audacity that I’m OK with sharing. And I’m not uncomfortable about it. I’m not shy about it.”
And Beyonce is not averse to her little girl following in her famous footsteps.
“I hope she figures it out. Whatever makes her happy, I’m there,” she says, “I do feel like I’m going to be honest with my daughter.
“I definitely want my daughter to have goals and drive and passion – it has to be a balance.
Right now, she just likes tempo. She likes salsa – anything with a beat. Which makes sense because I was on tour when I was pregnant, and then I went on to her dad’s tour and the 808 (drum machine) was probably shaking the womb.”
Speaking of tour, Vogue also learnt the sheer strength of will - and hard work - it takes to launch a world tour, take the Superbowl by storm and sing for President Obama.
"I'm always bruised somewhere - my legs, my hips," she says of the gruelling preparations that make for those spectacular shows. "But you've already started so you've just gotta fight through it."
As well as her dazzling cover image, Beyonce appears inside the magazine in a more relaxed photoshoot. In one photo she wears just black underwear and a sweatshirt.
But it is a case of nothing but the best for the star – her waffle-knit top is from Chanel’s spring/ summer collection.
