Beyoncé
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Beyoncé is InStyle’s September cover girl! After a nine-month break from touring, we catch up with the superacheiver to talk happiness, sanity, new projects (her album 4 and her perfume Pulse), and running the world. “I sacrificed so much as a kid and as a teenager,” she says. “I have no regrets because my job kept me focused. When you’re young—18 or 19—you have the energy and drive. That’s the time to work as hard as you can. Now I’m a woman, and because I gave it my all, I can focus on my marriage. I can decide I want to have kids. I can be the mother I want to be and dedicate myself to my children.” Though, when she gets down time, she maximizes it. “In my free time I prefer to do nothing but sit on the couch and watch TV,” she says. “I have to confess that my guilty pleasure is Jersey Shore.” And throughout everything, she always makes time for friendship. “I am a girl’s girl. Women who don’t have female friends scare me. I love my friends, and I love sitting with them and listening to their stories.” For more of our exclusive interview with Beyoncé, pick up the new September issue of InStyle, on newsstands Friday.

Even before Beyonce Knowles enters the imperial suite at the Ritz in Paris for her final shot, there are epic overtones to the scene: the mishmash of Louis XIV opulence and Napoleonic swagger adorned with sphinxes, griffons and winged chimeras under a ceiling six metres high. But when she finally makes her entrance, over six feet tall in Louboutins and Gucci, far from being dwarfed by such a grandeur, Beyoncé looks terrifying. She sashays towards the balcony, pausing at a mirror to stare unflinchingly at what she sees; she steps out onto the balcony, revealing herself to the awe-struck people in the Place Venedome below. One arm punches the sky in a Delacroix's liberty leading the people mode (one of the dance moves from her single 'Run The World (Girls)', from four her fourth album), as if inciting all her female fans to world domination. A signal met with both impassioned wails - 'Bey-on-say on vous adore!' 'Bey-on-say: s'il vous plait!' - and courteous applause. For a moment she holds her iconic statue pose, then tumbles giggling back into the room, tugging at her heels. 'Oh my gosh' she exclaims as she pulls them off. 'They're so polite in Paris'. The 'iconic' circles the global phenomenon that is Beyonce Knowles: the most successful US artist of the Noughties (since going solo in 2003) and one of the best selling female artists of all time. Singer, songwriter, producer, actress philanthropist, multi-tasking being; she is less performer that quasi-religious force, named by Forbes this year as one of the worlds 10 most powerful women; and she only just now turning 30. 'This is such a pivotal moment in my life,' she tells me excitedly when we adjourn to another elaborate room of the Ritz, this one is a replica of Marie Antoinette's bedroom in Versailles. 'I'm transitioning as a woman, and I'm finally able to express myself as I am'.

Beyoncé is the epitome of sex appeal; a beautiful, multi-talented and dynamic performer, she exudes effortless glamour and inspires women with her powerful self-confidence. Who better to star as the cover girl for Harper's Bazaar's supersized Strictly Sexy September issue? The Bootylicious diva smoulders in catwalk showstoppers by Armani, Hermès, Lanvin and Alaïa for Bazaar's red hot 6-page shoot, as photographed by Alexi Lubomirski. As she approaches her 30th birthday on 4 September, Beyoncé talks exclusively to Bazaar about the next chapter of her life as she "transitions as a woman". She also talks feminism, performing in Egypt and reveals all of the thrills of working with Lady Gaga for Telephone, enthusing "She’s not afraid. I love that. She wanted me to do something crazy, and so I just rolled with it." And of her blossoming friendship with celebrity domestic goddess Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyoncé says "She pushes her boundaries all the time. You go to her house and she makes you feel like you never want to go home. She is what I strive to be one day." Harper's Bazaar is on sale from Saturday 6 August.

It's hard to believe that it was only eight years ago that Beyoncé released her debut solo album (and appeared on her first Complex cover). Today, she moves like a seasoned vet, blowing her pop peers out of the water with her professionalism and power on stage. With her latest album 4, it seems like B is pushing every aspect of her career in bold new creative directions, which makes her the perfect person to cover our annual Style & Design issue, where we showcase all the cutting edge developments in Complex's world. For the cover story, we recruited photographer Thierry Le Gouès and artist Ebon Heath, who created the unique typography sculptures that surround B. The August/September issue doesn't officially hit stands until August 9, but we're giving you a chance to check out the full cover story, extended gallery, and behind-the-scenes video now.

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In the latest issue of TIME, the venerable magazine compares Beyoncé to a well-performing stock portfolio. Market comparisons aside, TIME comes to the same conclusion we do: "bottom line," it's her music and dance moves that are the reasons "everyone loves Beyoncé". No argument there. The latest issue of TIME is on newsstands today.

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