Beyoncé Knowles
Singer
The 2016 CFDA Fashion Icon Award winner proved how powerful her brand is when the release of her visual album 'Lemonade' stopped the internet for an entire weekend.
The 2016 CFDA Fashion Icon Award winner proved just how powerful her brand is when the release of her visual album “Lemonade” stopped the internet for an entire weekend. The audiovisual spectacle was lauded for sparking conversations surrounding the injustice and inequality rife in contemporary American society through its uncompromising and evocative aesthetics. Clips of her high fashion takes on the music video genre, featuring looks by Gucci, Cavalli and many more, quickly went viral and its release broke records when 12 songs from the album charted in the Billboard 100, the most by a single artist ever.
“Queen Bey,” as Knowles is now ubiquitously dubbed, has become a global emblem of female empowerment, and expanded her sphere of influence to include fashion, women’s rights, minority empowerment and positive body image. Knowles first shot to fame as the lead singer in the chart-topping girl group Destiny’s Child. Her first solo recording was in 2002, a collaboration with Jay-Z — who she married in 2008 — on his track “03 Bonnie and Clyde.” The following year she released her first solo album “Dangerously in Love.” Acting roles in "Pink Panther" and "Dreamgirls" followed in 2006, as well as her second studio album “B’Day.” In 2005, she and her mother Tina Knowles (who designed all of Destiny’s Child’s stage costumes) launched House of Déreon, an accessible fashion label named for Knowles’ grandmother who made her living as a seamstress.
In December 2013, she released her fifth record on iTunes, with no advertising, defying music promotion and advertising conventions. One year later, she appeared on the cover of Time Magazine. Knowles also performed during the halftime show at the Super Bowl — the most-viewed television event in America — in both 2015 and 2016.
In 2016, Knowles launched her largest fashion venture yet: an activewear line named “Ivy Park” in partnership with Arcadia Group's Sir Philip Green. Created as a lifestyle brand mixing casual and activewear, the label is sold at Topshop, Nordstrom and Net-a-Porter. In November 2018, following sexual harassment allegations against Green, Knowles bought out his share of Ivy Park to become the sole owner. In April 2019, Knowles announced a new creative partnership with Adidas to relaunch Ivy Park.
VITAL STATISTICS
What is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
ExploreWhat is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
ExploreWhy Beyoncé's Cécred Hair Tutorial Matters
In a rare video this week, the mega-singer responded to sceptics and gave the public a look at what her beauty founder personality might be.
How I Became... A Costume Designer
The stylist, consultant and now costume designer for the feature film Queen & Slim, Shiona Turini, shares how relentlessness helped her get ahead in her career, and why aspiring creative talent "must not be afraid to present a new idea and to stand by your convictions."
How I Became... A Costume Designer
The stylist, consultant and now costume designer for the feature film Queen & Slim, Shiona Turini, shares how relentlessness helped her get ahead in her career, and why aspiring creative talent "must not be afraid to present a new idea and to stand by your convictions."
Reigniting Gap as a Global Cultural Brand
BoF meets Chief Marketing Officer Alegra O’Hare to hear how Gap’s heritage of inclusivity and authenticity are the driving forces behind both its company culture and her new vision for the brand.
American Vogue’s September Issue: Leaks, Rumours and Making History
The truth about Anna Wintour's latest September issue featuring Beyoncé Knowles.
Victoria Beckham, Fashion Transformer
Imran Amed sits down with Victoria Beckham to learn how she has proven her critics wrong and become one of fashion’s fastest rising stars.
Victoria Beckham Speaks to BoF About Her Fashion Transformation
For BoF's second special print edition, The Companies & Culture Issue, cover star Victoria Beckham speaks to Imran Amed about how she has proven her critics wrong and become one of fashion’s fastest rising stars. The issue, with the full story, will launch on April 28 and is available for pre-order here.
Victoria Beckham Speaks to BoF About Her Fashion Transformation
For BoF's second special print edition, The Companies & Culture Issue, cover star Victoria Beckham speaks to Imran Amed about how she has proven her critics wrong and become one of fashion’s fastest rising stars. The issue, with the full story, will launch on April 28 and is available for pre-order here.
Top 10 Fashion Films of the Season
LONDON, United Kingdom — This season, fashion brands embraced fashion film like never before, integrating digital videos more meaningfully into a