After more than two decades in the spotlight, Beyoncé is more than just a pop icon. 

She represents a cultural force that challenges social norms and transforms the way we perceive the power of art and how we see ourselves and each other.

But at 40, Beyoncé feels like she’s just getting started.

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter: Ready to Push into New Territories

Women born in the early 1980s were one of the last generations to live in the analog era. They were also the first to see themselves reinvented in the digital age. 

Beyoncé’s childhood was marked by the rise of home recording devices like video cameras, stereo systems that let you record your own voice, 

keyboards that let you search for your favorite sounds, and personal computers that aggregated news. Beyoncé’s generation is the first to experience the incredible precision of lip-syncing. It can also be a volatile experience. Sometimes you sound exactly as you think you sound. And sometimes you sound behind, after hitting Record.

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter grew up in the digital revolution and has learned to navigate that dissonance as part of her artistic ability. Beyoncé founded Parkwood Entertainment, a media conglomerate that includes the fashion label IVY PARK. She is the mother of three kids, 9-year-old Blue Ivy and 4-year-old twins Rumi and Sir, with her husband, JAY-Z. The power couple, Beyoncé and JAY-Z, were just named the faces of jeweler Tiffany & Co.

The jewelry brand was acquired by LVMH earlier this year and is currently in the midst of a reboot under the French luxury conglomerate. Beyoncé is working on new music and other projects that promise to push boundaries, taking her deeper into uncharted territory. Here’s what Beyoncé has to say to the world, for each decade of her life, for Harper’s Bazaar (HB). Now 40, Beyoncé is listening to her inner voice.

You’ll turn 40 on September 4. Looking back on your life so far, what lessons have you learned for each decade?

BEYONCÉ: The first decade of my life was all about dreaming. I’m an introvert, I didn’t talk much when I was a kid. I spent most of my time building my imagination. And now I’m grateful for those shy years. Shyness taught me empathy and gave me the ability to connect with people. I’m not shy anymore. But I’m not sure I would have achieved such a big dream without those years of awkward thoughts in my head.

I entered dance and singing competitions when I was 7 years old. When I was on stage, I felt safe. I was often the only black girl. That’s when I realized I had to work twice as hard. I had to own the stage, be as witty and charming as possible to win. I started taking singing lessons from an opera singer when I was 9. By the time I was 10, I had recorded at least 50 or 60 songs. This was before Pro Tools, when you recorded on tape.

I injured my larynx for the first time when I was 13 from singing too much. At the same time, I had just gotten my first record deal. I was afraid I had a tumor. It would destroy my voice and my career would be over. The doctors told me to rest my vocal cords for the summer and I had to be silent again.

As a teenager, I spent time meditating

I came to maturity when I heard the bible verse from James 2:17, “Faith without action is useless.” Having a vision and intention is not enough. I had to act.

I was always learning and open to learning new things. No one in school knew I could sing because I barely talked. My energy was focused on Destiny’s Child, my dream of getting a record deal and becoming a musician. If something didn’t help me achieve my goals, I didn’t invest time in it.

I didn’t have time to hang out with friends

I sacrificed a lot of things and stayed away from anything that would distract me. As a woman of color, I didn’t want to get into trouble. I feel the pressure and the eyes watching me to move on or fail. I don’t want my family to be disappointed in me after all they have sacrificed for me. That means I have to be careful, improve myself every day and be more mature than my age. I want to break the stereotypes about black stars being victims of drugs, alcohol, and the silly notion that black women are hot-tempered. I also know that I have been given a great opportunity to live a better life. I don’t want to waste this opportunity and because of it I have given up a lot.

20s: Building a solid foundation for my career

I decided to commercially successful music and being number one no matter what. I wanted to push my limits. I learned the power of saying No. I took control of my independence at 27 and started Parkwood Entertainment. At the time, there was no company that could provide what I needed or operate the way I wanted. So I started a conglomerate – a production, recording, and advertising company. I wanted to run a company that put art and creativity first.

I attracted young people with vision and independent thinking to work with me. I wanted strong women in key roles in my company, when most of the industry was still male-dominated. I wanted to work with people who weren’t afraid to experiment with the unconventional ideas I brought to the table. Anyone can challenge me, but they have no right to say that you are not obligated to do something.

I remember being in a meeting and being told that my fans don’t like me doing black and white photos; based on a market research study. They said that I wouldn’t sell albums if I did black and white photos. It was ridiculous.

I was furious. How could a management company decide what my fans like based on a survey. Who did they interview? How did they collect such a large number of opinions? Were the numbers accurate? Were the results fair? Were all the people I was trying to support and shine a light on included in the survey?

No. I was shocked when they said, “These studies show…”. I was so tired and frustrated with companies that operated in such a formulaic way. I still shoot black and white for my music, including the videos for “Single Ladies” and “If I Were a Boy” and the Peter Lindbergh artwork for the I Am…Sasha Fierce album. All of which have been some of my most successful work to date. I always try to stay true to my spirit and emotions when making decisions.

I was very interested in filmmaking. My first project was directing the concert film I Am…World Tour. I learned how to edit cuts in Final Cut Pro. And that was the beginning of a new love affair with creativity. That led to my self-titled album, Beyoncé, and then Lemonade, Homecoming, and Black Is King.

Beyoncé’s 30s were about starting a family

My life was more than just my career. I work to heal generational trauma and turn my broken heart into art that promotes cultural development and hope for good beyond my own life. My 30s are a time to dig deeper into the values ​​of life. In 2013, I founded the charity BeyGOOD, which helps individuals in difficult circumstances. That is what my parents taught me from a young age.

Beyoncé wants to inspire kindness, volunteerism and charity

The foundation focuses on many urgent areas such as flood relief, education; providing scholarships to schools in the US. We provide fellowship programs in South Africa, support women’s rights; support minority businesses; support families in need of housing, water shortages, child health care and pandemic relief. BeyGOOD is an international initiative, supporting both domestically and internationally. For me, helping others and making a positive impact on the world is very meaningful. I work to lift others up, to change perceptions so that my children can live in a world where they need to be seen, appreciated, and valued.

I spent so many years bettering myself and improving whatever I did that I didn’t have to fight myself anymore. I have no interest in digging up the past. The past is the past. I feel like a younger, less experienced Beyoncé would never be able to compete with the current Beyoncé. Haaa!

How do you deal with the changing world of celebrity culture, to protect your inner self?

BEYONCÉ: We live in a world where freedom of speech is highly valued and boundaries are not properly established. There are a lot of liberal commentators on social media, critics, and self-proclaimed experts. Our reality can be warped because it is based on a personalized algorithm. It shows us whatever truth we are looking for. And that is dangerous.

We can create our own false reality when we are not fed balanced information about what is going on in the world. We easily forget that there is so much more to discover outside of our phones. I am so grateful that I can choose what I want to share. One day, I decided I wanted to be like Sade and Prince. I

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Source: USA Today