Beyoncé opens up about miscarriages in candid new interview: ‘I had to mother myself before I could mother someone else’

The star revealed how becoming a parent has taught her to "value herself" beyond her appearance
Candid: The musical icon opens up in a new interview with Elle
Melina Matsoukas/ELLE UK
Robert Dex @RobDexES9 December 2019
The Weekender

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Beyoncé has spoken about how motherhood has changed her, saying she now feels more secure with her body.

The singer, 38, has three children with her husband Jay-Z — Blue Ivy, seven, and twins Rumi and Sir, aged two.

She told Elle magazine: “If someone told me 15 years ago that my body would go through so many changes and fluctuations, and that I would feel more womanly and secure with my curves, I would not have believed them.

“But children and maturity have taught me to value myself beyond my physical appearance and really understand that I am more than enough, no matter what stage I’m at in life.”

Opening up: Beyoncé answered questions from fans in the January issue of ELLE UK
ELLE UK/ MELINA MATSOUKAS

In the interview, in which she answered questions from fans, she also revealed how going through miscarriages had changed her outlook on life. She said: “Success looks different to me now. I learned that all pain and loss is in fact a gift. Having miscarriages taught me that I had to mother myself before I could be a mother to someone else.”

Beyoncé has sold millions of records over her career, starting out as part of the girl group Destiny’s Child before going solo. She also runs her own fashion brand, Ivy Park, and is an owner of streaming service Tidal.

But she said “being number one” was not a “priority” anymore, adding: “My true win is creating art and a legacy that will live far beyond me. That’s fulfilling.”

Priorities: The singer wants to create a "legacy" rather than aiming for chart success
Melina Matsoukas/ELLE UK

The star spoke as she modelled clothes from Ivy Park’s new collaboration with adidas, posing at a hair salon, laundromat and wig shop in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles. The range includes several unisex designs. She said: “I love experimenting with fashion, mixing high and low, sportswear with couture, even masculine and feminine.”

Beyoncé added that seeing men wearing her designs had been “an unexpected gift”. “I appreciate the beauty of gender-neutral clothing and breaking the so-called fashion rules.”

But she said all her different business ventures made “balancing work and life” the “most stressful thing”.

Cover star: The singer appears in the January issue of Elle
Melina Matsoukas/ELLE UK

She said: “Making sure I am present for my kids, dropping Blue off at school, taking Rumi and Sir to their activities, making time for date nights with my husband and being home in time to have dinner with my family, all while running a company can be challenging.

“Juggling all of those roles can be stressful, but I think that’s life for any working mom.”

The January issue of ELLE UK is on sale from Thursday

Beyonce - In pictures

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