Beyoncé: Portrait of a Lady

The Renaissance woman is a marvel. But despite a life in the spotlight and the drives of obsessed fans, few people genuinely know Beyoncé Giselle Knowles. The words of those loved her best and longest, we present Sasha Fierce, Jay-Z’s bride, a dynamic musician, a skillful actress and an n adored daughter. The icon.

“You have to understand,” Jay-Z told me in 2003,before Beyoncé was his wife, when they were still getting to know each other, while they were negotiating their relationship with the public.” I don’t even like for people to know what my girl looks like…. and now I’m in a relationship with Michael Jackson!”

At the time, it wasn’t clear if Jay had a case of the love goggles. Sure, led by Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child hit the stratosphere in 2001, picking up Grammys, breaking Billboard records and churning out fun, girl-power R&B dance hits. (They wouldn’t be named bestselling girl group of all time until 2005, after they’d reunited in 2004 to record Destiny Fulfilled). But MJ? The greatest of all time? This was at a point when you couldn’t read an article on the group without Beyoncé being described as “bootylicious.” - DREAM HAMPTON

For more of Miss Sasha and Beyonce, click here to watch our EXCLUSIVE On The Set video here!

Click here to see more of Beyoncé’s “fierce” photos in GIANT’s exclusive photo gallery!

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