From Destiny’s Child to a Successful Solo Performer
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, commonly known as Beyoncé, was born on September 4, 1981 in Houston, Texas, United States to Xerox sales manager Mathew Knowles and hairdresser/salon owner Celestine Ann “Tina” Beyincé. Her younger sister, Solange, is also a recording artist and actress.
She studied at St. Mary’s Elementary School in Fredericksburg, Texas, where she also enrolled in dance classes. At the age of seven, she won a school talent show where she sang John Lennon’s “Imagine”, leading her to continue performing and further her interest in music as well. In 1990, she began attending Houston’s music magnet school Parker Elementary School where she performed with the school’s choir.
She also enrolled at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and later attended Alief Elsik High School. She then became a choir member at St. John’s United Methodist Church where she was a soloist for two years. When she was eight, she and childhood friend Kelly Rowland met LaTavia Roberson during an audition for an all-female group.
They were formed into a group with three other girls and were named Girl’s Tyme, where they rapped and danced on the talent show circuit in Houston. They were then brought to Northern California by R&B producer Arne Frager and competed in the talent show Star Search, although they failed to win the competition.
In 1995, Beyoncé’s father quit his job so he could manage the group. Her father cut the original line-up to four and the group continued to perform as an opening act for other R&B girl groups. After auditioning for record labels, they were signed to Elektra Records. They later moved to Atlantic Records but they were cut by the company. On October 5, 1995, they were signed to Grass Roots Entertainment.
The following year, the group started recording their debut album under a contract with Sony Music. Subsequently, they secured a contract with Columbia Records. They then changed their name to Destiny’s Child in 1996, which was taken from a passage in the Book of Isaiah. The following year, the group released their major label debut single “Killing Time”, which became one of the soundtracks for the film Men in Black.
In 1998, they released their self-titled debut album, spawning their first major hit “No, No, No”. The following year, they released their second album The Writing’s on the Wall, generating the hit songs “Jumpin’ Jumpin'” and “Say My Name”. The latter went on to win the Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song. The group has since released the albums Survivor (2001) and the holiday album 8 Days of Christmas (2001). Shortly after, the group announced their hiatus to focus on pursuing solo careers.
In 2002, Beyoncé’s acting career blossomed with the the comedy film Austin Powers in Goldmember, alongside Mike Myers. The following year, she starred in the musical comedy The Fighting Temptations opposite Cuba Gooding, Jr. She then released her first solo recording as a feature on Jay-Z’s “’03 Bonnie & Clyde”. In 2003, she released her first solo album with Dangerously in Love. The album’s lead single, “Crazy in Love”, became Beyoncé’s first No. 1 song as a solo singer in the US. The album garnered several awards at the Grammy Awards including Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “Dangerously in Love 2”, Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Crazy in Love”.
The singer-actress has since been successful in her solo career, releasing further works such as B’Day (2006), I Am… Sasha Fierce (2008), 4 (2011), and Beyoncé (2013). She has also starred in other motion pictures like The Pink Panther, Dreamgirls, Cadillac Records, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!: Wubb Idol, Obsessed, and Epic.
Cosmetic Surgery Rumors
The 32-year-old singer is no stranger to plastic surgery claims. From her Destiny Child days to becoming a successful solo artist, Beyoncé has had her share of dramatic physical transformations. First, it was rumored that she had a rhinoplasty. Supported by plastic surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Spiegel with his statement: “It’s extremely likely she’s had a rhinoplasty. I think she has had her nose narrowed and the tip refined. I do this same procedure regularly. She looks gorgeous and the surgeon did an excellent job.”
It was reported that the procedure occurred between 2003 and 2004 and it was also noted that she had undergone more than one nose procedures. Plastic surgeon Dr Anthony Youn stated: “It does appear that her nose has been thinned to look more elegant, Beyoncé’s nose appears thinner and elegant, it matches to the rest of her face, and it looks great & not overdone.”
Aside from getting her nose done, it has been rumored that she has undergone such procedures as lip reduction, breast implants, skin lightening, liposuction and even botox! Despite the variety of plastic surgery claims thwarted at her, the Grammy-award winner has not yet addressed any plastic surgery allegations.