Beyoncé shares her views on masculinity, empowerment of women and LGBT community in rare, candid interview
Beyoncé at the premiere of The Lion King. (Getty)
Beyonce said gay rights in a rare Q&A with fans.
The singer, actor, designer, director, LGBT+ ally and angel on Earth spoke to Elle magazine as she relaunches her Ivy Park athleisure line.
For the profile, Beyonce fielded questions from her fanbase.
One noted that in her work, she platforms “many shades of black and brown skin tones, various sizes and representation of members of the LGBTQIA community”.
Beyoncé appears on the cover of January’s Elle magazine. (Elle)
“Why is inclusion and representation important to you,” the fan asked.
Beyonce said that for her, “it is about amplifying the beauty in all of us.”
“I rarely felt represented in film, fashion and other media,” she said.
“After having a child, I made it my mission to use my art to show the style, elegance and attraction in men and women of colour.”
I’m so proud of the progress being made in and around the LGBTQIA community.
Commenting that “we are living in a beautiful time of real progression towards acceptance,” Beyonce added: “I’m so proud of the progress being made in and around the LGBTQIA community.
“Masculinity is being redefined. Women are not competing with women. They no longer strive to be the best female anything. They strive to be the best.
“Diversity and inclusion go beyond race.”
Beyonce on ‘gender-neutral’ Ivy Park collection.
Another fan asked about the new direction of her Ivy Park line, which she launched with Topshop in 2016.
After Philip Green was accused of sexual misconduct in 2018 (claims he denies strenuously), Beyonce took full ownership of the brand, making her the first and only African American woman to own a global athleisure brand outright.
For its latest incarnation, she has partnered with Adidas on a line of gender-neutral clothing and sneakers which she says “incorporates [her] personal style and expands that to include something for everyone”.
“I love experimenting with fashion, mixing high and low, sportswear with couture, even masculine and feminine,” she explained.
“I appreciate the beauty of gender-neutral clothing and breaking the so-called fashion rules.
“I took a chance on myself when I bought my company back. We all have the confidence in us to take chances and bet on ourselves.”
This interview appears in the January 2020 issue of ELLE, on newsstands December 12.
