Beyonce Says Growing Up Shy Taught Her Empathy & Gave Her The Courage To Dream Big.
In a rare interview with Harpers Bazaar, Beyoncé who is the cover star of their September issue reflected on forty years of her life. She disclosed growing up introverted gave her the courage to dream big.
“The first decade of my life was dedicated to dreaming. Because I was an introvert, I didn’t speak very much as a child. I spent a lot of time in my head building my imagination. I am now grateful for those shy years of silence. Being shy taught me empathy and gave me the ability to connect and relate to people,” she said. “I’m no longer shy, but I’m not sure I would dream as big as I dream today if it were not for those awkward years in my head.”
She added that at age 7 she became aware of the extra hours she had to put in when she realized she was often the only black girl at her dancing and singing competitions.
“I was competing in dance and singing competitions at age seven. When I was on the stage, I felt safe. I was often the only Black girl, and it was then that I started to realize I had to dance and sing twice as hard. I had to have stage presence, wit, and charm if I wanted to win.”
Elsewhere in the interview she spoke about how body shamers inspired Destiny Child’s hit single “Bootylicious.”
“I remember when I started hearing people criticize me after I had put on some weight. I was 19. None of the sample clothes fit me. I was feeling a bit insecure from hearing some of the comments, and I woke up one day and refused to feel sorry for myself, so I wrote “Bootylicious.” It was the beginning of me using whatever life handed me and turning it into something empowering to other women and men who were struggling with the same thing.
She also confirmed she’s working on new music.
“I’ve been in the studio for a year and a half. Sometimes it takes a year for me to personally search through thousands of sounds to find just the right kick or snare. One chorus can have up to 200 stacked harmonies. Still, there’s nothing like the amount of love, passion, and healing that I feel in the recording studio. After 31 years, it feels just as exciting as it did when I was nine years old. Yes, the music is coming!”
