IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Pop Culture

Beyonce's superstar life: See the singer's best looks throughout the years

She's an award-winning singer and actress who's gone from Destiny's Child to performing for the president to motherhood.

/ 42 PHOTOS
(L to R) Kelly Rowland, Beyonce Knowles, and Miche

2001

From dancing in dazzling leotards to gracing the red carpet with husband Jay Z, Beyonce lives a superstar life.

Beyonce began her musical career as part of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child in 1998. After much-publicized turmoil and various reincarnations of the act, the trio of Kelly Rowland, Knowles and Michelle Williams, from left, became one of the most successful pop groups of the early 2000s.  The group's hit singles included "Independent Women Part I," "Bootylicious" and "Survivor."

LUCY NICHOLSON / AFP/Getty Images
Beyonce Knowles & Jay-Z

2001

Beyonce and Jay Z appear on MTV's "TRL" Nov. 21, 2002. The singer has remained mostly private about her relationship with the rapper, whom she married on April 4, 2008, in New York City.

Kevin Mazur / WireImage

2002

In 2002, Beyonce went from the concert stage to the big screen, co-starring in the film "Austin Powers in Goldmember," playing Foxxy Cleopatra opposite Mike Myers and Michael Caine. She also recorded the song "Work It Out" for the film's soundtrack.

 

New Line Cinema
Pop group Destiny's Child of the US perf

2004

On June 13, 2005, Destiny's Child announced that they would disband after their world tour ended in September. In Oct. 2005, the group released their final album, "#1's," including all of Destiny's Child's No. 1 hits and most of their well-known songs.

 

JOERG KOCH / AFP/Getty Images
Film 'Dreamgirls' receives five Golden Globe nominations undated publicity photograph

2006

Anika Noni Rose, Knowles and Jennifer Hudson, from left, perform as a '60s girl group in "Dreamgirls." The film received five Golden Globe nominations in 2006, including a best actress nomination for Beyonce.

 

DreamWorks Pictures via Reuters
Winner of Best Contemporary R&B Album Be

2007

Beyonce poses with her trophy for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 49th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb. 11, 2007. Her second studio album, "B'Day," was released on Sept. 5, 2006, to coincide with the celebration of her 25th birthday.

 

GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP/Getty Images
Beyonce Knowles

2008

Beyonce portrays Etta James in a scene from "Cadillac Records." The singer was nominated for a Golden Globe for best original song for "Once in a Lifetime" from the film.

 

AP
Image: Beyonce

2008

Beyonce performs on the TODAY show in New York's Rockefeller Center on Nov. 26, 2008. She sang "If I Were a Boy," "Single Ladies," "At Last" and "Crazy in Love." Her third studio album, "I Am Sasha Fierce," hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts that morning.

 

AP
Beyonce

2009

Beyonce performs during the "We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial" in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 18.

 

AP
Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Beyonce

2009

President Barack Obama, left, and first lady Michelle Obama wave to Beyonce after their first dance together at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The singer performed the Etta James classic "At Last."

 

AP
Singer Beyonce poses on red carpet while arriving at the 81st Academy Awards in Hollywood

2009

Beyonce sports a black and gold mermaid-style gown upon arrival at the 81st Academy Awards in Hollywood on Feb. 22.

 

Reuters
The Oscars telecast - Beyonce Knowles

2009

Beyonce performs during the 81st Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Feb. 22, 2009.

 

EPA
Image: Beyonce at MTV Europe awards

2009

Beyonce holds one of three awards she received during the MTV Europe Music Awards at the O2 World arena in Berlin on Nov. 5, 2009.

 

Rainer Jensen / EPA
Image: Taylor Swift finishes her acceptance speech for best female video at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in New York

2009

Taylor Swift, right, finishes her previously interrupted acceptance speech for best female video as Beyonce watches at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York on Sept. 13, 2009. Beyonce had been announced as the winner of the award for video of the year and called Swift back to the stage to finish a speech which had been cut off by Kanye West.

 

GARY HERSHORN / Reuters
Image: The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards - Show

2010

Beyonce accepts the best female pop vocal performance award during the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 31, 2010.

 

Kevin Winter / Getty Images
2011 Billboard Music Awards - Show

2011

Beyonce performs onstage during the 2011 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 22, 2011 in Las Vegas.

 

Ethan Miller / Getty Images for ABC
Image: Glastonbury Festival - Day 4

2011

Beyonce headlines the Pyramid stage on the fourth and final day of the 2011 Glastonbury Festival in England on June 26, 2011.

 

Tabatha Fireman / Getty Images Contributor
Image: Beyonce

2011

Beyonce revealed her pregnancy at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.

 

DANNY MOLOSHOK / Reuters
Image: Beyonce Knowles, Tina Knowles

2011

Beyonce walks with her mother, Tina Knowles, as they launch their fashion collection, House of Dereon, in London on Sept. 17, 2011.

 

Jonathan Short / AP
Image: Singer Beyonce poses for a photo during an event to debut her newest fragrance Beyonce Pulse at Macy's store in New York

2011

Beyonce poses for a photo during an event to debut her new fragrance Beyonce Pulse at Macy's store in New York September 22, 2011. By 2016 Beyonce had 13 perfumes.

KENA BETANCUR / Reuters
Image: Beyonce and Blue Ivy

2012

Beyonce's daughter Blue Ivy Carter made her debut on Feb. 10, 2012. Jay Z and Beyonce took to the internet to introduce their month-old daughter to their fans on the web page helloblueivycarter.tumblr.com. "We welcome you to share our joy," the couple wrote of their first child together.

 

helloblueivycarter.tumblr.com

2012

Beyonce appears on the cover of People magazine as the world's most beautiful woman on April 25, 2012. 

 "I feel more beautiful than I've ever felt because I've given birth. I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this earth," Beyonce told People in an interview for the issue.

Image: \"Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations\" Costume Institute Gala

2012

Beyonce attends the Costume Institute Gala celebration at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on May 7, 2012.

 

Larry Busacca / Getty Images
Image: Recording artists Jay-Z and Beyonce arrive for the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington

2013

Recording artists Jay Z and Beyonce arrive for the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington Jan. 21, 2013.

POOL / Reuters
Image: Beyonce. Barack Obama

2013

President Barack Obama listens as Beyonce sings the national anthem during his inauguration on Jan. 21, 2013, in Washington. She would later be criticized for not singing live.

 

Carolyn Kaster / AP
Image: Beyonce

2013

After taking heat for lip-syncing at the 2013 presidential inauguration, Beyonce held a press conference before the Super Bowl and sang the national anthem live to prove she could do it.

 

Christopher Polk / Getty Images
Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show

2013

Beyonce's sexy black leather costume and risque performance at the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show resulted in complaints from some who wanted a more family-friendly show.

 

Christopher Polk / Getty Images
Image:  Beyonce and Destiny's Child perform during the half-time show of NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game in New Orleans

2013

Beyonce reunited with her '90s band, Destiny's Child, in a much-buzzed-about concert at halftime of the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013.

 

JEFF HAYNES / Reuters
Image: Beyonce Knowles

2013

Beyonce poses on the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute gala benefit "Punk: Chaos to Couture" on May 6, 2013 in New York.

 

Evan Agostini / AP
Image: Beyonce,Jay Z

2013

Jay Z joins Beyonce onstage during the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour 2013 on Aug. 5, 2013 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

 

Robin Harper / AP
Image: Beyonce Knowles, Jay-Z

2013

Jay Z and Beyoncé make a surprise cameo in Cuba, on April 4, 2013 to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary. The trip drew criticism from some politicians who objected to what appeared to be a celebrity tourist excursion to the embargoed country.

Ramon Espinosa / AP
Beyonce performs onstage during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards rehearsals at The Forum on August 23, 2014 in Inglewood, California.

2014

Beyonce performs onstage during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards rehearsals at The Forum on August 23, 2014 in Inglewood, California.

Kevin Mazur / WireImage
Image: Beyonce smiles with Jay-Z and daughter Ivy Blue after accepting the Video Vanguard Award on stage during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards in Inglewood

2014

Beyonce smiles with Jay Z and daughter Blue Ivy after accepting the Video Vanguard Award onstage during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards in California on August 24, 2014.

Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
56th GRAMMY Awards - Press Room

2014

Beyonce poses in the press room during the 56th Grammy Awards on Jan. 26, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. 

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
57th GRAMMY Awards - Press Room

2015

Beyonce poses in the press room during the 57th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
\"China: Through The Looking Glass\" Costume Institute Benefit Gala - Arrivals

2015

Beyonce, wearing Givenchy, attends the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Costume Institute Benefit Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2015 in New York. The skin-colored evening dress had strategically-placed multi-color crystals and stones that just covered the singer’s curves.

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images
Pepsi Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show

2016

Beyonce and Bruno Mars perform during the Pepsi Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California.

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images
2016 CFDA Fashion Awards - Show

2016

Beyonce accepts the CDFA Fashion Icon Award onstage at the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards at the Hammerstein Ballroom on June 6, 2016 in New York.

Theo Wargo / Getty Images
Image: 2016 MTV Video Music Awards - Red Carpet

2016

Beyonce and Blue Ivy attend the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Aug. 28, 2016 in New York.

Larry Busacca / Getty Images for MTV
Hillary Clinton Campaigns In Key Swing States

2016

Beyonce, Democratic presidential nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Jay Z appear onstage during a Get Out The Vote concert at Wolstein Center on Nov. 4, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

2017

On Feb. 1, 2017 Beyonce shared the news that she was pregnant with twins on Instagram with a stunning photo of herself with her hands on her baby bump, kneeling in front of a wreath of flowers with a long green veil over her head.

Beyonce/Instagram
The 59th GRAMMY Awards - Roaming Show

2017

Beyonce performs pregnant during the 59th Grammy Awards on Feb. 12, 2017 in Los Angeles. 

Christopher Polk / Getty Images for NARAS
1/42