By Evette Dionne
The world presumed that birthing her first child would break songstress Beyoncé Knowles-Carter’s dominant stride. Wrong. King Bey hasn’t blessed iTunes with empowerment anthems or club picks in almost 18 months, but with the expertise of her brilliant marketing team, she’s managed to retain her super-stardom. The millennial pop princess dominated magazine covers, entertainment blogs, and Twitter feeds in 2012. Mrs. Shawn Carter infiltrated social media, nabbed one of the most coveted performance venues, and offered homage to one of her most beloved fore-mothers … while raising an infant in the glare of the public’s lens.
Life experiences breed superwomen. Beyoncé accepted her invitation to the elite circle in 2012, without even stumbling in her dazzling stilettos. Here are some of her most memorable moments.
Drink Her Up
BKC’s endorsement reign continues. This week, she signed a $50-million “brand ambassador” deal with Pepsi. The profitable brand is so intrigued with their newest spokeswoman that the diva’s face will appear on soda cans.
Beholding Beauty
After a nine-year brown drought, People magazine bestowed the Houston-native with “The World’s Most Beautiful Woman” title. Somewhere Jay-Z was nodding his head in approval. It was the first time since Halle Berry graced the cover in 2003 that an African-American woman was selected and only the second time a black woman was chosen in the 22-year-old tradition. What was most touching about the honor was Beyoncé’s response. “I feel more beautiful than I’ve ever felt because I’ve given birth,” she told People. “I have never felt so connected, never felt like I had such a purpose on this Earth.”
Getting Back to Business
After several months of globetrotting and shedding pregnancy pounds, the 4 crooner returned triumphantly to the stage. She performed Memorial Day weekend in a three-night event at Atlantic City’s Revel Resorts. In true divadom, she strutted and belted her greatest hits in the presence of fellow galaxy stars, including First Lady Michelle Obama and the First Daughters, Sasha and Malia.
In Memoriam …
We are still grieving the sudden loss of our beloved Whitney Houston. To honor her musical fore-mother, Bey meshed a dope rendition of “I Will Always Love You” with “Halo” during her Revel run. Needless to say, it went mini-viral on YouTube.
The World’s Darling
Despite pioneer Harry Belafonte’s disappointment in Beyoncé’s lack of civic engagement, she continued using music as a vessel for activism in 2012. On World Humanitarian Day, the King partnered with the United Nations to create a video for the power ballad “I Was Here.” It was poignant, regal and full of compassion for the world.
Who Runs Social Media?
With the creation of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and the dozens of other social media networks, it was inevitable that the notoriously private superstar would begin to use the services to connect with her Beyhive. She splashed onto Tumblr in mid-2012, and the snapshots of her life have continued on Instagram. From exclusive concert photos to intimate moments with her husband and sister Solange, Bey has solidified her position as social media’s newest fix. And I’m all in it.
Birthed the Heir to the Throne
Three words: Blue Ivy Carter. The infant’s name is synonymous with princess. The power couple’s first blessing was born on January 7, 2012 and the public’s fixation with her hasn’t waned in the 11 months since. Unlike her peers, Bey chose to release photos of Blue on Tumblr, rather than cashing a million-dollar check from a tabloid publication. The tiniest glimpse into Blue’s life causes frenzy, so Mama Bear has been careful in her exposure of her first child.
You Think You Know …
After the birth of BIC, Queen Bey has been letting down the castle walls that have shrouded her existence since 1998. Tumblr and Instagram were just the moat. Now, she’s bearing all (hopefully) in her first HBO documentary. Not only is she the star, Bey is also Tyler Perrying the whole project. The documentary is set to air February 16.
The Obamas and the Carters
A love affair commenced in 2012 between two of the most powerful, magnetic, and charismatic couples. The world-renowned diva and her hip-hop husband hosted a fundraiser for President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign at the 40/40 club in Manhattan in September. But that was just one event that showcased the canoodling between the tour-de-force couples. Beyoncé also recorded a video for the campaign and spoke publicly about her admiration and respect for Mrs. O and her husband. It was a love fest void of egos, which is always refreshing.
The Greatest Stage of All
After Janet Jackson’s Nipplegate scandal in 2004, we were positive that the National Football League would not be employing scantily-clad R&B and pop stars in this lifetime. Our hopes piqued with the Black Eyed Peas performance in 2012, but our faith in the Superbowl halftime show has been officially restored. Beyoncé will be headlining in 2013. And in diva-esque fashion, she made the announcement in one photo that has since landed in Times Square and all over Twitter timelines.
You think Beyonce Knowles-Carter ran the music world in 2012? It will cower in the shadows of her 2013 dominance.
