Beyonce made history when she was given creative control over the September cover of Vogue and recruited the first black photographer to shoot her cover in the magazine’s 126-year history. In the accompanying interview, Beyonce shares details of her pregnancies and discusses embracing the curves that came with motherhood.
“After the birth of my first child, I believed in the things society said about how my body should look. After the twins, I approached things very differently.
I was 218 pounds the day I gave birth to Rumi and Sir. I was swollen from toxemia and had been on bed rest for over a month. My health and my babies’ health were in danger, so I had an emergency C-section. We spent many weeks in the NICU. After the C-section, my core felt different. It had been major surgery. I am not sure everyone understands that. I needed time to heal, to recover. During my recovery, I gave myself self-love and self-care, and I embraced being curvier. I accepted what my body wanted to be.
I think it’s important for women and men to see and appreciate the beauty in their natural bodies. That’s why I stripped away the wigs and hair extensions and used little makeup for this shoot.
To this day my arms, shoulders, breasts, and thighs are fuller. I have a little mommy pouch, and I’m in no rush to get rid of it. I think it’s real.”
Sources: Vogue, CNN, Instagram
