Lena Waithe on the Power of Bey

Whether you're a loyal member of the Beyhive or a hater, the overwhelming impact of Beyoncé cannot be denied—or so argues a new collection, QUEEN BEY: A Celebration of the Power and Creativity of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter (St. Martin's Press), edited by Veronica Chambers. The collection features cultural critics and academics on anything and everything Bey. Below, Emmy-winning writer, producer and actress Lena Waithe, creator of Showtime's The Chi, reflects on her personal journey with Beyoncé's music.

I was in junior high when Destiny's Child released its first video, "No, No, No." I remember me and my friends, all the black girls, seeing this different kind of black girl, one we hadn't really seen before. They all seemed like us, but there was also something very Diana Ross-ish about Beyoncé, even at the very beginning, where your eyes were drawn to her.