You South Africa

BEYONCÉ AT 40

SHE started working at the age of seven – and hasn’t stopped since. By nine she was taking voice lessons from an opera singer. A year later she’d recorded 50 or 60 songs. When she reached 13 she’d already suffered her first vocal injury from singing in the studio for too many hours, something which required weeks of vocal rest.

And before she hit her 16th birthday, she’d signed with one of the largest record companies, starting her on the path to stardom. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter sure has packed a lot into life – and she’s nowhere near done as she celebrates her 40th birthday on 4 September.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from You South Africa

You South Africa9 min read
You Puzzles
Keyword clue: TRENDY PERSON Starting with clue No 1, fill in the grid in a clockwise direction with four-letter words working your way to the centre of the spiral puzzle. The last letter of each word becomes the first letter of the next. If you have
You South Africa1 min readPopular Culture & Media Studies
Stylish Gifts
Go for tops that make a statement in colour, patterns or with interesting detail like this Paris Fashion Week guest. Rapper and singer Saweetie is ultra chic as she attends a pre-Grammy party in Hollywood. Go for stylish, timeless pieces like this on
You South Africa5 min read
Leon’s Ordeal Is No Joke
HE’S the guy who’s had South Africans in stitches over the decades, sending people up and ripping everyone off in a series of no-holds-barred movies. But the Leon Schuster of today isn’t finding anything to laugh about. He’s spending his days in bed,

Related Books & Audiobooks