Beyoncé Talks Maintaining Privacy, Self-Care & Turning 40 in September ‘Icon’ Issue of Harper’s Bazaar

Beyoncé stuns on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar for its September Icon issue. In a rare interview, the music superstar opened up about her lengthy career in the spotlight and how she has made it this far.

The “Crazy In Love” singer got candid about the different phases in her life. Bey explained that her teenage years “were about the grind,” while her 20’s were dedicated to establishing her legacy. In her 30’s, she transitioned to “becoming more” than her profession, as she focused on starting her family with her husband, Jay-Z.

Now, as she approaches her 40th birthday, Bey says that she is no longer trying to compete with herself, as she had for many years, stating, “I feel many aspects of that younger, less evolved Beyoncé could never f*** with the woman I am today. Haaa!”

The notoriously private Grammy-award winner also took a moment to slam social media, which she feels is full of “internet therapists, comment critics, and experts with no expertise.” She explained that the internet allows people to “create our own false reality,” which in turn makes it hard to discover the world “outside of our phones.” Yoncé said that she decided to be more like fellow icons Prince and Sade, who shared very little of their personal life with the world. Instead, she leans on her music to speak for her.

While Bey has always been admired for her incomparable work ethic, the Ivy Park creator says she did not always place herself first. She revealed that she had insomnia for years due to touring demands and is now prioritizing her mental health, breaking “the cycle of poor health and neglect.”

“Your body tells you everything you need to know, but I’ve had to learn to listen. It’s a process to change habits and look past the bag of chips and the chaos everywhere!”

Beyoncé also assured fans that new music is on the way but stressed that she wants her 40s to be filled with the freedom of traveling for leisure instead of work, enjoying her family, and “giving and receiving love.”

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