Beyoncé Revealed How Becoming a Mother Empowered Her to Make a Bold New Choice

Motherhood can make you do some wild things. It can give you clarity, make you feel more confident, and give you a courage you’ve never had before. For Beyoncé, giving birth to daughter Blue Ivy, now 12, empowered her to make a bold choice — and she’s opening up about the powerful moment in a new interview.

Shedding Expectations

Way back in 2013, the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer cut off most of her hair into a super-short pixie cut and shocked fans. (Who then begged their hairstylists for similar cuts, of course.) Beyoncé said this surprising choice was all about (literally!) shedding expectations surrounding motherhood.

“I love how we associate a certain hairstyle with moments in our lives, like that short-hair moment,” the Grammy-winner, who shares Blue and 6-year-old twins Rumi and Sir with husband Jay-Z, told Essence. “I remember the day I decided to just cut all my hair off. I didn’t have a particular style in mind. It wasn’t an aesthetic choice, but it was a very big emotional transformation and metamorphosis that I was going through.”

She shared that her “identity as a performer” up until then had revolved around her gorgeous, flowing hair. “Cutting my hair off was me rebelling against being this woman that society thinks I’m supposed to be,” Beyoncé continued. And being a mom gave her the confidence. “I was a new mother, and something about the liberation of becoming a mother made me want to just shed all of that,” she added. “It was a physical representation of me shedding the expectations put upon me.”

Family Connection

In the interview, the “Halo” singer also opened up about her new haircare line Cécred, which she wanted to develop based on her personal “beautiful memories attached to my hair,” which included growing up in her mother Tina Knowles’ salon and having her father Mathew Knowles apply oil on her scalp to treat psoriasis.

“I think that connection of community, mother and child, father and child, and respect —  and allowing yourself to be taken care of, especially for Black women, who are always taking care of everyone else — it’s all sacred,” she said. “So I took the end of my name, Cé, and made it the beginning of the word sacred to create Cécred. From my mother’s salon, daily rituals with my father, and years of experience in developing a hair care line, the journey has been just that: Cécred.”

Tina told Essence, “In the culture of Black folks, all the way from the beginning: If you could do some hair, you’ll never be broke. I told my kids that. My mama told me that. So it’s just our legacy, and this full-circle moment feels amazing.”

Empowered Daughter

Queen Bey clearly set a good example for her daughter, who has been showing off her own confidence on stage with her mom during her Renaissance Tour. In May, Beyoncé shared several photos and videos of her daughter’s appearance in Paris, writing, “My beautiful first born ???????? I’m so proud and thankful to be your mama. You bring us so much joy, my sweet angel.”

Beyoncé is unapologetically herself, and it is so refreshing to see.

Before you go, check out Beyoncé’s best quotes about being a mom.