Beyonce is the Queen Bey of strong, independent ladies the world over. But that doesn't stop haters from throwing shade when she proudly represents her famous hubby.
Right now, Beyonce's feeling pretty stoked on her personal life. The woman just had her first child and she's happily wed to hip-hop legend and business mogul Jay-Z. Who can blame her if she wants to show off a little and let her world tour reflect this domestic happiness?
Many feminists think the name of her current road trip, the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour, is detrimental to female empowerment. But we say, "Phooey!" It's hard being a woman with a successful career and an enviable home life. Besides, Beyoncé has already done a lot to further strong womanly ideals.
See also:
-Beyonce Announces Mrs. Carter Show World Tour 2013, Coming to Miami
She Regularly Pens Feminist Anthems
The Queen has written a ton of songs throughout her career that empower women and encourage girls to take charge. Back in the days of Destiny's Child, she co-wrote and performed hits like "Bills Bills Bills" and "Survivor," which touted independence from men and a can-do attitude. She's topped charts with songs like "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" and "Irreplaceable." There's also "If I Were a Boy," which takes on traditional gender roles, reminding women to be strong while taking time to tell men how to treat a lady. "Independent Women" was a feminist anthem of its time, and "Run the World" kind of says it all, right?
Ms. Magazine Cover
This was pretty controversial for Bey and Ms. magazine. A lot of commenters raged about how the popular singer couldn't possibly be a feminist because of the way she dresses and dances. But at least she doesn't prattle on about getting black-out drunk and gratuitously kissing girls like some other pop stars. Just because you feel sexy doesn't mean you're not a feminist, and making the cover of a feminist magazine is something Beyoncé should be proud of.
She Runs an Entertainment Empire
Not only is Mrs. Carter a proud mother and chart-topping superstar, she also runs her own fashion line with her mother, House of Deréon. She's the face of numerous corporate sponsorships, including Pepsi, Tommy Hilfiger, and L'Oréal. She's starred in hit films like Austin Powers in Goldmember and Dreamgirls, and directed her own biopic. She even finds time for philanthropic endeavors and she was named the ambassador for World Humanitarian Day 2012.
All Female Backing Band
Beyoncé doesn't just say girls run the world, she puts her words into action. Did you know she assembled her own all-female backing band in the hope of inspiring young girls at her shows to get involved in the musical arts? The group is called the Sugar Mamas, and it took the stage with Bey, front and center, during her show-stopping Super Bowl 2013 half-time performance. Who said chicks can't shred? They were obviously wrong.
Because She Said So
Look, feminism gets a bad rap these days. Women and girls across America have convinced themselves that admitting to being a feminist is wrong. They forgot that feminism is about pride and equality, and they're afraid to embrace it for fear of being labeled a lezzy bitch. When Katy Perry was awarded Woman of the Year by Billboard, she eagerly admitted that she wasn't a feminist in her acceptance speech. And Taylor Swift goes on in interviews about how she "doesn't really think about things as guys versus girls." Meanwhile, Beyoncé is one of the only entertainers who's ballsy (LOL!) enough to take a vocal stand in favor of women's rights. Now, that's what we call stepping up to a challenge and putting on your big-girl pants.
Beyonce's Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. Tuesday, July 9. BB&T Center, 1 Panther Pkwy., Sunrise. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets cost $45 to $250 plus fees via ticketmastercom. Call 954-835-8000 or visit thebbtcenter.com.
Beyonce's Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. Wednesday, July 10. American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are sold out. Call 786-777-1000 or visit aaarena.com.
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