On Her 40th Birthday, Looking Back At How Beyoncé Became Beyoncé

Happy birthday, Beyoncé, to all who celebrate.

By
Pia Peterson
by Pia Peterson

BuzzFeed News Photo Editor

The pop singer, actor, and — who are we kidding, she needs no introduction — megastar Beyoncé Knowles turns 40 today, Sept. 4. While she and her family have largely retreated from the spotlight in the last decade, that has only made us love her more. We don't want to say too much about the photos below, suffice it to say that the outfits made us emotional. Long live Beyoncé, and happy birthday!

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Beyoncé performing with Destiny's Child in 1998

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Destiny's Child arriving at London's Royal Albert Hall, for the MOBO (Music Of Black Origin) Awards in 1999

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Destiny's Child at the 42nd Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on Feb. 23, 2000, in Los Angeles. From left: Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, Beyoncé, and Michelle Williams.

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Michelle Williams, Farrah Franklin, Kelly Rowland, and Beyoncé Knowles at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 2000

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Destiny's Child before their concert at Summer Jam 2000

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Destiny's Child at Disney World in December 2000

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Beyoncé in October 2000

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Destiny's Child at the VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards in 2000

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Jay-Z and Destiny's Child in October 2000

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Beyoncé, Michelle Williams, and Kelly Rowland (far right) wait backstage before closing out the show for the Second Annual "What's Next?" Teen People Online Webcast in 2000.

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Beyoncé Knowles in an undated photo

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Destiny's Child performing at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania on July 24, 2001

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Beyoncé performs at the launch party for the new Destiny's Child album Survivor on March 11, 2001, in London.

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Beyoncé on Jan. 4, 2002

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Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles during "Spankin' New Music Week" on MTV's TRL on Nov. 21, 2002

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Beyoncé and her father in July 2002

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Beyoncé sings the National Anthem to kick off Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004.

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Beyoncé arrives on horseback to perform for her hometown crowd at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, on March 18, 2004, in Texas.

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Beyoncé arriving at the CFDA Fashion Awards at the New York Public Library in 2004

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Destiny's Child performs at the 2005 NBA All-Star Game at the Pepsi Center on Feb. 20, 2005, in Denver.

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Beyoncé and her sister, Solange Knowles, pose in February 2005.

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Beyoncé performs at Camp Pendleton in San Diego in 2005.

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Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé, and Michelle Williams get a star on the Walk of Fame as Destiny's Child in March 2006.

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Beyoncé performs on Sept. 21, 2006, in London.

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Beyoncé performing in Belgium in May 2007

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Beyoncé, Daniel Julez Smith Jr., and Jay-Z attend the 52nd Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Jan. 31, 2010, in Los Angeles.

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Beyoncé performs the National Anthem to conclude the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama on Jan. 21, 2013.

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Beyoncé at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 10, 2013, in Los Angeles.

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Beyoncé performs at the Barclays Center on Dec. 19, 2013, in New York.

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Beyonce at the 56th Grammy Awards on Jan. 26, 2014, in Los Angeles.

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Beyoncé on Feb. 1, 2014, in New York

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Beyoncé and daughter Blue Ivy Carter onstage during the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 24, 2014.

Andrew H. Walker

Beyoncé attends the "China: Through The Looking Glass" Met Gala on May 4, 2015, in New York.

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Beyoncé arrives for the Met Gala on May 2, 2016.

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Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 28, 2016

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Beyoncé performs while she is pregnant with twins during the 59th Grammy Awards on Feb. 12, 2017.

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Beyoncé poses with her Grammy trophies on Feb. 12, 2017.

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Beyoncé and Jay-Z attend a Roc Nation brunch on Jan. 25, 2020.

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Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on March 14, 2021







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