Few celebrities have risen to Beyoncé Knowles’s level of stardom—nor shone so bright once they got there. From her early days in Destiny’s Child to her current status as the most-awarded artist in Grammys history (she’s won 35 Grammys out of 99 nominations), Queen Bey has dominated the industry for decades—and, 23 years after her first solo album, Dangerously in Love, she shows no signs of slowing down (although rumors still abound that her and Jay-Z are contemplating a move to the Cotswolds—near Harry and Meghan, perhaps?).
It’s been a busy couple of years. The powerhouse completed her blockbuster Cowboy Carter tour, she became the face of Levi’s, she won her long-overdue album of the year Grammy for Cowboy Carter in 2025, and she returned to the Met Gala after a ten-year absence in 2026—among other accolades too numerous to mention. But before all of that—before she was the billionaire Mrs.
Carter, haircare mogul, and mom of three—she was just Beyoncé Knowles. As the artist turns 45, revisit 45 throwback pictures of a young Bey in her earlier eras. HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 23: Family Christmas traditions. Tina & Matthew Knowles, with their two daughters, Beyonce and Solange. 10/23/90
(Paul S. Howell/Houston Chronicle 07/17/1997 – Destiny’s Child in recording studio in southwest Houston
(L-R) LaTaHouston Chronicle (Photo by Smiley N
(L-R) LaTaHouston Chronicle (Photo by Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle Beyoncé performing with Destiny’s Child at halftime during a game between the New York Giants and the New York Jets. Singers Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and LeToya Luckett of Destiny’s Child performs at The Shark Bar in Chicago, Illinois in October 1997
(Photo By Raymond Boyd/ American R&B group Destiny’s Child (American singer, songwriter and actress Kelly Rowland, American singer, songwriter and actress Beyonce Knowles, American singer and actress LeToya Luckett, and American singer and songwriter LaTa attend the 1998 Soul Train Music Awards, held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, 27th February 1998
(Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images) Singers LaTavia Roberson, Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé Knowles and LeToya Luckett of Destiny’s Child poses for photos at V-103 FM radio in Chicago, Illinois in May 1999. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) Beyonce of Destiny’s Child during Destiny’s Child Perform Live at HMV at Oxford Street in London, Great Britain. (Photo by Fred Duval/FilmMagic) UNITED STATES – AUGUST 29: Photo of Beyonce KNOWLES and DESTINY’S CHILD; Beyonce Knowles performing on stage (Photo by Anthony Pidgeon/Redferns) American R&B band Destiny’s Child posing in the press room of the MTV Europe Music Awards, held at the Fila Forum in Milan, Italy, November 12th 1998.
Left to right: LaTae Zuffante/ Singer Beyoncé Knowles
Left to right: LaTae Zuffante/ Singer Beyoncé Knowles (Beyoncé Giselle Knowles) of Destiny’s Child performed a full Destiny’s Child set with Kelly Rowland because of turmoil within the group, and minus group members LeToya Luckett and LaTaer 1999
(Photo By Raymond Boyd/ La chanteuse Beyonce du groupe Destiny’s Child au Virgin Megastore à Paris. (Photo by Jeremy Bembaron/Sygma/Sygma 388512 01: (NO TABS — NO NEGATIVE USAGE) Destiny’s Child performs in concert July 15, 1999 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Scott Harrison/Liaison) Posing with a doll version of herself, as one does. CANCUN – MARCH 16: Destiny’s Child pauses for photographs during MTV’s Spring Break 2000 in Cancun, Mexico
(Photo by: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) CULVER CITY,CA – JUNE 3: Singer Sisqo and Singer Beyonce Knowles attend the Ninth Annual MTV Movie Awards on June 3, 2000 at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) Destiny’s Child at Disney World in Orlando, Florida (Photo by James Devaney/WireImage) LAS VEGAS – JULY 2: Beyonce Knowles of Destiny’s Child is interviewed before a performance at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino July 2, 2000 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) American singer
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) American singer and songwriter Beyoncé Knowles performing with girl group Destiny’s Child at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, 12th March 2000. (Photo by Brian Rasic/Getty Images) Beyonce Knowles (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) American singer and actress Kelly Rowland, American singer, songwriter and actress Beyonce Knowles, and American singer and actress Michelle Williams of girl group Destiny’s Child perform at the ‘Party in the Park’ concert in Hyde Park, London, England, 9th July 2000.
Party in the Park was a Prince’s Trust fundraiser. (Photo by Mick Hutson/Redferns/Getty Images) NEW YORK – July 28, 2001: Solange Knowles (L) and her sister Beyonce Knowles pose for a portrait during a photo shoot June 28, 2001 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Myrna Suarez/Getty Images) Destiny’s Child-Beyonce Knowles (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage) Beyonce Knowles of Destiny’s Child during The 14th Annual Kids Choice Awards – Press Room at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, California, United States.
(Photo by SGranitz/WireImage) Le groupe Destiny’s Child lors de la cérémonie d’ouverture d’investiture du 43eme président des Etats-Unis George W. Bush. Ici, de gauche à droite : Kelly Rowland, Beyonce Knowles et Michelle Williams. (Photo by Patrick Durand/Sygma Gaily greeting fans in New York. Destiny’s Child-Beyonce Knowles (Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage) On MTV’s Total Request Live to promote Austin Powers in Goldmember
Beyonce Knowles and Solange Knowles during Spankin’ New
Beyonce Knowles and Solange Knowles during “Spankin’ New Music Week” with Jay-Z, Beyonce Knowles and Solange Knowles on MTV’s “TRL” – November 21, 2002 at MTV Studios Times Square in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage) Beyonce Knowles Of Destiny’s Child (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage) EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 6: (U.S. TABS OUT) Singer Beyonce Knowles performs on stage during the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards at Ocean Terminal on November 6, 2003 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
(Photo by Frank Micelotta/ Beyonce Knowles during MTV Europe Music Awards 2003 – Arrivals at Ocean Terminal Arena in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. (Photo by Toni Anne Barson/WireImage) Attending a Knicks game with Jay-Z. CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – DECEMBER 5: Singer Beyonce Knowles visits the Indawo Yokobelekisa Mothers 2 Mothers centre for young single mothers who have the opportunity to help each other at the centre on December 5, 2003 in South Africa
The AIDS epidemic in South Africa continues to grow with many children being left orphaned and homeless. The World Health Organization now regards South Africa as the most severely HIV infected country in the world. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images) Beyonce Knowles (Photo by Ke.Mazur/WireImage) Beyonce Knowles at the Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage) ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 9: Rapper Jay-Z and singer Beyonce Knowles watch the action during the 2003 NBA All-Star game at the Phillips Arena February 9, 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Photo by Vince Bucci/ Beyonce during 31st AFI
(Photo by Vince Bucci/ Beyonce during 31st AFI Life Achievement Award Presented to Robert DeNiro – Red Carpet by Lester Cohen at The Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California. (Photo by L. Cohen/WireImage) Prince and Beyonce perform his hits (Photo by M. Caulfield/WireImage) ROME – SEPTEMBER 22: Beyonce Knowles takes a break during the making of the Pepsi music commercial ‘Pepsi Gladiators’ in Rome on September 22, 2003 in Italy
(Photo by John Gichigi/ Getty Images for Pepsi) LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 8: Singer/actress Beyonce Knowles poses backstage after winning 5 Grammy Awards in the Pressroom at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards held on February 8, 2004 at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images NEW YORK – DECEMBER 6: Singer Beyonce Knowles of Destiny’s Child attends a preview gala dinner for the Metropolitan Museum’s “Wild: Fashion Untamed” exhibition, hosted by fashion designer Robert Cavalli, on December 6, 2004 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York City.
(Photo by Evan Agostini/ Beyonce at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Jun Sato/WireImage) NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 05: (U.S. TABLOIDS OUT) Singer/actress Beyonce Knowles makes an appearance on MTV’s Total Request Live September 5, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/ Beyonce Knowles during Beyonce Signs Her New Album For Fans at J&R Express at Macy’s J&R Express in New York City, New York, United States
(Photo by James Devaney/WireImage) LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 27: Rapper Jay-Z and singer Beyonce Knowles perform onstage at the 2006 BET Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on June 27, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/
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