Beyonce is the cover star for Harper’s Bazaar The Icon Issue and she spoke to the publication about why she chose to live a private life.
She explained that it is easy to lose oneself in the entertainment industry, so she chose to preserve herself by deciding what to share with the world.
She said in the magazine’s September issue: “We live in a world with few boundaries and a lot of access.
“There are so many internet therapists, comment critics, and experts with no expertise. Our reality can be warped because it’s based on a personalized algorithm. It shows us whatever truths we are searching for, and that’s dangerous.
“We can create our own false reality when we’re not fed a balance of what’s truly going on in the world. It’s easy to forget that there’s still so much to discover outside of our phones.
“I’m grateful I have the ability to choose what I want to share.”
She added: “One day I decided I wanted to be like Sade and Prince. I wanted the focus to be on my music, because if my art isn’t strong enough or meaningful enough to keep people interested and inspired, then I’m in the wrong business. My music, my films, my art, my message — that should be enough.”
Speaking about boundaries, Beyonce said: “Throughout my career, I’ve been intentional about setting boundaries between my stage persona and my personal life. My family and friends often forget the side of me that is the beast in stilettos until they are watching me perform.”
The singer continued: “It can be easy to lose yourself very quickly in this industry. It takes your spirit and light, then spits you out. I’ve seen it countless times, not only with celebrities but also producers, directors, executives, etc. It’s not for everyone. Before I started, I decided that I’d only pursue this career if my self-worth was dependent on more than celebrity success.”
Beyonce said that many people still misunderstand her need to be private and some think that she is simply closed off.
She explained: “In this business, so much of your life does not belong to you unless you fight for it.
“I’ve fought to protect my sanity and my privacy because the quality of my life depended on it. A lot of who I am is reserved for the people I love and trust. Those who don’t know me and have never met me might interpret that as being closed off. Trust, the reason those folks don’t see certain things about me is because my Virgo ass does not want them to see it. It’s not because it doesn’t exist!”
