Beyonce talks about racism in the fashion industry

Beyonce Knowles, who rose to fame in the late 1990s as lead singer of R&B girl-group Destiny's Child, has revealed that high-end fashion labels weren't keen on working with her former band at the beginning of their careers.

The 34-year-old mother of one claimed the labels were reluctant to design dresses for "four black, country, curvy girls."

 

She made the revelation during a powerful speech at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) awards show in New Yorkon Monday, where the chairman Diane von Furstenberg presented her with the Fashion Icon Award. She gave her family a shout-out in her speech, thanking her grandmother, uncle, and mom (House of Dereon) for inspiring her and always showing her support. Her full speech below: 

 

"Thank you so much, Diane, for the things you just said about me. I feel so much love and I feel so proud. As long as I can remember, fashion has been part of my life. Its effect on me actually started before I was born. Many of you guys don't know this, but my grandmother was a seamstress. My grandparents did not have enough money, they could not afford my mother's Catholic school tuition. So my grandmother sewed clothes for the priests and the nuns and made uniforms for the students in exchange for my mother's education. She then passed this gift onto my mother and taught her how to sew.

Starting out in Destiny's Child, high-end labels didn't really want to dress four black country curvy girls, and we couldn't afford designer dresses and couture. My mother was rejected from every showroom in New York. But like my grandmother, she used her talent and her creativity to give her children their dreams. My mother and my uncle, God rest his soul, made all of our first costumes, individually sewing hundreds of crystals and pearls, putting so much passion and love into every small detail. When I wore these clothes, I felt like Khaleesi. I had an extra suit of armor. It was so much deeper than any brand name.

 

My mother is fabulous and beautiful, and she's here tonight. My mother, my grandmother, and my uncle are always with me so I cannot fail. My mother actually designed my wedding dress, my prom dress, my CFDA Award dress, my first Grammy dress — the list goes on and on and on. And this to me is the true power and potential of fashion. It's a tool for finding your own identity, expression ... It transcends style and is a time capsule of all of our greatest milestones. So to my mother, my uncle, my grandma, thank you all ... Thank you for showing me to never take no for an answer. Thank you for showing me how to take risks, work hard, and live life on my own terms. I want to say thank you to every designer who works tirelessly to make people feel like they can write their own story. They are fairy godmothers and magicians and sculptors. Sometimes even our therapists. I encourage you to not forget this power that you have or take it lightly. We have the opportunity to contribute to a society where any girl can look at a billboard or magazine cover and see her own reflection. Soul has no color, no shape, no form — just like all of your work it goes so far beyond what the eyes can see. You have the power to change perceptions —to inspire and empower, to show people how to embrace their complications and flaws and see the true beauty and strength that's inside of us. Thank you so much for this incredible award, I'll never forget this night. God bless you."

Photo credit: Getty and Neil Ramus