Beyoncé is on top of the world. Hot off of winning her 17th (!!) Grammy on Sunday evening, killing it at the Super Bowl last weekend, and clearing up unnecessary drama surrounding singing to track at President Obama's Inauguration, the Bey train just keeps rolling.
The 31-year-old graces the March cover of Vogue (the Power Issue, naturally!), where she not only stuns in various designer duds, but she also opens up about her life as mom to Blue Ivy, coming into her own as an adult ... and handling her numerous haters.
“Don't scroll down!” Bey laughs, referring to the comments section on internet stories chronicling her life. “You're definitely going to get your feelings hurt.”
Words of wisdom from a woman who's been the focus of media attention for 15 years, including rumors as vile as suggesting she didn't give birth to her own daughter.
“That was very odd,” Beyoncé says. “Who even thinks that? Like, who would make that up ... You can't take it too seriously.”
One thing the Texas native does take seriously though, is her family, especially her new role as mom.
“Family has always been important. I've always had my mother and my father and my husband [Jay-Z]. But it's just...” she pauses. “Life is so much more than ... It's not defined by any of this,” she says referring to the glitz and glam and fame that permeates her life.
“I feel like I have something that has grounded me so much more,” she explains, referring to her 1-year-old baby girl, recalling a connection she felt with Blue -- whom she calls "my road dog, my homey, my best friend" -- while she was in labor.
"I had a very strong connection with my child. I felt like when I was having contractions, I envisioned my child pushing through a very heavy door. And I imagined this tiny infant doing all the work, so I couldn't think about my own pain ... We were talking. I know it sounds crazy, but I felt a communication.”
But feel free to call her crazy all you want, Beyoncé doesn't care. “I don't feel like I have to please anyone,” she says. “I feel free. I feel like I'm an adult. I'm grown. I can do what I want. I can say what I want. I can retire if I want. That's why I've worked hard.”
Amen. To see all of her hard work over the years through her own eyes, be sure to watch her documentary, "Life Is But a Dream," premiering this Saturday on HBO.
The March Issue of Vogue hits newsstands Feb. 19, but right now you can click "Launch Gallery" above to see Beyoncé's stunning photos, and check out the behind-the-scenes video below.
