Surprising Facts About Beyonce
20 Beyoncé Facts Only a Real Beyhive Member Would Know
In order to consider yourself a Beyoncé fan, there are an important set of skills that you need to possess and specific trivia facts that should be stored in your memory. There are some things about Beyoncé that only her biggest fans and supporters will know and some emotions that only those truly obsessed with Queen Bey will feel. Of course you know that Beyoncé's favorite number is four — but do you know why? If you're looking to gain entry into the Beyhive or just freshen up on your facts, keep reading for the 20 things you need to know about Beyoncé.
1 Beyoncé was born in the Third Ward of Houston.
The Third Ward is one of six historic wards in Houston and became the center of the city's African-American community in the 1970s. Beyoncé portrayed a beauty-pageant queen from the neighborhood in the video for "Pretty Hurts" from her 2013 self-titled album.
It's also the reason Beyoncé frequently throws up this sign:
2 She is a descendant of Joseph Broussard, the leader of the Acadians during the French and Indian War.
3 At 7 years old, Beyoncé won her first talent show, beating 15- and 16-year-olds and receiving a standing ovation.
4 "Four" is Beyoncé's favorite number, for many reasons.
5 She has won 20 Grammys and is the most nominated woman in the award's history.
6 Her pregnancy announcement at the 2011 MTV VMAs earned the Guinness World Book of Records title for "most tweets per second."
7 Her 2013 surprise visual album broke an iTunes record that was previously held by one of her friends.
8 Beyoncé's vocal range spans 3.6 octaves and is classified as mezzo-soprano.
9 Her biggest musical influence is Michael Jackson.
10 In 2007, she became the first nonsupermodel or nonathlete to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Issue.
11 She was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in 2006's Dreamgirls.
12 Jay Z's verse on "Crazy in Love" was a last-minute addition to the song.
13 She originally created "Sasha Fierce" to help keep her stage persona separate from who she really is.
14 She has struggled with depression.
15 In 2010, Beyoncé and her mother, Tina, opened the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center at the Phoenix House Career Academy in Brooklyn.
16 It took six months for Beyoncé to confirm her marriage to Jay Z.
17 She has won a writing award from the New York Association of Black Journalists.
18 She thought Destiny's Child was too "squeaky clean."
19 Beyoncé helped inspire Gwyneth Paltrow's live Country Music Awards performance in 2010.
20 She has a species of horse fly named after her.
