Beyoncé: Multiple Award-Winning Singer and Philanthropist

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, popularly called Beyoncé, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, actress and businesswoman.

From a young age, Beyoncé performed in various singing and dancing competitions. She rose to fame in the late 90s, as the lead singer of Destiny’s Child, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time.

Destiny’s Child, which comprised Beyoncé, Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland, was one of the most phenomenal girl-groups. They had award-winning singles like Bootylicious, Say My Name and their Christmas hit song, 8 Days of Christmas. They also won several awards, including a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for their hit song, Survivor.

After Beyonce went solo, she went on to release her debut album Dangerously In Love in 2003, featuring songs like Crazy In Love featuring Jay Z, Baby Boy and Naughty Girl, which all landed at Top 5 spots on the chart, with the album itself debuting at number one in the Billboard 200 chart. Her debut album gained Beyoncé five Grammy Awards including Best Contemporary Album.

Her second album, B’Day, also debuted at number one, and housed several hit singles like Irreplaceable, Get Me Bodied, Ring The Alarm and Greenlight. Her third album, I Am… Sasha Fierce created the first major viral dance movement with the choreography of the hit song Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It). Beyoncé has won 24 Grammy Awards, both as a solo artist and member of Destiny’s Child and The Carters, making her the second most honoured female artiste by the Grammys. Beyoncé has also won 24 MTV Video Music Awards, making her the most-awarded artist in Video Music Award history.

Through her charitable initiative, BeyGOOD, Beyonce donated $6 million to Jack Dorsey’s Coronavirus relief fund, Start Small LLC, making her one of the celebrities with the highest contribution to the fight against COVID-19. The fund was set aside for providing aid to people suffering from mental health and the effects of the coronavirus.

She teamed up with her mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson to set up mobile Covid-19 testing centres in their hometown, Houston, Texas. She launched the #IDIDMYPART campaign to encourage communities of colour to prioritize their health by observing the lockdown protocols. Beyoncé also donated to support organizations on the ground that are working to meet the physical and mental health needs of those most vulnerable.

Beyoncé was also highlighted on the Neusroom 100 list of people, organisations, nations and things providing the rare support and solidarity the world needs across countries, communities and sectors to defeat the pandemic.