Some Highlights From Beyoncé's Legendary Vogue Cover Story by Jezebel's Clover Hope

Early Monday morning, Jezebel’s culture editor Clover Hope shared a link to Vogue’s big September issue cover story on Beyoncé Knowles with the Jezebel staff. The link was an understandable to the morning news flow, as it marked Beyoncé’s first real interview in years! Also she made headlines last week for assuming complete creative control of the cover! Oh, and also because she was responsible for hiring Tyler Mitchell, the first black cover photographer in Vogue’s history! “Scroll to the bottom,” Hope said. Then, at the bottom of Beyoncé’s instantly iconic cover story, I saw it:

Our very own Clover Hope was responsible for this story, and I would love to share some highlights. But before we get there, keep in mind that while all of Beyoncé’s words may be a big deal to you this Monday morning, they are old news to Hope, who apparently spoke with her some time ago (I don’t know the details, because I’m suddenly too intimidated by Ms. Hope to ask her any questions). What’s more, a number of sources I’ve made up entirely are telling me that Hope is now Beyoncé’s closest personal friend and confidante. “Not only do Blue, Rumi, Sir, and Jay adore her,” the unreliable voice inside my head revealed to me this morning, “Tina has begun referring to her as her ‘third child.’”

Wow! Amazing. Anyway, duty calls. These are the Beyoncé quotes you need to read first. For the rest, head over to Vogue. And please offer your congratulations to Clover Hope, who is rumored to be assuming control of the magazine following Anna Wintour’s upcoming departure.*

*She’s not actually leaving us for Vogue, thank god.

In Which Beyoncé Says “FUPA” In Vogue:

I think it’s important for women and men to see and appreciate the beauty in their natural bodies. That’s why I stripped away the wigs and hair extensions and used little makeup for this shoot. To this day my arms, shoulders, breasts, and thighs are fuller. I have a little mommy pouch, and I’m in no rush to get rid of it. I think it’s real. Whenever I’m ready to get a six-pack, I will go into beast zone and work my ass off until I have it. But right now, my little FUPA and I feel like we are meant to be.

On Why She Chose 23-Year-Old Tyler Mitchell For Her Vogue Cover Shoot:

It’s important to me that I help open doors for younger artists… If people in powerful positions continue to hire and cast only people who look like them, sound like them, come from the same neighborhoods they grew up in, they will never have a greater understanding of experiences different from their own.

On Twins :

I researched my ancestry recently and learned that I come from a slave owner who fell in love with and married a slave. I had to process that revelation over time. I questioned what it meant and tried to put it into perspective. I now believe it’s why God blessed me with my twins. Male and female energy was able to coexist and grow in my blood for the first time. I pray that I am able to break the generational curses in my family and that my children will have less complicated lives.

On Raising Boys:

I want the same things for my son. I want him to know that he can be strong and brave but that he can also be sensitive and kind. I want my son to have a high emotional IQ where he is free to be caring, truthful, and honest. It’s everything a woman wants in a man, and yet we don’t teach it to our boys.

I hope to teach my son not to fall victim to what the internet says he should be or how he should love. I want to create better representations for him so he is allowed to reach his full potential as a man, and to teach him that the real magic he possesses in the world is the power to affirm his own existence.

One more time: read President Clover Hope’s Vogue cover story on Beyoncé Knowles here.