For the record, I hate everything about the “thigh gap” conversation. I hate that ANYONE is saying anything about “thigh gaps,” even if people are saying “the conversations about thigh gaps are destructive.” There is no way to talk about it and not be depressed for humanity. So, caveat in place, let’s talk about Beyonce’s thigh gap.
As we discussed yesterday, Beyonce posted a lot of photos from her Dominican Republic vacation, just a little getaway that served as an anniversary vacation and as a spring break of sorts. And as with most of her vacations, Beyonce shared the love to the Hive and people have been talking about and analyzing these photos like crazy. Take the photo I used as the header. Beyonce playing golf (or miniature golf, who knows?) and now everyone is talking about whether Beyonce has her vacation Photoshopped so she looks like she has a “thigh gap.”
The Frisky has a good analysis piece on Bey’s thigh gap and why it’s probably ‘Shopped – you can read it here. I tend to think that it does look retouched, which is sad overall because I had to type the words “thigh gap.” That being said, Beyonce has lost weight over the past year, and I was startled by how small she looked at the Grammys. Her dress designer even claimed Beyonce is down to a size 4. So… maybe her thighs really are pretty small these days. But I still think that one photo was retouched.
Photos courtesy of Beyonce’s Tumblr.
Obviously and poorly.
Shizzy message to send out to the young ladies.
i think its bad lipo – she has a professional photographer and archivist – why put out public pictures with obvious photoshop? – my guess is that last round she had of lipo on her inner thighs (post “delivering blue ivy” made it lumpy/uneven from some angles
Yes. I thought bad lipo, too. Her thighs used to be quite full, IIRC. A bad sculpting job.
While I do think she’s touched up many o her photos when you sit back like that your thigh muscles are engaged. They tighten and your thighs look thinner. I don’t think this is the big scandal many are looking for with Bey.
And for personal reference I just did the same stance in the mirror. My thighs are not touched up and it looks the same as her.
Why is it hard for ppl to believe that she has a thigh gap? Beyonce does have one. Look at these pictures. The thigh gap is real.
http://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/945/3896/original.jpg
http://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/945/4212/original.jpg
it’s irrelevant whether she has thigh gap or not. that first photo is photoshopped. and it’s hilarious and embarrassing. bahaha
@Lauren – I don’t know whether she has one or not nor do I care but that pic is clearly photoshopped and badly. I had never in my life heard of such a stupid expression as a thigh gap until a few months ago and don’t understand the obsession with it but I really don’t understand why a gorgeous woman with an incredible body like Bey would suddenly feel the need to photoshop a bizzarre looking thigh gap into her legs after years of being proud of her figure.
Beyond is wide hipped and bow legged. Her mother Tina Knowles is very bowlegged. Beyonce gets it from her mom and has always had a thigh gap and a weird walk. It is one of the things guys loved about her. I believe she has dieted a lot and also had some Lipo…however she has as always had wide hips, bowlegs, and weird walk like her mom…..even when she was thicker. This photo is taken at an angle.
Why are people saying she couldn’t naturally have a gap? As has been said before…It’s not about extreme thinness, it’s about skeletal build. Beyonce has classic small waist and wide set hips and bowlegs. She is also smaller in person than she appears.
Have you been to one of her shows? That is some workout every night, no wonder she has lost weight
It’s not a matter of weight, it depends how your skeleton is build. I don’t have it, but if I pose in a certain way, it seems I have it.
Exactly! What a stupid thing to covet. I have a thigh gap, you know why? Because I’m slightly bow legged!
She works out a lot at work and home, plus she’s had this thigh gap for some time. It is unnatural how wide the gap is in ratio to the size of her thighs. Like someone above said, I just thought is was lipo. Pretty aggressive lipo for thigh fat to never come back again. But lipo nonetheless.
Then again, it is Beyoncé who is a total perfectionist and controls every image ever taken of her. So I do believe there is minor shopping on all her pics. Maybe her thighs too. *kanye shrug*
Ugh- she is bending over with her feet set apart- no it does not look natural because she isn’t in a natural position- people can be so crazy- what would be crazier, hypothetically, photoshopping a theigh gap, of analyzing a celebrity picture to death to criticize said celebrity?…
Really! What a narcissIst! Her poor child.
I wonder if anyone on this site has seen her in person? Does she look like this?
its so depressing that the ‘Queen’ should feel the need to do such a thing.
Or anyone, really. The words “thigh gap” do nothing but set off alarm bells for me when ever I see them. 🙁
Yes- whyyy is this something to aspire to???
What amateur did that?
Whilst the picture isn’t great quality, if you zoom in you can see that her thighs are jagged and pixelated, whilst her calves aren’t.
F*cking great.
Wow, you’re right. You can also see that same pixelation directly above her elbows on her arms and up near her left shoulder. It looks like they smoothed out the outside of her left leg too, where it’s a lighter shade of green. It’s not anything like Miranda’s heavy-handed removal of ribs though. Either way, I’d kill for her body – ‘shopped or not.
When did ‘Thigh Gap” become a thing? I heard it mentioned years ago on Tyra Banks’ ANTM but it wasn’t a huge topic.
Has anyone considered she might have gotten lipo or something? The way her lower body half is shaped reminds me of this girl I knew. After having lipo on her hips and thighs they sort of transformed into a similar shape to Bey’s
Possibly the same person that did those hilarious (in a depressing way) Target bikini ‘thigh gaps’ (that were less thigh gap and more butt-gap)
So true. It’s a piss poor job.
And for what? She’s already so fit and I’m sure her thighs looked great before the bad photoshop, and now everyone knows she had it done.
It is photoshopped, but I’m afraid to say it because I might be branded as a racist.
So no, the Queen B of the universe would never do such a thing. She is perfect.
Sigh.
Double sigh.
I think the photo has had some re-touching done by her photographer…he/she sends the pics to Beyonce or Beyonce’s assistant who then probably puts them on up her tumblr. You have the right to your opinion and you should NOT be called a racist for saying so.
Triple sigh.
What???
Seriously? What do thigh gaps have to do with race? If you find that people accuse you of racism a lot, then maybe you should do a little self reflection. I freely express my opinion on a regular basis and manage to do so without insulting any race.
You have to read the comments from the Beyonce post from yesterday to understand.
“If you find that people accuse you of racism a lot, then maybe you should do a little self reflection”
Doesnt always apply but for that poster …ahem YEP
Exuce me, @andypandy? Could you please elaborate on that statement?
That makes me sad she did that. She’s a beautiful woman in great shape, she shouldn’t feel the need to do that. Plus the message it sends…ugh.
Yes, I don’t understand why she would feel the need to photoshop her thighs when in other pics you can clearly see she has thighs and is proud of her figure. So sad. I was admiring her photos yesterday and then saw that photoshopped one and couldn’t believe it. I am not one who can easily spot photoshopping but this was obvious even to me.
IMO it’s been a series of missteps for B for the last few years the primary being she reveals far too much of her personal life opening herself to the criticism. I like her so much less since the conversation become about her baby, her tumblr, her thigh gap, her diet….etc. She doesn’t seem above it anymore. She’s just taking selfies and twerking like all the other clones out there. I wish she’d do something important and meaningful….or just make good music. Leave the other crap for wannabes.
Yes, I agree, very sad. I used to think she had such beautiful strong thighs. Now I just think it’s pathetic. You’re in your 30s Beyoncé, who cares about the stupid “thigh gap”! It makes me really sad that so many young women think it’s ideal :(.
My thighs touch, and it doesn’t bother me, I have muscular thighs. The only time I hate it is in the summer when it’s hot and I’m wearing a dress, and my thighs rub together and chafe from the heat and sweat LOL.
That is honestly the only reason I’d like a thigh-gap. I don’t care about the look, I just would like to avoid starting a fire between my legs when I walk quickly.
LOL this is so freaking hilarious. Reminds me of Miranda Kerr. bahahaha i’m already waiting for Beyonce’s response to this. what’s it gonna be?
My guess is nothing. She’s not an amateur like Miranda Kerr, trying to make up excuses or even acknowledging that people are questioning it.
Hummmmm….. Remember that “national anthem – any questions?” press conference after the lip synching fiasco?
I hate it, too – but do feel it’s important to talk about it as a ridiculous notion. My thighs are small, but my hips are narrow – I will never have thigh gap. Why is this even a thing? I can’t imagine really, but have to think this has come out of some sort of Pro-Ana thing, right?
And, yes – all of Bey’s “candid” photos are shopped in some way – even if it’s just for tone or contrast or composition. Hers are all shot by pros on lovely cameras, I’m sure. But if you wonder about Kim K. & Miranda Kerr – I’m betting they’re using the Line Camera App to “thin” and shop themselves to death. So stupid.
I think you’re right on the pro-Ana origin. People’s thinking is so disordered on this that they don’t even get that certain people are built so that they will never have this magical “gap.” It’s so cray-cray, right up there with models eating cotton balls soaked in orange juice.
This article explains very well what is thigh gap, and how it’s impossible to have it, even losing weight and working out. http://smellslikegirlriot.tumblr.com/post/41127647874/what-are-thigh-gaps-and-why-you-probably-arent
Eleonor….
Thank you thank you thank you for this article!
We need more articles like this to expose the truth.
Girls are beating up their bodies left and right for what?
To be something they see in a magazine that isn’t even real or the truth. My daughter is struggling right now and she is beautiful inside and out and soooo intelligent and guess what?
She thinks she is ugly and a monster because she isn’t stick skinny or have a blasted thigh gap. It just seems so messed up and i don’t get it!
@WillowDreamer – sending good thoughts to you and your daughter 🙁 i understand how hard it can be when a family member suffers from an ED. Wishing you guys health and happiness.
@Jedi…Thank you so much for your kind words and good thoughts sent our way!
I was actually able to discuss with her tonight about the article that Eleonor put on this site. It was very empowering because it seemed that she had that ‘lightbulb’ moment. The thing is i never ever ever
made weight an issue, never put her on a diet, and never referred to her body in a negative way. In fact, her cousins mother did put her girls on a diet, did criticize their weight, and instructed her girls to be thinner.
In my daughter’s senior year in high school several of the girls starved themselves to be skinny for their formal/prom and by graduation one of the girls looked like a concentration camp victim!
At college many of the girls starve themselves and of course they get so hungry they binge.
So you can see this is a vicious circle and a reality for girls growing up in our culture today.
I think it’s sad how she has a photographer following her around 24/7, capturing every “perfect” image of Beyoncé and her “life” as possible. It seems very unhealthy and self-centered to me. And not only that, she’s never just living life for itself. I imagine she has to be on show constantly to keep portraying the image she’s been putting out there the past couple of years (that constant and strange need for any kind of media attention, good or bad).
Agreed. Even the shots where it seems she was caught in the moment are probably faked and staged. So sad. I wonder how comfortable Jay is with all of this. Not that he’s any better than her when it comes to being self-centered, but I guess he doesn’t have to take pictures of him constantly. I mean this has to affect their family life…
How embarrassing!!!!
Thigh gap. Hahahahaha. Yeah, I have one of those.
Congrats on the wide hips! I mean that sincerely. I am a straight lady but I too have wide hips and I always thought they looked cute. It also makes me look less like the shorty that I am.
Oh, sorry, I was being sarcastic. I don’t have a thigh gap. *hangs head*
Aaah, never mind, but who cares! For what it’s worth, I don’t either, mostly because I’m fat. I only have a thigh gap when I am holding a bottle of beer between my legs because my hands are busy picking apart a plate of wings. 🙂
I don’t think it’s photoshopped. For one, she is pear shaped and her hips are a little more “spread” which can cause a thigh gap. Two, Beyonce did look like she had the gap while performing at the Grammys. Three, she poses and takes pictures in a way that accentuates this gap, whether magazine or personal photos (this annoys the hell outta me). Finally, we’re just not all built the same. Yes, she’s quite shapely to have a thigh gap, but she’s lost a lot of weight and is very toned.
Beyonce always had huge thighs. They suited her body but she lost weight but ALSO got lipo / body contouring on her thighs. You can’t pick the place to lose weight from and that area is / was her trouble spot.
So : weight loss, lipo/ some type of PS and photoshop.
Beyoncé was in the media non-stop and with clothing that always showed off her legs. At what point did she pull that off and maintain her weight during her rest period when she had to heal during touring?
yes, i agree w you, hadley. i have beyonce’s old figure. even when i was running a lot and got down to a size 8, i still had my muscular thighs. she’s had lipo. she was “thick” before, as in muscular, now all of a sudden, her thighs are thin, bullsh*t. either a lot of photoshopping or lipo. too bad, b/c i liked seeing my body on a celebrity.
I agree. I think she would have a thigh gap anyhow, given that her pelvic bones are widely spaced (in relation to her waist). The gap makes an appearance in some of her music videos too. And she did lose alot of weight too. I think in that particular golfing shot theres something about the way she is standing and the way the camera is located that make her thighs look even thinner than usual which makes the gap seem bigger.
Why would she even bother with this, her performances feature her in thigh revealing clothing anyway, So its not like we dont know (and love) her thighs. Her shape is part of her popularity afterall.
And now I’m done talking about thigh gaps.
I’m not sure tbh. It does seem that way, not going to lie and we all know she’s vain enough (like many people). On the other hand, there are tutorials that ‘teach’ girls how to pose in order to create a ‘thigh gap’ and Beyoncé is smart enough to resort to such tactics. She knows how to work the camera. But her legs are skinny as is and I think somebody botched up the pictures which was unnecessary.
And I agree, Beyoncé her legs were very skinny and sculpted for the Grammys (the rehearsal video also showed her with super thin legs) and people were convincing themselves it was lipo. When I pointed out the bruising, bandages and healing time didn’t add up since she was going to start her tour again (why not during her break?) and she was seen consistently with bare legs before the Grammys, people simply refused to acknowledge these factors. Years with thick thighs and now she’s going for lipo? I think she’s at her tiniest (due to her touring + vegan habits) and it’s possible she can achieve a ‘gap’ through her diet and workout.
Sadly, I googled Beyonce thigh gap after the Grammy’s because I thought it was new for her and I found a photo of a girl holding up a sign that read “BEYONCE IS PROOF YOU DON’T NEED “THIGH GAP”‘
But it’s true and she’s still right.
I read an article that said thigh gap was ridiculous, and besides, Beyonce didn’t have one. Oops.
I don’t understand why she would have someone do that, she has great legs. They always been muscular, and there’s nothing wrong with it. However, looking at those photos she looks like she’s about to topple over.
Was waiting for this story, I just had a feeling it would follow the pics. Which is kind of sad. No idea if they are shopped, but I think she looks gorgeous (thigh gap is not on the list of things I look for in anyones photo). I also think Beyonce knows how to stand in order to make the most of her body and lets face it a lot of us use filters and a little help from photo editing tools for at least some of our public facing photos these days. I wouldn’t expect a celebrity to be any different.
They look like Barbie legs.
That’s what I thought too – obviously photoshopped and rather jagged. Why does she look like she tilts her pelvis in all of her frontal pix?
Clearly this is the fault of some idiotic minion working on their own initiative who will shortly be found at the bottom of a pier with their feet in concrete boots – there’s no way all Beyonce’s talk of self acceptance and body-confidence could have been pandering bullshit when she’s clearly a feminist icon who’s ease of sexual expression wouldn’t possibly allow her to request that someone shave an inch off what is one of a woman’s hottest erogenous zones.
I mean, Jay-Z – a middle-aged man with a doughy body and unfortunate looks – is never photoshopped in any of their “private” photos and what kind of feminist message would a reknowned feminist be making if only the one half of a relationship without a penis was held up to an impossible to achieve aesthetic standard?
This 1000%
Well it’s much easier being a man in today’s world, or any world to be honest. But women are the ones who do it to themselves. We shouldn’t allow anyone to dictate what is beautiful. Women don’t do this to men. This is why Jay-Z has never rocked a six pack in his life (not that I know of) and no one cares. If Beyonce gains or loses 10 pounds, it makes world news. How is this fair?
exactly!
Applause!
I almost never really notice photoshop so i am not sure. But she seems to get skinnier. And she is so obsessed with looking skinnier that it would not be a shock
Ugh. I have a friend who does this stuff on fb. HONEY, YOU’RE NOT FOOLING ANYONE!
Does a bear sh-t in the woods?
I’ve been calling out B’s thigh gap for a loooong time. She also stands extremely pigeon toed in some shots to make it look exaggerated. So many of these famous chicks are all smoke and mirrors. Such a shame.
You’ve been calling her out for having a natural thigh gap? In need of a hobby much?
Calling out: noticing her obviously fake (liposuction and photoshopped) gap in comments on this blog.
Hobby much: this blog is one of my hobbies…just like you.
Gia Her thigh gap is anything but fake. Does this look fake to you? And lipo? She lost weight touring and doing a vegan cleanse She ALWAYS had a thigh gap
http://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/945/3896/original.jpg
I’m with you, Gia. She has a bit of a gap naturally, though only a tiny one. She’s got muscular legs. Her stance is constantly trying to make herself fit the notion of needing ‘dat gap’… and it’s sad.
And Lauren- if Gia needs a hobby, you need a hobby other than defending Bey.
Lauren…if you think that photo isn’t retouched then I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
And thx Erinn 🙂
Yes, and there are a ton of smoke and mirrors with this chick – like all the “music” she creates by herself. Right, I’ll give her that she’s a great performer, but she’s no musician or artist, and her music – read some of the lyrics to her recent songs – are generic crap.
Clearly photoshopped and poorly at that. She’s in the same outfit in another pic and those thighs are not the same size. Perhaps BI is doing her photoshop work now? So much for female empowerment, eh Bey?
Yes, the photo is obviously photoshopped. I understand that she likes to control her image and must feel pressured to look a certain way, but I’m so disappointed in her or whoever she authorized to do this.
I hate the fact that this concept even exists. With passion.
I don’t think it has been photoshopped because at the Grammy when she was performing live you could see it. Beyonce is a workaholic that spends hours on end rehearsing and has been touring for the past year. I think her body has drastically changed( see Bonnie and Clyde video) she was very voluptuous and a pear shape. Just like Madonna has managed to change the shape of her body , these ladies have crazy discipline and they manically work out and perform. I believe this can change a persons shape.
When an artist bans all professional photographers and press photographers from her shows and only allows his to take retouch (most probably) and distribute and publish those flattering ones, yes, I think she will try to control her image by photoshopping the pics.
Remember she has a professional photographer documenting her life. Of course only the good pics and videos will be in the archives.
She does not want unflattering candids of her out there so she publishes her own “candids” taken by a pro.
She does have big tights, muscular ones, she dances a lot. She is now buying into the too thin trend, when she was fine as she was.
If her muscular tights did not touch it was because of her skeleton shape, bu I bet it was not like in this upper pic, that looks really unnatural.
good points, Ennie.
I would post pictures but frankly I don’t care enough to convince any of you. She’s always had a gap, her thighs have never touched. A “thigh gap” is from how wide your hips are and she has pretty wide hips. She’s lost a ton of weight recently (please stop with the lipo nonsense, she’s been in leotards or shorts or swimsuits for the better part of a year where would this secret lipo fit in?), her thighs are smaller and she’s also squatting with her feet apart. It’s a wonky angle I agree but it’s not shopped.
I think many of you are missing the point. No one is arguing that Beyonce doesn’t have a thigh gap they are pointing out that this pics alone was photoshopped to make her thighs look slimmer. Gap or no gap.
dp
Nobody is missing any point. Everyone who said it isn’t photoshopped has also said her feet are apart and her knees are bent and she’s lost a ton of weight as her outfits at the Grammys showed.
If your able to zoom into the picture you will see that inside of her thighs and the top part of her outsider right thighs are jagged and pixelated. While the rest of her leg and body is not thats the big give away that the picture was altered to give a thinner look.
Sad but true.
@Tapioca – That was funny. 😀
@Blue Marie – Because like Kim K Beyonce is obsessed with physical perfection (perfection period).
@Eleanor Zissou – Why would you stating an obvious truth brand you as a racist?
See previous Beyonce post
It could just be the way she’s standing, because I’ve noticed that since The Thigh Gap became a thing, celebrities are careful to stand with their legs apart in photos. It’s both sad and hilarious to me that nobody wants to own up to not having a thigh gap, like it’s an actual flaw. I wonder what phony impossible beauty standard (that we can feel bad about not achieving) we will create for ourselves next.
The bigger question is, why is she golfing in her underwear/swimwear?
These pics do look photoshopped. Even so, I must say that Beyonce is much smaller in person than she appears in photos and on tv, and she does have a thigh gap. I have wide set thighs as well, and I too have a gap. I just never knew it was a thing.
GOODNAMESALLTAKEN: I Just now saw your comment from yesterday’s Beyonce post, and I thank you for that. I respect your opinions as well. I didn’t go into detail because I don’t like to argue and I’ve noticed that posters tend to attack a person or minimize their feelings when it comes to racism and how they perceive it. So I just left it alone. Thanks though 😊
I am convinced she had lipo.
Her thighs never looked like that .
No amount of excersize gives you that change
God. I HATE THIS TREND. If you have a thigh gap, fine. If you don’t, who cares. It’s such an insane standard of beauty and has NOTHING to do with being thin or fit, so I don’t get why this is considered the new hallmark of thin ideals. All I can imagine is anorexia culture is continuing to seep into the celebrity culture (not saying a thigh gap is a sign of anorexia, that’s obviously not true–just that having no thigh gap has become a standard of not being thin enough to certain mindsets). What a mess.
Yeah, methinks. I mean, for sure she did.
I dislike Beyonce and her whole narcissistic BS. But something nice: I love her hair in these pics.
Her vacation wigs is really cute.
Her right leg looks like it was copied and pasted onto the picture. It’s horrible and useless shop job.
These pics, this whole thread, pains me.
Beyoncé wants to look like a skinny white girl, she always has. We’re not looking at someone who carries her beauty naturally and unapologetically like Lisa Bonet or even her younger sister, Solange. I recognize Barbie Worship; I know bc I’ve done it — the obsession with blonde, with being thin fashion plate/socialite/ , having your sense of beauty defined by the constant dictate of beauty you see around you through Hollywood, through magazines…even beer promotions at sport events, you see the phenotype they serve up to men: kate Upton, Giselle, Victoria Secret model clones. It’s the standard for what is most desired. Though media directed towards women tends to exercise more sensitivity (marginally), you can’t fight what is posted and plays in Maxim, Playboy.. even porn. I’ve always watched how much is blonde. Sometimes even, on the opening splash page of Celebitchy I count the blonde heads in the pics of features stories. Cameron, Gwyneth, Kate, Reese, Taylor, – they are usually in the majority. I’m not condemning it, it is the way it is.
She is who she is, and a lot of what she does is orchestrated. Do I condemn her? No. I get it. Of course, she has an opportunity more than most to project a more accepting position of her natural beauty, but even that is hard to embrace. I’m not in her head, but I can’t throw too many rocks at her bc I myself still can’t come to terms of quitting the process of relaxing my hair and going natural curly. I don’t like how I look, I don’t like my world when I look more black, when the hair is getting nappier and prefer when I can pass as southeast Asian (I am also half Asian).
I am ashamed, and feel guilty bc I have my own issues. I recognize that there is only so much “society ” can do to ameliorate this pain -I definitely have my work in front of me to undo my personal complexes and stigmas about my look, but NO WAY – at this point – do I feel strong enough to embrace my natural self. I cannot come down on Beyonce, I cannot. She is one of the #1 perfomers in the world for a reason, and this was the path and method and look she chose to pursue –and so far it’s worked VERY WELL. It’s very complex, it’s not as easy as “just be you!” – it never has been.
Gah, I am crying now.
Annaloo, I’m responding to just what you’ve said about yourself:
You absolutely CAN fight it when it comes down to how you think you should look and act. Hard to embrace does not mean impossible. Your self-worth can’t come from celebrities, beer commercials or media or what men at large (or even in your circle) think of you. Regardless of what phenotype has been sold to men, you need to love yourself for who you are and do what makes you feel comfortable.
None of that is to say it’s easy to “just be you,” because it’s often NOT easy, but I hope that you’re able to love and accept yourself more each day and I’m glad that you feel strong enough to embrace your whole self.
Analoo: I am SO sorry. I feel quite sad for you. As a black woman who proudly wears natural curls and has wished to be nothing other than what I am, I pray that you will eventually learn to love yourself and accept your beauty. Even so, I do not think you should project your problems, thoughts and feelings onto Beyonce. Please dont assume that she and all other black women feel the same as you. I know don’t. **hugs** ❤❤❤
I hope you can overcome what you’re going through AnaLoo. But you shouldn’t project your problems on Beyonce. You said countless times you don’t know what goes on in her head yet you’re convinced she wants to be a skinny white woman.
I don’t get this reasoning tbh. She is a black woman and she wore countless other wigs/weave that weren’t blonde. Clearly her success is not based on her wanting to be white and blonde because she ISN’T and she has success with any look. She’s just beautiful and has star quality. Put a blonde wig on Kelly Rowland and she won’t achieve what B has: It. Simple as that. I think that’s projecting people’s own insecurities on B. Society loves blonde and skinny so a black woman who wears a blonde weave and works out is trying to be white and skinny. For real?
She married a black man and has a black child, I highly doubt that white is ‘right’ for her, especially not after all her struggles. A blonde wig didn’t deter the racist jibes and consistent targeting even during the DC-days so I doubt she relied on that. Her body was always curvy and she loves it. She hated the cleanse for ‘Dreamgirls’ and she clearly loves (healthy) food.
@Annaloo:
You’re always your natural self. You think you phone it in because you relax your hair and you’re insecure but that’s all part of you. It’s a part you acknowledge and you’re trying to accept it but it’s as real as you can get. That’s who you are and you can always change that if you don’t like it. It’s not fake at all. You also don’t have to wear your hair natural if you don’t like it. We can do whatever we want with our hair! We’re lucky. It’s the feelings behind it that make it problematic for you but the weave and relaxers in itself is NOT problematic.
Personally, relaxers ruined my hair and I didn’t think it looked better so I’m rocking natural and I don’t care anymore. I have bigger issues than my hair, things that put my life in perspective. Sometimes things sort themselves out. I grew out of it but I always love me some good weave, it’s a good protective style.
I think your honesty is beautiful. It’s hard to deal with the images we see – they don’t represent the majority of us or celebrate what is truly beautiful in us. My heart is open to your experience and I send you lots of love.
Clearly, cartoonishly. Look at her teeeeeeny little Barbie feet and ankles. Her arms look 4′ long.
All you have to do is look at the third photo of her in the same outfit behind a gate to see that the first photo has been stretched to pieces.
She has a great, REAL, fit figure. That first photo isn’t it.
It’s obviously photoshopped. And a bad one!
It’s not exactly a “thigh” gap that I fund distressing..it’s the images appearing everywhere of thin tubular legs that do not meet at the crotch. Ie the crotch is 3 inches across and then legs shoot out. Truly bizarre. Seeing it more and more.
Saw this effect right away in these photos.
????Also in the particular “i’m golfing” image…does she have a shadow?????
Not sure why this would surprise anyone, this is someone who has a person following her to document/take pictures of her life!! !! Talk about EGO!! That’s about controlling her image and this is just a part of it. Genuine is not a Beyonce characteristic people, the woman is full of herself and labels herself Queen (to me, she is just a singer, not Queen-like at all, so many unforgetable songs and her life is so meh to me). But really, she’s just as narcistic with her pics and Instragrams, image ect. as Kim Kardashian really..she’s differnt than KK in that she actually has talent and can sing, but the exact same when it comes to ego and me-me and image control. Fakeyoncem, that is her life!!
I am glad Iread your post. Before posting the exact same thing.
+1000 just like Kkardashian and her ego and personal photographer!
@Annaloo – Don’t cry. This is the beauty of being a black woman. You can do whatever you want to with your hair. If you want to wear it natural then rock it natural. If you like a relaxer then do that. If you want to wear a weave then wear one. Just don’t become dependent (slaves) on weaves. Wear your hair sometimes. Fake hair should be like an accessory (like makeup or jewelry). You have to take it off sometimes. I like the multitude of choices we have when it comes to our hair. I love the different skin tones and complexions that we also have. Black is beautiful and so is Asian, Hispanic, and Indian. I agree with your first paragraph. I love Solange. She has killer style and I like that she isn’t obsessed with being “perfect” (or looking perfect) like Beyonce is. But I do like Beyonce’s music. Beyonce is a beautful woman and she can dance her a$$ off. She is talented, and that baby is delicious (so is Kim K’s baby).
I agree with you – if you want to wear your hair a certain way because you like it that way, then wear it that way! It doesn’t mean you are going against what you think you should be or what society thinks you should be. Why should you have to wear your hair a certain way just because culturally, that’s how your ethnicity has worn their hair? I think that’s one of the best things about being a woman – we can experiment with our looks (and I don’t mean by surgery, fillers, etc) and figure out what WE like for ourselves. It kind of annoys me when people say Beyoncé has blonde hair because she wants to be a white woman. I honestly think she has blonde hair most of the time because she LIKES it! I have naturally wavy dark blonde hair, but I colour it dark brown and straighten it because that’s how I like it to be.
Tadzio and LittleStar: Awesome comments! *applause*
@littlestar
Great commentary. I’ve never thought that Beyonce wanted to be a “white woman”. Most white women with blonde hair are not natural blondes anyways. They dye their hair too. Beyonce, I think likes her hair that color because it suits her nicely. It looks good on her. Jennifer Love Hewitt just dyed her hair blonde and it looks horrible on her (imo). We all want to look our best, but we should be comfortable with ourselves and do what we want to do and not what society tells us to.
It’s no secret she hires a photograpther to follower her around, and she has the right to do so. I’m sure he/she probably does some re-touching before sending the pics to Beyonce. However, you can’t photoshop real life. I saw her perform at the Grammy’s and she had that “thigh gap” then as well. She also lost a lot of weight right before getting pregnant with Blue. Maybe she’s trying for a second child and just wants to be in tip top shape?
Illuminati
I’m not sure these are photoshopped. The jagged pixels also appear at the bottom of the palm tree behind her and to the left – it may be a cause of the high contrast between the dark areas and the bright green grass areas. (Yeah, it’s Friday afternoon, I feel this is a relaxing use of my time!!)
Plus – she’s got her legs apart a bit and leaning forward. Hell, even with my chub-thighs I get a thigh gap if I stand with my legs slightly apart and lean forward. And in that last photo her pelvis is leaning forward too, and she’s on tiptoes – so thigh gap there too.
I feel ya all on the whole thigh gap thing, but I also don’t want the whole thing to become a witch-hunt. I’m happy to sniff on photoshop, and bad photoshop at that, but I don’t think this is an example of bad photoshop.
I check again and I don’t see the gaged pixels around the tree only around her thighs. The gaged pixels are not created from the high contrast of these pictures if it was then their would be gaged pixels around her whole body not just in that one area.
She does not look like she’s in her 30’s. I love her fresh face and hair like that. She looks good, no denying that.
As an avid golefer, I have to say that it’s likely the entire golf course was photo shopped in.
She has lost a lot of weight and does have a natural thigh gap. However, she did have lipo before the release of her album 4. Same surgeon Mariah used for her implants. I personally don’t think it’s a big deal – she looks great.
Ugh!!
This is awful! Terrible photoshop and for what!!??
I remember a few years ago I had a heavier friend say to a much thinner friend “Oh my God you’re so skinny, look your thighs don’t even touch! I wish!” THAT was the first I heard of anyone coveting a gap between their thighs. Then there was some a-hole dude on FB who is a friend of a friend who commented on a photo of Marilyn Monroe saying she was too hefty and he liked his women with lean limbs so that their thighs don’t touch. Needless to say, I wasn’t the only one who went off on him. I find it so unfortunate. Yes, Bey has lost weight but she always had a very strong body. I have very strong lets that are still rather lean and my thighs touch. I guess in some circles that’s a problem.
Double ugh!!!!
I think it’s just the way she is standing when you golf.
I don’t know why one would even want to have a “thigh gap” especially if you are a grown adult women. I think this would be more of a white woman’s problem because I never hear black women wanting to have a “thigh gap” so I can’t relate to any of this madness.
Also in her video “Partition” her body is INSANE. She works hard for that body.
As a black woman, I don’t want to belittle the plight of black women who suffer ED by saying this type of thing is a white woman’s problem. It is not. I was saddened to see so many videos and tumblrs admonishing others with ED to remember that there are black women who would like to be represented on thinspo related videos and pictures as well.
It’s sickening and troubling all around!
@Cloud&Feather – That is sad. I’m not belittling black women who suffer from eating disorders but it is very rare to hear a black woman say that she aspires to be that thin. I only hear white women wanting to be that thin. My white friends early teens and in my 20s were obsessed with it. They were always dieting, binging and purging, or simply not eating. They were obsessed with being thin (most of them were already thin). My black girl friends weren’t obsessed with it. Actually with my black friends we didn’t even discuss weight and body image like that. This is why I made that comment (going by what I’ve seen in my own life experience).
No, no! I understand what you meant and where you are coming from.
Unfotunately, there are black women who suffer in silence because aspiring to be very thin (ana levels of thin, not natural) isn’t the norm whereas a thicker, more curvaceous body is often celebrated. It’s less likely they’ll come out and admit it and get the help they need, especially when doctors have told them “I never pegged you for having an eating disorder because you’re black” and things like that. There is a stigma, so many just keep quiet. Unfortunately, like I was saying, it can’t look like anything other than rare when so many don’t speak up, so I thought I’d at least mention it.
I’ve read too many accounts of black women with ED who feel like they have no where to turn or anyone to confide in because they fear it being maligned as “a white woman’s problem,” because ” men (black men in particular, said in many of these instances) want women with meat on the bones, etc. so why would you do that to yourself?” “Men want thick thighs and a big booty,” etc.
I agree, cloud&feather, culturally speaking, that is the case among many Latinas as well.
I don’t think this is just a “white woman’s” problem. Body issues is something that women of all ethnicities deal with, including African American women.
I don’t get it. She is an amazingly beautiful woman and I always admire how strong she looks. She doesn’t need Photoshop.
Lol as if her thighs are that thin.
Nice try, Bey.
What the hell is a “thigh gap” and why do people care so much about it? I’m lost…
It’s when your thighs don’t touch when standing and/or bending over either because your hips are wide enough to prevent it or if your hips are narrow, your thighs just aren’t very big.
It is a dumb as it sounds and is in no way an achievement.
Wow….. that really is dumb. 🙁
I’m bowing out of this trend but am ready to hop on the camel toe trend when that becomes a thing. 😉
Lol!! Call on me when there’s a “chubby tummy” trend. I’ve got that corner covered like no one’s business!
Yes, the answer is always yes, when the question is, “did (insert celebrity’s name) photoshop.” I’m feeling very cynical today.
I’ve been self conscious about my “thigh gap” since Jr. High and now they make it a “thing”??? My husband thinks it sexy and I want to him punch in the throat for sounding like a “pig” every time he brings it up.
To be honest, it really does look like the inner thigh is photoshopped – I’ve never seen thighs curve like that in that stance.
And it’s so sad because look how gorgeous her body is – look at the curves of her hip and leg and arms. Gorgeous, and would have still been gorgeous with a little more meat on that inner thigh.
We get so caught up with the flaws of certain areas we forget to look at the bigger picture.
Some of it is photoshopping. Some of it is posing. If you stick your rear-end out and bow your legs, like she’s doing in the 3rd photo, you can create a thigh gap. However, her thughs look noticably thinner in the 1st photo vs the 2nd photo. I have seen her in person in downtown NYC. She is a rather normal-sized woman with a lovely figure, but she DOES have some thighs on her – which isn’t a bad thing. What’s bad is her refusal to embrace them in photographs.
I really don’t get this thigh gap thing, really don’t. This obsesive fixation with something I don’t even find atractive at all! thank God this isn’t popular in my country or else I’d be banging my head against a wall.
It’s the way she stands that makes it look like a gap. She is slightly pushing her tush in the air. That’s why it looks like a gap
she does NOT naturally have “thigh gap”(nor is she a size 4 like is being said)….and anyone can make themselves look thinner by standing behind a weird fence, on our tip toes reaching up above our heads. If I could stand like that all the time I’d have a six pack and awesome legs….but no. As for the other photos…one is stretched weirdly, again to make her look thinner and taller….and the other photo there are obvious jagged photoshop lines on her legs.
Just be real Beyaaaaawnce….seriously. This sh-t is ridiculous!
Thank you.. what I said too Sky
Black or white, famous or civilian, it grosses me out to see ANY woman’s body scrutinized this way.
I saw a woman the other day who had a pronounced thigh gap in her skinny jeans. A month ago I might not have even noticed, but suddenly it’s the phrase on everyone’s lips. In any case, she was certainly young, fit, and thin, but she had quite curvaceous hips (as do I), so I felt like something was off. Can one – regardless of how skinny you get – have curvaceous hips with no inner thighs? But now thanks to this thread, I have been introduced to the concept of thigh sculpting, so I don’t even know any more.
Seems more like a photoshoot than a vacation.
+100000
Whether she has thigh gap or not, this is certainly a doctored photo. I could list the many reasons I believe this, but the most obvious, regardless of comparing ones leg shapes from various shots …is the grass behind her. There is a shadow on the edge of a putting green, where the grass goes from longer to shorter. That shadow, along with the transitional line showing the edge of green, is missing from between her legs. That is a considerably glaring continuity error. I produce composite media for TV and note/edit/review our work frame by frame all day. I would fire her photo editor on the spot, that is really amateur work there. Bey is so narcissistic she’s losing touch with what made her relatable in the first place.
ITA with Kaiser, the whole “thigh gap” conversation is ridiculous. Most of my mates think they’re gross.
And yes, I’d have to agree the first pic has been Photoshopped, she has thick, lovely legs in the sitting photo, no chance you could drive a bicycle through them as in the golf pic.
Some women naturally have thigh gaps, so for anyone to call it “gross” is not fair. Now any woman who naturally has one is going to be called out for it as if they did something wrong.
*sigh* Why look for an argument where there is none?
The article is about creating a thigh gap where one doesn’t naturally exist, ergo I was very, very obviously talking about the obsession to artificially/unhealthily achieve one, not women who have them genetically.
@ John
I’m not trying to start an argument. I was trying to have a conversation about a topic that seems to have people really hot and bothered (I’m not one of them). How would you be able to tell which women have natural thigh gaps and which ones altered their bodies to get one? There is no way of telling. You said most of your mates thing they’re “gross”. That’s not fair to say. Some women have them naturally, they can’t help it.
A lot of buzz about why she would release a poorly photoshopped photo (especially since she has a beautiful figure as it is). Well…she has managed to get us to talk about her, right?
Without her heavily applied makeup and her professional lighting, she is as unremarkable looking as her sister. Beyonce is so over hyped, both in regard to her talent and her looks.
I don’t think the photo is altered. I think her thigh gap is that big because she obviously had liposuction on her inner thighs. I noticed her legs looked totally weird and misshapen at the Grammys this year. It’s a bad liposuction job, not photoshop.
Ah, you young un’s… EVERYONE in the entertainment industry tries to control what is publicized about them. Barbra Streisand was an expert at it. Beyoncé just has more technology at her disposal. Something happened with those thighs, whether lipo or photoshop. It looks ridiculous. Especially since she has a banging body to start (as did Streisand). This chick wants everything. Probably got a google alert that thigh gap was the “new” thing.
Might be, especially in golf picture but it’s also very likely that she’s just curving her back, pushing her tush back and thus, creating a “thigh gap”. It’s a simple trick. But, what’s the point….
About this size 4 thing…grrr I am sick of her people, and the designer is thanking God he’s dressing her so he’ll say anything…….reporting she’s a size 4! In what universe??? I have 33 inch hips and fit a size 4 but barely! Plus I’m a shrimp (5’0) and small everywhere else. (5″ wrists size 4 ring finger)
I’ve seen her candid shots out with the family here and there from the side and her bottom is big to normal and her waist is not tiny. Besides she’s 5’7!
How is all that woman fitting into a tiny size 4 shorts? Go to the store and look at how small that size really is. Get real Beyoncé. You preach it so go for it! Nothing wrong with being a size 10, 12 or 16 she needs to stop feeding into the wrong information it makes women feel sh*tty! Tiny sizes aren’t meant for normal sized women, they’re for shrimps LOL!
My god that woman is vain!