Few celebrities have risen to the same level of stardom as Beyoncé Knowles – nor shone so bright once they got there. From her early days in Destiny’s Child to her current solo status as the most-awarded artist in Grammys history (she’s won 35 Grammys out of 99 nominations), Queen Bey has dominated the industry for decades – and, 23 years after her first solo album , she shows no signs of slowing down (although rumours still abound that her and Jay-Z are contemplating a move to the Cotswolds – near Harry and Meghan, perhaps?).

It’s been a busy couple of years. The powerhouse completed her blockbuster tour, became the face of Levi’s and won her long overdue Album of the Year Grammy for in 2025 and returned to the Met Gala after a ten-year absence in 2026 – among plenty of other accolades of which there are too many to mention. But before all of that – before she was the billionaire Mrs Carter, haircare mogul and mum of three – she was Beyoncé Knowles. As the artist turns 45, revisit 45 throwback pictures of a young Bey in her earlier eras.