Beyonce says designers didn’t want to dress ‘black, country, curvy girls’

At Monday night’s CFDA Awards in New York City, Fashion Icon award recipient Beyonce revealed that high-end designers weren’t always so kind to her.

“Starting out in Destiny’s Child, high-end labels didn’t really want to dress four black, country, curvy girls, and we couldn’t afford designer dresses and couture,” she said in her speech. “My mother was rejected from every showroom in New York. But like my grandmother, she used her talent and her creativity to give her children their dreams. My mother and my uncle, God rest his soul, made all of our first costumes, individually sewing hundreds of crystals and pearls, putting so much passion and love into every small detail.”

The “Formation” singer — who wore a sparkling Givenchy tuxedo — went on to thank her mother, Tina Knowles, and the rest of her family for the roles they played in her love and appreciation of fashion. She also revealed her mom designed a myriad of her most memorable looks, including: “my wedding dress, my prom dress, my first CFDA Award dress, my first Grammy dress.”

While some designers were surely squirming in their seats — Who turned down Destiny’s Child?? Becky. Was it you?? — Beyonce still gave props to the talent in the room. “I want to say thank you to every designer that works tirelessly to make people think they can write their own story,” she added.“Y’all are fairy godmothers and magicians and sculptors, sometimes even our therapists. I encourage you to not forget this power that you have or to take it lightly.”