Tina Knowles, the dynamic matriarch of one of the most famous families in entertainment, is no stranger to the rewards—and challenges—of mixing family with business. The 71-year-old mother of global superstars Beyoncé and Solange recently opened up about the complexities that can arise when parents and children collaborate professionally, particularly in high-pressure industries like entertainment and entrepreneurship.
Speaking candidly on the Confessions of a Female Founder podcast, hosted by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Tina shared that while working with her daughters has brought immense pride and joy, it hasn’t been without tension. She revealed that disagreements are inevitable when close family ties intersect with business goals and creative visions.
“There are difficulties sometimes because if you’re dealing with your child or you’re dealing with your mother, you know, you have disagreements,” Tina admitted. “But the beauty of it is that the foundation is love. Even when we clash, we always come back to that.”
Tina played a vital role in launching Beyoncé and Solange’s early careers. Before the fame, Tina worked as a hairdresser and owned a salon in Texas. She juggled motherhood with entrepreneurship, all while helping mold her daughters into the icons they would become. She also famously styled Destiny’s Child in their early years, often designing the group’s costumes herself. However, Tina explained that despite years of working together in the entertainment industry, her journey into a formal business venture with Beyoncé was a long time in the making.
In 2024, Tina and Beyoncé officially co-founded Cécred, a haircare brand inspired by Tina’s decades of experience in the beauty industry and Beyoncé’s deep personal investment in self-care and identity. But Tina revealed that it took some time to convince her daughter to commit to the idea.
“It has been a dream of mine forever,” Tina said. “Beyoncé had the dream too, but she just wasn’t interested in pursuing another business for a long time. In her younger years, she was laser-focused on perfecting her music and developing her craft.
Tina Knowles Reflects on the Challenges of Going Into Business With Beyoncé
Eventually, after years of conversations, Beyoncé agreed to partner with her mother on the project—but only after Tina made it clear that she didn’t want to carry the burden alone. “I told her, ‘I’ll work on it, we can work on it together,’ and finally she said, ‘Okay, we can start on it,’” Tina explained. “I didn’t want to do it by myself. At this point in my life, I didn’t want to work that hard again—but of course, I wound up working hard anyway! Still, it’s been a labor of love.”
Tina also spoke about how Beyoncé’s career influenced the brand. “She’s constantly on stage, under hot lights, wearing wigs, performing night after night—and yet she’s managed to keep her hair healthy. That’s not an easy thing to do in show business,” she noted. “That inspired a lot of what we’ve built with Cécred.”
Despite their close relationship, Tina confessed that emotional challenges still arise, especially when disagreements occur. She laughed while admitting that she’s typically the one who backs down first. “I’m the one that always caves,” she said. “I’ve been like that since I was young. If my kids are mad at me, I can’t take it. I’ll apologize first every time.”
Tina’s honesty about the emotional dynamics of working with her children offers a refreshing look behind the curtain of a family that is often perceived as flawless. Her willingness to embrace the difficult moments, alongside the successes, highlights the delicate balance of nurturing both personal relationships and professional ambitions.
Looking back on her journey—from running a Texas salon to co-founding a beauty brand with one of the world’s biggest stars—Tina says it’s all been worth it. “Working with my daughters has been one of the greatest joys of my life,” she shared. “It’s not always easy, but nothing truly worthwhile ever is.”
Through her story, Tina Knowles reminds us that while business and family can be a tricky mix, with mutual respect, communication, and above all love, it’s possible to build something meaningful—together.
