Beyoncé did not bless the Met Gala with her presence this year because she was busy enjoying Cannes with her family.
Queen Bey took to Instagram ahead of the gala to share a few shots from the life of luxury she’s enjoying in Europe for her 40th birthday. Photos showed Beyoncé’s Cannes fashion, including a white blouse and mini skirt, a sultry pink dress, and a vibrant orange-and-white bathing suit.
Jay-Z and their youngest daughter, Rumi, joined Beyoncé in a few of the shared shots that revealed a more intimate side of the Carter’s family life that hasn’t been seen before.
In celebration of her milestone 40th birthday, Beyoncé recently covered Harper’s Bazaar and reflected on all she’s accomplished in her life and why she enjoys taking a step back from the spotlight whenever she can.
“I’ve done so much in 40 years that I just want to enjoy my life,” Beyoncé said. “It’s hard going against the grain, but being a small part of some of the overdue shifts happening in the world feels very rewarding.”
But just because she’s entered her 40s doesn’t mean Beyoncé has plans of stopping. She shared her plans for the future and how she will use her platform to advocate for social justice.
“I want to continue to work to dismantle systemic imbalances,” she continued. “I want to continue to turn these industries upside down. I plan to create businesses outside of music. I have learned that I have to keep on dreaming. One of my favorite quotes is from the inventor Charles Kettering. It goes ‘Our imagination is the only limit to what we can hope to have in the future.’”
Keep on dreaming, Beyoncé. Because when she makes them a reality, we’re always here for it.