While there are many women who work to innovate and inspire, Tina Knowles Lawson’s dedication to family, fashion and philanthropy earned her the honor of receiving the ESSENCE Inspiring Leadership Award at the 2016 ESSENCE Festival last weekend.
As the mother of two noteable women in Black and pop culture, Lawson carries a lot of weight on her shoulders and wears more hats than most, but that’s never seemed to slow her down. From her Headliners Hair Salon in Houston, TX, which supported the family when Lawson’s ex-husband, Matthew Knowles, left his corporate career to manage Destiny’s Child, to her innate sense of fashion as she dressed America’s best-selling female group for nearly two decades, Miss Tina has played a pivotal role behind the scenes.
Tina Knowles-Lawson Looked Flawless At CFDA Awards
This weekend, in honor of this phenomenal woman, Beyoncé, Solange, Kelly Rowland and more came together to let Tina know her work has not gone unnoticed. ESSENCE created the four-minute video montage reminding – and for some, teaching – people what hard work looks like.
Beyoncé opens the tribute video, marking her mother as a leader of a generation. “Tina Knowles Lawson is one of the most inspirational women of our generation,” says Bey. “And I’m not just saying that because she’s my mother.” Solange joins her sister, adding, “When I think of her being an inspiration; she’s inspired the world without even trying.”
At the end of the video, as her family and friends speak on the impact Tina Knowles Lawson has had, Beyoncé lets the world know, “She’s everyone’s mother … and everything I strive to be.”
So hats off to you, Tina! You deserve it.
Check out the full video above.
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