“It takes a lot of guts. I’m really a shy person,” the singer tells the magazine. “But in my everyday world, as a musical performer, I’m playing a character. I had to tap that same character.”

“It’s fascinating how many careers it’s made, or how many have been made of it,” says Beyoncé of the swimsuit issue. “They’re always so beautiful.”

Though the 25-year-old singer has been asked to pose in a swimsuit before, her mother says she wanted to wait for the right time. “At every shoot,” Tina Knowles says of her much-photographed daughter, “they always bring some swimsuits and ask, ‘Can we shoot in this?’ It’s always been ‘No! When it’s time to do swimsuits, it’s going to be something big.”

It doesn’t get bigger than the coveted cover of SI.
To physically prepare for the shoot, the “Bootylicious” singer says she had to watch what she ate – which was especially tough because it was scheduled right after Thanksgiving. “At dinner, I kept thinking: this extra piece of pie will show up,” she says. “I always make sure I celebrate it up, but I was so terrified with every little thing I ate this year.”

Before the photo session, the singer relaxed by listening to some of her favorite music. “I listened to John Legend’s new album. It’s soothing, sexy and old school. It got me in the mood.”

And once it got started, Beyoncé had a little help from her friends – and most of her family. “Kelly Rowland (of Destiny’s Child) showed up. My mom was there; my nephew,” she says. “Dad was going to come, but he said, ‘Well, I’ll, um, meet you in Orlando after the shoot. I’m not so sure that I want to see this. All my blessings; you’re a big girl. But I’m not so sure I want to see it.’ “

But dad had nothing to worry about. Beyoncé says she’s proud of the pictures. “These are photos I can show my kids some day,” she says, “so I can say, ‘See, momma was beautiful. Look how good I looked!’ “

Beyonce – Sports Illustrated Magazine

This is a really busy year for Beyoncé Knowles,her movie “Dreamgirls” is still rocking the box office.
She will perform at the Grammys tonight ,where she’s also nominated for three awards including Best Female R&B Vocal Performance,Best R&B Song and Best Contemporary R&B Album.
Knowles also leads nominations for the annual Soul Train Music Awards,that will be taped Saturday, March 10 at Pasadena Civic Auditorium, and air March 17-March 24 through Tribune Entertainment Company distribution.
Her single “Irreplaceable” led the charts this week for the 10th consecutive week .

Beyonce In Style Magazine