Fierce, Fabulous, and In/Famous: Beyoncé as Black Diva

This article explores how the notion of the diva positions Beyoncé’s star image within a larger tradition of black female superstardom at three different levels: (1) Beyoncé’s performances as black divas from the past, such as Tina Turner and Diana Ross; (2) Beyoncé’s challenging of the conventional definition of the diva in her 2009 “Diva” music video; and (3) Beyoncé’s assumed status as a gay icon, including in the documentary Waiting for B. (directed by Paulo Cesar Toledo and Abigail Spindel, 2015). In this way, the concept of the diva can be used productively to discuss Beyoncé’s star image, while simultaneously recognizing its restrictive character.