Yesterday, as the world yearned for a scrap of good news, Beyoncé really came through. Around 1 p.m. EST, the 35-year-old pop culture icon took to Instagram to reveal that she is carrying not one, but two beautiful baby Beys. The image of Beyoncé as Mother Nature-slash-Mary quickly became the most beloved gram of all time (sorry, Selena). In less than eight hours Bey’s post garnered 6,481,207 likes. (The Guinness World Record-holding photo now has 8,288,436 likes — and counting.)
And as “Formation” was to “Lemonade,” this highly stylized pregnancy announcement was merely the prelude to a full-fledged maternity shoot, art directed by Awol Erizku. In the wee hours of the morning, Beyoncé’s site filled with images of the glowing singer posing in photos referencing iconic works (Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, for one). In some photos, Beyonce’s firstborn, Blue Ivy, joins the singer. Interspersed throughout the shoot are flashbacks to Beyoncé carrying Blue, as well as serious throwbacks of Tina Knowles pregnant with the legendary entertainer.
Scroll down for a few of the breathtaking photos from Bey’s “I Have Three Hearts” shoot, then head over to Beyonce.com to take in the full, stunning spread.
