The True Matriarch! A Deep Dive Into the Rich Heritage of Tina Knowles and Her History

The Breakdown: Tina Knowles is more than just the mother of a global powerhouse; she's an entrepreneurial success, a creative visionary, and a deep-rooted commitment to her family legacy.

Many trailblazers have left their mark on the fashion world, but few possess the rich, deeply rooted heritage of Tina Knowles.. Born and raised in Galveston, Texas, Tina draws from her Louisiana Creole background — a vibrant blend of African, French, and Native American ancestry that shaped her artistic eye and enduring influence. With timeless elegance and bold creativity, Tina transformed her signature style into a lasting legacy.

Tina began by designing costumes and running a salon, long before her designs hit world stages and red carpets. But Tina’s story reaches far beyond technique. She’s an author, entrepreneur, patron, and a woman who’s created it her assignment to inspire others through imagination and community. From humble beginnings to becoming a peaceful force in entertainment and culture, Tina Knowles demonstrates that style, core, and force are in her DNA.

Her mother, Agnéz Deréon, a gifted seamstress, passed down mastery in sewing and craftsmanship. Tina’s father, Lumis Albert Beyincé, worked as a docker and raised seven children in segregated Texas. Despite financial hardship, the Beyincé family fostered an environment rich in creativity, resilience, and pride in their cultural identity.

Tina was the youngest of seven siblings in a close-knit family where creativity, resilience, and community shaped daily life.

On The Tamron Hall Show, Tina shared a unique piece of her family’s history from her book Matriarch, including the complexity behind her family name.

“There are seven different ways of spelling the name ‘Beyincé’ because birth certificates were changed with each family member,” she explained. “I asked my mom why she constantly let people change our names like that. She said, ‘Well, I tried to spell it right once, and they told me, Be happy you have a birth certificate.”

These stories reflect a harsh reality of the era, where systemic barriers often erased or altered Black family histories.

“Although I was born in the main hospital, my siblings were born in the segregated ‘colored hospital.’ Back then, you wouldn’t dare challenge anything.”

This experience drove Tina to preserve and celebrate her family’s legacy.

"Once I had my daughter, I instantly thought about the fact that I never met my grandparents and the history that I gathered for my mom," she said of her late mother, Agnes Buyincé.

Tina’s parents didn’t just pass on firm surfaces—they encouraged her dreams. As a young woman, her mother’s sewing skills and bartering practices helped maintain their family and inspired Tina’s entrepreneurial mindset. Her family’s craftsmanship laid the groundwork for her future.

After graduating from high school, she sharpened her fashion and entrepreneurial skills. She opened her first business, Headliners Hair Salon, in Houston, Texas. This salon laid the foundation for her later successes, including the fashion and haircare lines House of Deréon and Miss Tina. Both brands celebrated her heritage while empowering women through beauty, confidence, and style.

Tina’s Creole roots shaped her distinctive vision of fashion. Immersed in African, French, and Native American traditions, she developed an eye for vibrant patterns, lush textures, and intricate detail — all trademarks of her style. Any projects she creates always honor her mother, Tina, who wove cultural storytelling into every collection. From embroidered motifs to fabrics reminiscent of French lace and African prints, her ability to merge heritage with contemporary design quickly set her apart.

Every project Tina touches reflects her family’s cultural legacy. Her work consistently uplifts Black heritage, women’s empowerment, and artistic excellence worldwide.