Tina Knowles has always been devoted to her daughters — and once proved it in a dramatic way on the set of a Destiny’s Child music video.
In her new memoir Matriarch, the 71-year-old businesswoman shared a memorable story from the 1997 shoot of “No, No, No (Part 2),” where she served as the hairstylist for the group. When a hair emergency arose, Knowles cut pieces of her own hair to make sure the shoot stayed on track.
The video, filmed in Los Angeles, featured the original Destiny’s Child lineup: Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett. Directed by Darren Grant, the team also included makeup artists Chris Maldonado and Eric Ferrell. Knowles was responsible for the group’s hair.
In the book, she recalled each group member asking for a unique hairstyle. Beyoncé, then 16, wanted blonde highlights for the first time. Knowles planned to use fake platinum strands glued into her daughter’s hair. She had blonde highlights herself, but did not plan to use real hair.
Tensions surfaced early when Knowles entered the makeup area. She described the makeup artists falling silent and scowling as she walked in. They had taken over two large tables, leaving her a small space to work. Still, she made do and found an extra table.
Trouble began when Knowles realized she hadn’t brought enough blonde hair for Beyoncé’s look. She noticed her daughter’s frustration and sensed that the makeup artists were watching to see if she would fail.
The mood shifted once Beyoncé called her “mama.” The makeup artists laughed and admitted they had been cold toward her. Maldonado explained that a friend of his had originally planned to do the group’s hair but was replaced after being told “the director’s girlfriend” would take over. Knowles laughed, clarifying she wasn’t dating the director, who was 15 years younger than her.
After the misunderstanding was cleared up, the trio became fast friends. The makeup artists even admitted they had planned to be unfriendly — until they learned she was Beyoncé’s mother.
Still, there was a problem: Beyoncé’s hair needed more blonde streaks. Thinking quickly, Knowles looked in the mirror, grabbed scissors, and cut bits of her own blonde hair. She glued them into Beyoncé’s hair, managing to save the look without making herself bald.
Maldonado and Ferrell later said that no one but Beyoncé’s mother would go that far, calling it the ultimate act of dedication.
“No, No, No (Part 2),” featuring Wyclef Jean, became a breakout success for Destiny’s Child. The track peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
