Early Life and Education of Tina Knowles: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Tina Knowles, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Tina Knowles is an American businesswoman, fashion designer, and philanthropist. She is well-known for founding the fashion brands House of Deréon and Miss Tina by Tina Knowles. As the mother of singers Beyoncé and Solange Knowles and former wife of Mathew Knowles, the former manager of Destiny's Child, she occupies a prominent position in pop culture. Her contributions to the fashion industry were recognized with an Accessories Council Excellence Award in 2001.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

January 4, 1954: Tina Knowles Born

On January 4, 1954, Celestine Ann "Tina" Beyoncé Knowles was born. She is an American businesswoman, fashion designer, and philanthropist.

Others born on this day/year

January 5, 1980: Marriage to Mathew Knowles

On January 5, 1980, Tina Knowles married Mathew Knowles, who was a Xerox salesman at the time.

1981: Birth of Beyoncé

In 1981, Tina Knowles' daughter, Beyoncé, was born.

1986: Birth of Solange

In 1986, Tina Knowles' daughter, Solange Knowles, was born.

1990: Opened Headliners Salon

In 1990, Tina Knowles opened Headliners, a 12-seat hair salon in Houston, Texas, which became one of the city's most famous hair businesses.

2002: Opened Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth

In 2002, Tina Knowles, Beyoncé, and Kelly Rowland opened the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth, a community center in Downtown Houston.

2004: Launched House of Deréon clothing line

In 2004, Tina Knowles launched the House of Deréon clothing line with Beyoncé, named after her mother Agnes Deréon.

2005: Co-founded the Survivor Foundation

In 2005, Tina Knowles co-founded the Survivor Foundation with Mathew Knowles, Beyoncé, Solange, and Kelly Rowland to provide transitional housing for Hurricane Katrina victims and storm evacuees.

2010: Established Beyoncé Cosmetology Center

In 2010, Tina Knowles and Beyoncé established the Beyoncé Cosmetology Center, which offers a seven-month cosmetology training course at the Phoenix House in Brooklyn.

November 2011: Divorce from Mathew Knowles

In November 2011, Tina Knowles and Mathew Knowles divorced. They share two children: Beyoncé and Solange Knowles.

2011: Divorce from Mathew Knowles

In 2011, Tina Knowles divorced Mathew Knowles, the manager of Destiny's Child, after being married to him.

2013: Started Dating Richard Lawson

In the summer of 2013, Tina Knowles started dating actor Richard Lawson, whom she had been friends with for over 30 years.

April 12, 2015: Marriage to Richard Lawson

On April 12, 2015, Tina Knowles married actor Richard Lawson in Newport Beach, California.

2015: Open Letter in Time Magazine

In 2015, Tina Knowles published an open letter in Time magazine stating "I gave birth to two of you, but I have four incredible daughters," referring to Beyoncé, Solange, Kelly Rowland, and her niece Angie Beyincé.

2017: Founded WACO Theater Center

In 2017, Tina Knowles and her then-husband Richard Lawson founded the Where Art Can Occur (WACO) Theater Center, a non-profit in Los Angeles.

2018: Beyonce's Coachella Performance

In 2018, Beyonce performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which was featured in the 2019 concert film Homecoming, where Tina Knowles made a brief appearance.

2018: Richard Lawson's Interview

In a 2018 interview, Richard Lawson stated that he had "always admired her from afar and up close too."

2020: Part of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

In 2020, Tina Knowles was part of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights movement, advocating for the passage of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act. Knowles wrote an open letter to United States Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer, urging passage of the bill, with support from her daughters, Viola Davis, Whoopi Goldberg, Octavia Spencer and Jada Pinkett Smith.

2020: Action with BeyGood through #IDidMyPart campaign

In 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic, Tina Knowles took action with Beyoncé's charity foundation BeyGood through the #IDidMyPart campaign, raising awareness on US television and news programs.

August 2021: Producing Program for Discovery, Inc. and OWN

In August 2021, it was announced that Tina Knowles would be producing "Profiled: The Black Man", an upcoming program for Discovery, Inc. and the Oprah Winfrey Network.