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Cher, Diana Ross inspire Beyoncé’s fashions
‘When they were onstage, they gave you drama,’ says the singer
 Jason Decrow / AP file | Beyoncé gained 15 pounds to play music legend Etta James. |
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Though she is now widely celebrated for her personal fashion flair, Beyoncé has revealed to In Style, she hasn’t always been a fashion force to be reckoned with.
“Growing up, I was a tomboy,” she told the magazine’s November issue. “I refused to carry a purse and wouldn’t wear a dress. That was the ’80s and it was all about the hip-hop influence — baggy jeans and big shirts. (My mother, Tina Knowles,) hated it!
“But then I started singing and ended up watching all of the footage of the Supremes and Tina Turner. And I thought to myself, ‘They’re so beautiful. I want to be like them,’” Beyoncé added.
These days, Beyoncé credits the female-empowered era of the 1970s as a source of fashion inspiration.
“I love that in the ’70s Cher and Diana Ross looked like superstars and never played it safe. When they were onstage, they gave you drama — and I love drama,” she said.
And for Beyoncé’s latest dramatic endeavor, the singer had to tap into style trends well past the 1970s to play music legend Etta James — along with adding a little extra shape to her figure.
“I gained almost 15 pounds to play the role,” the 27-year-old told the mag. “It was way easier — and tastier — than having to lose so much weight for ‘Dreamgirls.’”
Beyoncé credited co-star Adrien Brody for helping her nail the challenging role.
“I told (Adrien), ‘I can tell you anything about music, and I will help you if you need it. I need you to do that for me,’” she said.
And she said Brody was quite the acting coach.
“It was the best experience I’ve ever had on a movie,” Beyoncé added.
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