Pregnant superstar Beyonce beamed with pride as her stylist mother Tina Knowles was honoured at the University of Houston in their native Texas on Monday (03Oct11) .
Knowles was recognised by the University's Friends of Women's Studies organisation and the Crazy In Love hitmaker was on hand for support, joining the audience at the Rockwell Pavilion, where the 57 year old was interviewed as part of the foundation's 15th annual The Living Archives series.
During the recorded chat, the House of Dereon fashion designer, who created the stage costumes for Beyonce's former R&B girl group Destiny's Child, admitted she still struggles to be heard as a woman in the male-dominated world of business.
She said, "Sometimes I'm sitting in a room with 10 suits (businessmen) and I'm the only woman there and it gets tough because it is a challenge to get the respect from the people that you deal with sometimes. It's very challenging, but I just keep fighting and being positive and try to stay on my game."
But Knowles refuses to let the obstacles derail her: "I never dreamed that I would get to be doing the things that I'm doing today. It's just amazing. I always knew that I wanted to make women feel beautiful."
And she's encouraging other aspiring designers to stick to their chosen career path until they get their big break.
She added, "Stay focused. Surround yourself with positive people. Look at the positive side. Do internships. It's not always about the money; it should be about passion. Don't give up. You need to be able to do something you love."
The Living Archives event celebrates women from Texas who have enjoyed successful careers, while contributing to the state's history.