You’ve seen her on the red carpet looking like she’s discovered the actual Fountain of Youth. You’ve seen her standing next to Beyoncé and Solange, looking more like an older sister than a mother. Naturally, the question pops up every time she posts a selfie: how old is tina knowles, really?
She’s 72.
Born on January 4, 1954, in Galveston, Texas, Celestine Ann Beyoncé—known to the world as Miss Tina—just hit that 72-year milestone this past January. Honestly, it’s a bit hard to wrap your head around because she carries an energy that feels completely timeless. But her age isn't just a number to be gawked at in a "she looks so good" kind of way. It’s a roadmap of a woman who has lived through segregation, built a multi-million dollar salon business from scratch, and quite literally designed the visual identity of one of the greatest girl groups in history.
How Old Is Tina Knowles and Why We’re Still Obsessed
When people search for her age, they’re usually looking for a secret. They want to know what she’s eating, what her skincare routine is, or if there's some magical Houston water she's been drinking. But if you've read her recent memoir, Matriarch, which dropped last year in 2025, you know the story is a lot more "blood, sweat, and tears" than "magic and miracles."
Tina isn't just "Beyoncé's mom." At 72, she’s a woman who has reinvented herself at least four or five times. Most people think she just appeared when Destiny’s Child got famous. Nope. She was a powerhouse long before that.
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- The 1980s: She opened Headliners, a hair salon in Houston that became a local legend.
- The 1990s: She was the "fifth member" of Destiny’s Child, sewing costumes in the back of a tour bus because the group didn't have a budget for high-end designers.
- The 2000s: She launched House of Deréon, honoring her mother, Agnéz Deréon.
- Today: She’s a philanthropist, a grandmother of six, and a breast cancer survivor who is louder and bolder than ever.
The 2024 Health Revelation
Age eventually brings challenges, even for the most "flawless" among us. In April 2025, Tina sat down with Gayle King on CBS Mornings and dropped a bombshell: she had been diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer in July 2024.
She was 70 at the time.
It was a scary moment that started because she missed a routine mammogram during the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic. She actually admitted she thought she had gone, but her records showed a two-year gap. When doctors finally found the tumors, she underwent a lumpectomy and a breast reduction. Today, she’s cancer-free, but she’s used her 71st and 72nd years to scream from the rooftops about early detection. Basically, she’s saying: "Don't let your busy life kill you."
The "Mama Tina" Effect on the Next Generation
It’s kinda wild to think about the timeline. When Tina was 27, she gave birth to Beyoncé. When she was 32, she had Solange. She spent her 30s and 40s grinding in a salon to make sure her girls could have dance lessons and vocal coaches.
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Her age gives us context for her daughters' work ethic. You don't get a Beyoncé without a Tina Knowles. You don't get that level of "perfectionism" without watching a mother stay up until 3:00 AM hand-stitching crystals onto a camouflage outfit for a music video.
And let’s talk about the grandkids. Tina is currently 72, but she’s frequently seen keeping up with Blue Ivy (who just turned 14!), Sir, and Rumi. During her recovery from cancer in 2024, she actually moved into Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s home. She’s joked about how the kids—especially the twins—kept her spirit up during those tough months.
Living Her Best Life in Her 70s
If you think 72 means slowing down, you haven't been paying attention to her Instagram. After her 2023 divorce from Richard Lawson, she didn't just crawl into a hole. She’s been open about dating again, recently mentioning a "very nice gentleman" she's spending time with.
She’s also a central figure in the launch of Cécred, Beyoncé's hair care line. It’s a full-circle moment. The woman who started in a Houston salon in the 80s is now, in her 70s, helping run a global beauty brand rooted in the science of Black hair.
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Actionable Takeaways from Tina’s Journey
What can we actually learn from Tina Knowles being 72? It’s not just about looking "snatched" in a photo.
- Health is the real wealth. If Tina Knowles—with all her resources—can miss a mammogram, anyone can. Schedule yours today. Seriously.
- Reinvention has no expiration date. She started a new business, wrote a memoir, and entered the dating world all after turning 70.
- Legacy is built in the "quiet" years. The work she did in her 30s and 40s created the foundation for the icons we see today.
If you want to keep up with her, the best move is to check out her memoir Matriarch. It moves past the "celebrity mom" tropes and gets into the grit of what it’s like to be a Black woman navigating the American South, the music industry, and personal health battles.
Miss Tina isn't just 72; she’s 72 years of survival, style, and strictly no-nonsense energy. Whether she’s sharing a "corny joke" on social media or walking a red carpet, she’s proving that the best years don't have to be behind you.