Beyonce with Mercy James
Beyoncé wants to follow in Madonna's footsteps.
Beyoncé wants to be a powerhouse like Madonna and inspire other women to build their own empires.
The 'XO' hitmaker, who planted a kiss on the 'Hung Up' singer's nine-year-old daughter Mercy James' head during her Mrs. Carter Show concert at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Thursday night (19.12.13), has revealed her new self-titled album was inspired by the Queen of Pop.
The 32-year-old star told fans at special screening of her new music videos in New York City on Saturday (21.12.13): "I felt like I wanted follow in the footsteps of Madonna and be a powerhouse and have my own empire. And show other women when you get to this point in your career, you don't have to go sign with someone else and share your money and your success, you can do it yourself."
According to Fox News, she later said: "I took all of my insecurities, all of my doubts, all of my fears and everything I've learned over the 17 years and I applied it into this project. But more than the music -- I'm proud of myself as a woman ... the biggest message is owning your imperfections and all the things that make you interesting, because I refuse to allow someone to put me in anyone's box."
Her comments came just days after Madonna, 55, gave her younger contemporary a glowing review for her show-stopping concert.
She posted a picture on Instagram with the caption: "Mrs. Carter crushes the BK with her bad ass show! Girls run the world! #srtforfreedom (sic)"
Beyoncé also took part in a Q&A with fans via Instagram at the event and credited her 23-month-old daughter, Blue Ivy, with her rapper husband, Jay Z, for helping her to open up more.
She explained: "I'm very private and I'm very respectful, and I think it just took me no longer being someone's child -- once I became a mother, I felt like I could tear those fourth walls and I just felt like it was time. I completely feel liberated."