A 12-seat hair salon in Houston called Headliners marked the professional beginning for Celestine Ann Knowles in 1990. Before establishing a career as an entrepreneur and costume designer, she worked as a makeup artist for Shiseido Cosmetics and as a dance choreographer for the University of Alabama at Birmingham, eventually applying her aesthetic skills to the stage.
Early Career and Stylistic Origins
Born in Galveston in 1954 to seamstress Agnéz Beyincé and longshoreman Lumis Albert Beyincé, Knowles grew up in a Louisiana Creole family. She attended Ball High School, where she performed in a singing group named the Veltones. After brief roles in cosmetics and beauty services, her career shifted toward costume design. She began styling the group Destiny's Child out of necessity, creating their early performance outfits and managing their image while the members utilized her hair salon for rehearsals and styling.
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Knowles expanded her professional portfolio in 2002 by releasing a book with HarperCollins titled Destiny's Style: Bootylicious Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Secrets From Destiny's Child. In 2004, she launched the House of Deréon clothing line, named after her mother. She later brought her apparel, which focused on creating a slimming silhouette, to retailers like Walmart after initial sales on the Home Shopping Network. Her work as a fashion designer gained industry attention, earning her recognition at the 2001 Accessories Council Excellence Awards and features in magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.
Media Production and Recent Projects
In addition to her work in fashion, Knowles has contributed to various film and television projects, including costume design for the film Dreamgirls. In 2021, she executive produced the Discovery and OWN docuseries Profiled: The Black Man. That same year, she launched her own digital program, Talks with Mama Tina, on Facebook. The show’s theme song, featuring Beyoncé, earned a nomination for Outstanding Original Song at the 49th Daytime Emmy Awards. In 2022, she expanded into acting, appearing in the Lifetime film Wrath: A Seven Deadly Sins Story and the animated series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.
Fast facts
- Born: 1954, Galveston
- Education: Ball High School
- Notable Book: Destiny's Style (2002)
- Fashion Brands: House of Deréon, Miss Tina by Tina Knowles
- TV Production: Profiled: The Black Man
- Career Start: Makeup artist for Shiseido Cosmetics
- First Salon: Headliners (1990)
Questions readers ask
What brands did Tina Knowles establish?
She is the founder of House of Deréon and the clothing line Miss Tina by Tina Knowles.
Did Tina Knowles design costumes for film?
Yes, her film credits include Dreamgirls, Pink Panther, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Obsessed, and Cadillac Records.
Achievements
- Educated at Ball High School
