After a while I really get the urge to be lazy with these and write “(X) needs no introduction” — but really, I could say that about just about everyone on this site.

For really reals though, if you are unfamiliar with Beyoncé Knowles (or just Beyoncé, since Prince made that whole one name thing cool), well, I’d like to know what rock you’ve been hiding under since 2000 or so, since I’d like to book my next vacation there.  It’s obviously very peaceful and devoid of mainstream media…

Of course, she wasn’t always the dazzling diva we see here today…

Check out Beyoncé as a high school freshman in 1996 at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, Texas:

Girl was gorgeous even during those early teen years that scar most of us — mentally and physically — for life!

No wonder Jay Z put a ring on it.