Tina Knowles, the matriarch behind global superstars Beyoncé and Solange, has shared a harrowing near-drowning experience from August 1975 that unexpectedly set the course for her meeting and eventual marriage to Mathew Knowles.
Knowles recounted the terrifying incident, which occurred off the coast of Galveston, Texas. While wading in the water with a friend named Rusty, she was suddenly caught and swept out by a powerful rip current. She vividly recalled the chilling warnings from her mother about the dangers of such currents and the memory of a boy from her elementary school who had drowned. After a desperate struggle where she nearly surrendered, lifeguards arrived and successfully rescued both her and Rusty.
This traumatic, shared experience forged a significant bond between Tina and Rusty. Shortly thereafter, Rusty invited Tina to a house party in Houston. That party, hosted by Mathew Knowles, became the setting for Tina and Mathew’s first encounter.
Tina and Mathew Knowles were married in 1980, embarking on a 31-year journey together that saw them build a family and a formidable music empire. However, their marriage concluded in divorce in 2011. As detailed in Tina’s memoir, “Matriarch,” the split was ultimately prompted by Mathew’s infidelity, specifically after she discovered he had fathered a child outside of their marriage. The near-death experience, therefore, serves as a poignant, albeit dramatic, prelude to a pivotal chapter in her life.