'I want Blue Ivy to be just like you': Hunger Games star Amandla Stenberg shares the words Beyoncé told her on Lemonade set, which made her feel 'like I had reached nirvana'

  • The 17-year-old actress and activist appeared alongside Zendaya, Serena Williams, and Winnie Harlow in the epic music video
  • She said that when she met Beyoncé, the 34-year-old paid her the ultimate compliment
  • Amandla is a proponent of the Black Girls Magic movement, which empowers black women to celebrate themselves for who they are 

As if being asked to appear in Beyoncé's Lemonade video wasn't flattering enough, Hunger Games actress Amandla Stenberg revealed that the singing superstar surprised her on set with an an incredible compliment, too.

In an interview for Glamour's September issue, the 17-year-old opened up about meeting Queen Bey for the first time, explaining that the 34-year-old mother of Blue Ivy, four, said just about the nicest thing a mom could said to a young woman.

'Beyoncé comes up to me, and she goes, "Hello, Amandla. I just wanted to tell you I want Blue to be just like you,"' the young star said. 

Dream come true: Amandla Stenberg (top right, at Beyoncé's shoulder) opened up about appearing in Lemonade

Dream come true: Amandla Stenberg (top right, at Beyoncé's shoulder) opened up about appearing in Lemonade

High praise: She said the 34-year-old told her that hopes her four-year-old daughter Blue Ivy grows up to be like her

High praise: She said the 34-year-old told her that hopes her four-year-old daughter Blue Ivy grows up to be like her

You go, girl! The 17-year-old is both an actress and an outspoken activist for causes like feminism

You go, girl! The 17-year-old is both an actress and an outspoken activist for causes like feminism

Unsurprisingly, Amandla was quite taken aback by the kind words from someone that she herself looks up to.

'I felt like the hands of God were, like, gently caressing my entire body and soul, like I felt like I had reached nirvana, and I was like, "Thank you very much."' she went on. 'I think I said something really lame and gushing about her to her face [laughing].'

In addition to a few movie credits and cool, unique style, Amandla is known for her outspoken activism for certain social issues. 

Her words about subjects like feminism, racial identity, and cultural appropriation have earned her plenty of attention. They've also made her a role model for many young women, especially in the black community. 

Girl power: Beyoncé included several strong black women, including Amandla (left) and Zendaya (right), in her video

Girl power: Beyoncé included several strong black women, including Amandla (left) and Zendaya (right), in her video

Amazing experience: Amandla said she was so taken aback at the compliment that she said 'something really lame'

Amazing experience: Amandla said she was so taken aback at the compliment that she said 'something really lame'

Black girl magic: She added that filming the empowering video on a former slave plantation was 'trippy'

Black girl magic: She added that filming the empowering video on a former slave plantation was 'trippy'

Speechless: Amandla, who played Rue in the Hunger Games, 'felt like the hands of God were, like, gently caressing my entire body and soul' when Beyoncé complimented her

Speechless: Amandla, who played Rue in the Hunger Games, 'felt like the hands of God were, like, gently caressing my entire body and soul' when Beyoncé complimented her

Amandla is a big proponent of the Black Girl Magic movement, which aims to empower black girls and women and encourage them to celebrate themselves — even in the face of a society that can make them feel 'less than' because of their race and sex.

Many commentaries on Beyoncé's Lemonade video cast it as the ultimate ode to the Black Girl Magic movement, particularly because she rounded up so many strong, beautiful, unapologetic black women — including Serena Williams, Zendaya, and model Winnie Harlow — to make cameos.

And that magical feeling existed on set, too. Amandla recalled: 'It was really a powerful experience because we were shooting on this former slave plantation, and being in that space, like reclaiming that space, in an empowering way, where we were creating art that services and like promotes the beauty of people of color was really trippy.'  

One-of-a-kind: The actress is known for her unapologetic confidence and unique sense of style
One-of-a-kind: The actress is known for her unapologetic confidence and unique sense of style

One-of-a-kind: The actress is known for her unapologetic confidence and unique sense of style

Filming in secret: Model Winnie Harlow (pictured), like Amandla, said she agreed to jet off to New Orleans with very little information about what she'd be doing there

Filming in secret: Model Winnie Harlow (pictured), like Amandla, said she agreed to jet off to New Orleans with very little information about what she'd be doing there

Near mistake: Earlier this year, Winnie admitted that her agent didn't even call back Beyoncé's team at first

Near mistake: Earlier this year, Winnie admitted that her agent didn't even call back Beyoncé's team at first

The teenager was clearly thrilled to have been included, sharing that she flew to Louisiana with very little explanation of what she would be doing there, simply because Queen Bey beckoned. 

'I just kind of got this phone call — it was like, "Go to New Orleans; Beyoncé wants you there." Didn't really know the context or what was going to happen, but I wasn't going to pass down that opportunity,' she said.

Her story was quite similar to the one told by Winnie Harlow, who said the secretive way she was invited to the shoot almost made her miss out.

'I was actually contacted by their [Beyoncé's] team a couple weeks prior but my agent at the time didn’t get back to them because they wouldn’t tell us much about the project, she told W Magazine in April.  

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