Black Madonna: Beyonce projects positive image of 'good' motherhood

Beyonce has publicly released first official photo of her twins - one-month-old Rumi and Sir Carter

As befitting pop “royalty”, the singer Beyoncé Knowles has publicly released the first official photo of her twins – one-month-old Rumi and Sir Carter. The image – which quickly became one of the most liked on Instagram – echoed her pregnancy announcement from February, once again referencing religious and classical icons - this time Botticelli’s Venus. And, in a step that’s becoming something of a signature move for her, the Virgin Mary.

Throughout her pregnancy, Marian imagery has been central to Beyoncé’s self-representation.