Beyoncé revealed to Essence magazine that cutting off her long hair into a pixie cut in 2013 was an intentional act of rebellion against societal expectations. She said much of her identity as a performer had been connected to her flowing hair, and she wanted to "shed all of that" after becoming a mother. Her haircut represented physically shedding expectations and was a "very big emotional transformation" she was going through. Beyoncé said the haircut made her feel "super brave" and led to other audacious decisions that have shaped her career.