Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is an American singer and actress. Her contributions to music, dance, and fashion have established her as one of the most influential artists in the history of popular music. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé performed in various singing and dancing competitions as a child. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time.