Taraji P. Henson Gets Sexy, Studio 54-Inspired Allure Cover, Talks Homecoming Queen Win and Beyoncé—See Pics

The 44-year-old Empire star also recalls beating Queen Bey at something

By Corinne Heller Jun 17, 2015 3:01 PMTags
E! Placeholder Image

Of course Queen Cookie was homecoming queen.

In an interview with Allure, which features Taraji P. Henson on its July 2015 cover, the 44-year-old Empire star recalls achieving the most ripping victory back when she was a student at Oxon Hill High School in Maryland. The actress, who graduated in 1988, made her comments as she was shown a photo of herself as homecoming queen as well as other past pics of her with other hairstyles.

"I really didn't think I was gonna win. That's a very surprised look," she told the magazine. "I used to rock honey blond in high school. I was blonde before Beyoncé."

On the cover, Henson showcased crazy cleavage in a sexy, slinky, glittering gown, wore a '70s-style wig and channeled another R&B and pop queen—Diana Ross, when she was starting to make it big as a solo artist and when disco nightclub Studio 54 in New York City was the spot for celebrity partying.

"It was very Diana Ross, very disco, Studio 54, big, big, big hair, lots of jewelry, big earrings, the stuff I like to wear," Henson told Allure. "I'm a '70s baby so I hate I missed the era of Studio 54 'cause I would've had a good time. I probably would've been dead but it would've been a good time!"

Henson was also shown a photo of herself accepting the 2015 NAACP Award for Entertainer of the Year in February. She beat Chris RockViola DavisKendrick LamarShonda RhimesKey & Peele and...Beyoncé.

"I beat Beyoncé," the actress told Allure. "No one beats Beyoncé! I did."