Tina Knowles’ Breast Cancer Battle and the Trans TikTok Diva Who Helped Her Through It

Entertainment News

Tina Knowles, designer, author, boss entrepreneur, and Mother in every sense of the word, shared a moment with CBS recently that stole our hearts and made the gayes shed a few thug tears. 

Knowles sat down with Gayle King on CBS Mornings to promote her new memoir, and Oprah’s 2025 Book Club pick, Matriarch: A Memoir, spilling the tea on her life and experiences that made her into the woman and mother she is today.

In the intimate interview and memoir, Ms. Tina revealed her private battle with a breast cancer diagnosis—and how a Tiktok video from our beloved trans diva, Jools Lebron, helped her shake off the fear and tap into her relentless power before undergoing a lumpectomy to remove a tumor from her left breast.

Just one month after launching Cécred, her and Beyoncé’s luxe haircare brand and legacy project, the 71-year-old said she was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer during a delayed mammogram appointment. The news came as a shock to Ms. Tina, especially since there was no family history of the disease, she stated in the interview.

“I’ve always tried to take care of myself. I just…was in disbelief.”

But as Ms. Tina shared with King, it was the love from her girls, Beyoncé, Solange, Kelly, and niece Angie by her side that kept her encouraged, offering love and support at the hospital ahead of surgery.

“I was nervous," Knowles admitted. “So they started joking with me.” 

Solange kicked off the vibes by playing a TikTok that had been making heavy rounds across the internet. The unforgettable Jools Lebron, a TikTok Content Creator known for her mix of beauty, self-care, and diva energy, calmly but confidently offers gentle reminders to be "Very mindful. Very Demure," after battling even the most trying of situations.

“That brought me so much joy,” Knowles said. "And as I was going into what I had to deal with, they said, 'Remember, be mindful!'"

That moment came full circle when Mama Tina surprised Jools with an unexpected, face-to-face Zoom call.

"Mama Tina! I'm gagged," Jools squealed as she realized she was virtually meeting the icon herself. "I'm so happy to see you."

Tina responded with the same warmth, inviting Jools to her book tour in Chicago, and going on to praise her for her viral affirmations, which became an anchor after that "very, very scary" day.

Jools Lebron. Image via QVoices

We wanted to give a big shoutout to our girl Jools Lebron for being a key piece in helping Mother find her calm.

Her social influence is a true testament to the power of the LGBT+ community. Our words carry weight and our visibility matters. So much so, the TikTok creator helped coin the term “demure” as Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year for 2024. 

While Knowles hopes her story encourages others to prioritize their health and find strength in unexpected places, Jools’ impact as a trans woman and ability to bring people joy has clearly transcended timelines and generations. 

That quick, but impactful, soundbite from Jools’ videos is a reminder that there is power in our authenticity; and when we show up as ourselves, we even give others permission to breathe a little easier, too.