Whether it's penning a powerful essay on racism, blasting sexism in the music industry on Twitter or calling out the Grammy's diversity problem earlier this year after Beyoncé lost the award for 'Album of the Year' for her groundbreaking album Lemonade, Solange Knowles certainly doesn't hold back when it comes to standing up for her beliefs.

So, it comes as no surprise the 30-year-old singer has taken the opportunity to speak out about what feminism means to her in 2017.

Solange Knowles at Chloe | ELLE UKpinterest
Getty Images

In an interview with Bust magazine, the cover star opens up about how she identifies a a 'proud black feminist and womanist' and feels empowered by the multi-layered facets of intersectional feminism.

'I'm a feminist who not only wants to hear the term intersectionality, but actually feel it, and see the evolution of what intersectional feminism can actually achieve,' she says.

Solange Knowles Performs Youtube | ELLE UKpinterest
Getty Images

'I want women's rights to be equally honored, and uplifted, and heard…but I want to see us fighting the fight for all women — women of color, our LGBTQ sisters, our Muslim sisters,' she adds.

While the mother-of-one is quick to point out there has been progress throughout society thanks to the endless support of feminists and activists who campaign for equality, the battle towards gender parity is yet to be won.

I want women's rights to be equally honored, and uplifted, and heard.
instagramView full post on Instagram

Referring to a 15-year-old Texan woman who launched a lawsuit earlier this year after a police officer tackled her to the ground at a pool party in 2015, the A Seat at the Table singer adds:

'I want to see millions of us marching out there for our rights, and I want to see us out there marching for the rights of women like Dajerria Becton, who was body slammed by a cop while she was in a swimsuit for simply existing as a young, vocal, black girl. I think we are inching closer and closer there, and for that, I am very proud,' she concludes.

She also thanked other black feminist and scholars who have educated her as a 'student' in their teachings on intersectional feminism – most of which came from listening to conversations between women in her mother's hair salon as a child or reading emotive essays on the internet.

'I'm really grateful that I'm also a student of black feminists and womanists … and of women who have created this terminology for us to use as we carve out this space.

'That is one of the beautiful things about the internet. I'm a high-school educated woman. And I rely on incredible women like [the groups Crunk Feminist Collective and Black Women's Blueprint] … to really guide me through the process of carving out my feelings, and how I articulate them,' she notes.

The singer, who recently opened up to ELLE about growing up with her sister and Destiny's Child member, Kelly Rowland, also explains how living out her childhood in a house filled with strong women was key in helping her form her views about feminism.

Solange Knowles and Beyonce at balmain | ELLE UKpinterest
Getty Images

'I grew up in a house with five women. My mother, my sister B [Beyoncé], Kelly actually moved in with us when I was five. And my other — I also consider [her] my sister, but she's actually my first cousin, Angie — she moved in with us when I was 13.

'So this household was all women's work. Literally. And there was absolutely nothing that couldn't be done between us. My father was super smart and brilliant and instilled many wonderful qualities in us, but my mother was really the heart and soul of the family,' she added.

Who run the world? Girls.

Headshot of Katie O'Malley
Katie O'Malley
Site Director

Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.