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Yesterday, Beyoncé celebrated the upcoming arrival of her twins with a shower entitled "The Carter Push Party" that was designed for royalty. Along with an African theme that extended from Jay Z s kufi cap to Beyoncé s elaborate headscarf, shibori-dyed two piece and collection of statement accessories (oversized hoops, a collar of cowrie shells, waves for days), the twins also got a bit of beautification by way of a henna tattoo, artfully applied to Beyoncé s protruding bump. The pop icon took to Instagram to share a series of black-and-white captures of the exuberant look, and while the henna made for a striking visual, it may serve another purpose: from Asia to Africa, henna has long been applied during rites-of-passage ceremonies, thought to offer protection during a woman s third trimester and beyond. And though the designs are traditionally relegated to the mother s hands and feet, the Western world has re-imagined the motifs as belly-bound, celebrating babies with a unique dose of aesthetic attention. Beyoncé s twins have yet to enter the world, and yet, they are already turning heads. Consider their knack for a spotlight-stealing moment just the first in a long line of aspirational traits they re destined to get from their mother.
