Beyonce poses with a football, a Brooklyn Nets hat and lacy bra for some pretty cool shots in the latest issue of GQ. Fresh off her performance at the 2013 Inauguration, Beyonce talks about Blue Ivy Carter and Jay-Z in the accompanying GQ article.

Here are some excerpts from Beyonce’s interview:

On becoming a mother: “When I gave birth, that was the first time I truly let go and surrendered. And it taught me how amazing that feels… giving birth made me realize the power of being a woman. I have so much more substance in my life.

“And expressing that excitement and that sensuality and the connection I have with my husband – I’m a lot more comfortable with that now. I actually feel like my child introduced me to myself.”

On her man Jay-Z: “I was independent before I met my husband, and we have such a natural chemistry and a genuine relationship, and it’s based on the things that relationships are supposed to be based on. I’ve seen, growing up, when a woman or a man in a relationship – it doesn’t matter which one – doesn’t feel confident, they feel a bit trapped.

“Your self-worth is determined by you. You don’t have to depend on someone telling you who you are.”

On rumors that her pregnancy was fake: “I felt like I kind of had to protect my mother [Tina], because when people made up the silliest rumor about me not really being pregnant She was there when I went through all of those things. And my sister [Solange]. They were very, very defensive. It’s not personal to me, and it comes along with the job, but the lack of respect—people will just go too far sometimes.”