Singer Beyonce Knowles is proud of her black heritage and she hopes her fame will help "open doors" for other African-Americans who want to get into showbusiness.

The former Destiny's Child star is convinced the entertainment industry is starting to embrace more people from ethnic backgrounds - but she still hopes progress will be made.

She tells British magazine Marie Claire, "I don't think it's because there aren't any (talented African-American performers). It's just going to take a second for people to acknowledge all of them.

"We're getting there. But I see a lot of powerful, talented African-American or black women all the time. I am really proud that I am one of the artists that has the opportunity to be on magazine covers and to be in the movies.

"And I do think that I'm opening doors for more black women, just like Halle (Berry) and Diana Ross opened doors for me." (c) WENN