Baby on the way, glittering career and married to Jay-Z: Birthday girl Beyoncé celebrates turning 30 in Italy

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles really is a woman that has it all and she can take a look back at her life so far with pride as she turns the big 3-0 today.
The singer is celebrating her milestone birthday in Italy with husband Jay-Z and the pair were seen out in the romantic city of Venice last night enjoying a dinner date.
It is the first time that Beyoncé has been pictured since she announced she is pregnant at last Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards.

Happy Birthday: Beyoncé celebrates turning 30 today and showed off her baby bump while out for dinner with husband Jay-Z in Italy last night

Relaxed: The Single Ladies songstress looked glowing and radiant as she enjoyed some time off in the romantic city of Venice

Crazy in Love: Her husband of three years was protectively by her side as they left their hotel

The singer looked radiant and happy as she left her hotel with her husband protectively by her side.
Her burgeoning bump could be seen underneath her maxi patterned dress which had gold embroidered halter straps and Beyoncé looked positively glowing.
Jay-Z was dressed down in jeans, a white shirt and white trainers and looked the proud father to be.
Beyoncé revealed in a recent interview that she feels she has achieved enough in her career now to take some time out and start her family.

Mother-to-be: Beyoncé announced last Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards that she was expecting her first baby

'When you're young - 18 or 19 - you have the energy and drive. That's the time to work as hard as you can,' she told the September issue of In Style.
'Now I'm a woman, and because I gave it my all, I can focus on my marriage.
'I can decide I want to have kids. I can be the mother I want to be and dedicate myself to my children.'
Beyoncé can truly have a well-deserved break from the spotlight after her tremendous journey to super-stardom.

Back in the day: Beyoncé and her original Destiny's Child band members LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Robertson and Kelly Rowland had their first hit No, No, No in 1997

Growing up in Houston, Texas with her hairdresser mother, Tina, businessman father, Matthew, and younger sister Solange, Beyoncé knew at a young age that she wanted a career in showbusiness.
She sang at every opportunity and with the guidance of her father entered local talent contests and soon formed Destiny's Child that would go on to be one of the most successful female groups of all time.
Although Beyoncé would endure band member changes throughout the years, the original girls, LeToya Luckett, LaTavia Robertson and Kelly Rowland made their way on to the charts with their first major hit, No, No, No when the singer was just 16-years-old.

Best friends: Destiny's Child became a threesome with the addition of Michelle Williams and they went on to great success with hits like Survivor and Independent Women

Threesome: Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams together in London in 2004 - a year before the group disbanded

Luckett and Robertson were ultimately replaced by Michelle Williams and the threesome continued on their ascent.
Beyoncé then launched her highly successful solo career in 2003 at the age of 22, and her album Dangerously In Love spawned the breakout hit Crazy in Love and won her five Grammys.
Destiny's Child ultimately disbanded in 2005 but Beyoncé remains great friends with Kelly and Michelle and they have been supportive of each other's solo efforts.

Dangerously in Love:  Beyoncé's launched her solo career in 2003 and had a runaway success with stand out track Crazy in Love - she started dating Jay-Z in 2002 when they worked on the album

Private life private: The superstar couple married in 2008 after a low-key romance

In 2006 she released B'Day on her 25th birthday which gave Beyoncé her largest first week sales of her solo career. She collaborated with Jay-Z again for the stand out track Déjà Vu.
Her follow up record I am... Sasha Fierce, which is the name of her less shy alter-ego, earned her six more Grammys and included her classic Single Ladies.
The tune had fans all over the world flipping their hands back and forth and copying the dance moves from her cult music video which also spawned many copycat videos on YouTube.

B'Day girl: A celebratory wax figure of Beyonce has been placed in Madame Tussauds in Washington D.C. to commemorate her 30th birthday

Beyoncé has won a total of 16 Grammys which is the third most for any female star. Alison Krauss has the most with 26 with Aretha Franklin in second place with 18 gongs.
Not happy with just having a singing career, the triple-threat star also forayed into acting with roles in Austin Powers, Dreamgirls, which earned her two Golden Globe nominations, and Cadillac Records where she portrayed Etta James.
She is set to star in the Clint Eastwood directed remake of A Star is Born but has had to put the plans on hold until her own baby is born.

Triple-threat: One of Beyonce's breakout roles was in Austin Powers alongside Mike Meyers

Acting chops: Beyonce was nominated for two Golden Globes for her performance in Dreamgirls where she starred alongside Anika Rose and Jennifer Hudson

Beyoncé has built up a multi-million dollar fortune not only through her music and movies but with endorsement deals with L'Oreal, Pepsi and Armani, her fragrance collection and her fashion line, House of Dereon.
She was named the best paid female artist of 2010 with earnings of $87million for that year alone. Beyoncé is said to have a net worth of over $300million.
Although she has had a busy career, Beyoncé still found time for love and began a low-key relationship with rapper Jay-Z back in 2002.

Fashionista: Beyonce has dazzled on the red carpet over the years - in London in 2007 (left) and at the Golden Globes in 2009 (right)

Hot: Beyonce's Bootylicious body and toned abs has won her many admirers over the years - here on holiday in Monaco in 2007

They have collaborated on many songs over the years but made their love union official on April 4 2008 when they tied the knot in New York City.
As Beyoncé celebrates turning 30, and having achieved all the riches and fame in the world, she is sure to be looking forward to her most precious creation. Her first baby with Jay-Z is due in February next year.

Now put your hands up: Beyonce's hit single Single Ladies is one of her most popular and spawned a plethora of copycat videos on YouTube

On turning 30 Beyoncé said on Piers Morgan Tonight earlier this year: 'I can't wait, because 29 is very strange. You're still in your 20s but you feel like you're supposed to be 30, and I feel like a woman.'
'I'm very aware of who I am. I feel great and I feel like 30 is the ideal age [to start a family], because you're mature enough to know who you are and to have your boundaries and your standards, and not be afraid, too polite - but you're young enough to be a young woman. I'm so looking forward to it.'

Close-knit: Beyonce is close with her mother Tina Knowles who she launched her fashion line House of Dereon with

Auntie B: Beyonce has been practising for motherhood and is close with her nephew Juelz who is her sister Solange's son