I saw Beyoncé. In. Real. Life.

It was Saturday evening, and I had spent six dreadful hours in the car en route to what was going to be the most slay-sational and flawless night in my existence. I had dreamed of seeing Beyoncé live since I was a little girl, and spending a quarter of my day cramped in the back of an Acura as I trekked across three states was not going to stop me.

She had been on her European tour for almost the entire summer, so when Beyoncé finally arrived on American soil for one of the last concerts of her current Formation Tour, I was so there. Lucky for me, I didn’t have to search far and wide for tickets that would probably have me squinting down at a minuscule stage from the highest seat of an upper deck. Instead, I was able to get tickets from a relative who happens to be the Vice President of the arena. Needless to say, no squinting was needed that night.

As  my entourage of crazed Bey-obsessed family members and I arrived to the St. Louis Super Dome and were escorted down to our seats by security personnel, the energy from the enclosed stadium rushed through my entire body. my skin tingled and my hair stood on end as if I had chugged two cans of Red Bull. The energy was so tangible I could barely sit down in my row 1A seat.

Before I knew it, the lights dimmed, the beat started, the crowd roared, and iPhones everywhere were whipped out of pockets and clutches; the Queen had arrived.

The stage, which was broken into three structures, glowed vigorously as a black and white montage of Beyoncé began on a digital three dimensional seven story rectangular prism that stood at the center of the main stage. “Ok ladies now let’s get in Formation,” poured throughout the arena, “Ok ladies now let’s get in Formation”, the voice echoed through the speakers, from the stage, as a synchronized mob of dancers in black leotards and hats strutted slowly from a small opening in the prism.

Everyone could hear her, but Yoncé herself was nowhere to be found. That is, until the monologue ceased and the lights shut off completely.

And suddenly, with a flash, there she was.

If you think she’s ungodly gorgeous on magazines and music videos, multiply that by thirty million and you are given the beauty that was witnessed by the populous masses that filled the St. Louis Super Dome. She took our breath away.

For the next three hours, Queen B performed a total of 36 songs, including a range of new music from her album Lemonade and old school hits from her Destiny’s Child days like Survivor,  an acapella version of Love on Top, a water incorporated number during Freedom, where Bey and backup dancers frolicked powerfully in a small pool at the end of the stage, and a sentimental tribute to the late Prince by playing Purple Rain during a five minute intermission.

Although the vocals were on point, we know the girl can dance. As expected, Beyoncé killed it with her moves, participating whole-heartedly in every number, but never once sounding out of breath. She was the paragon of talent that night.

Not only can she sing and dance simultaneously, but she can also flawlessly orchestrate a marriage proposal. During her hit Single Ladies, an ode to available and independent women everywhere, the 35 year old singer called what appeared to be a random audience member on stage, however, we all quickly came to realize that he was actually a  backup dancer and close friend of Beyonce and the boyfriend of another backup dancer, Ashley Everett, and in front of a sold out arena of roughly 40,000 audience members, he put a ring on it.

From amazing graphics, pristine sound quality, and Beyonce’s talent as a singer and quirkiness as a performer, the show was an absolute hit that left the entire Beyhive of the St.Louis Super Dome in a buzz. Although no one will ever know whether Jay Z cheated or not, one thing is for sure; she slays.