Beyonce says she barely recognised herself while she was pregnant

London, April 26 (ANI): Beyonce, who has just been named the Most Beautiful Woman in the World by editors at People magazine, has revealed that she "barely recognised" herself as she checked into hospital to give birth to her baby girl - because she had gained so much weight during her pregnancy.

The pop superstar put on 50 pounds while carrying daughter Blue Ivy, who was born in New York in January (12), and she admits she felt anything but pretty at the end of her pregnancy.

"I didn't feel that I looked beautiful during birth - but who does? After being pumped with all those fluids and gaining so much weight, with my swollen lips and cheeks, I barely recognised myself," the Daily Express quoted her as saying.

"I tried my best to roller-set my hair, and I wore my (lip) gloss when I arrived at the hospital. I committed to the end and wore my kitten heels. It makes me laugh thinking about it.

"But after many hours of labour, I didn't care how I looked. It was all about the miracle that God gave me - the opportunity to deliver a human being," she added.

The4 singer has managed to shed almost all of the weight she gained, although she reveals it's been a challenge.

"I'm proud that my waist came back so fast... I had to get my tone back. I'm definitely softer. But I feel my body bouncing back. Whatever was tight and muscular, like my legs, I'm seeing it come back. You just have to work at it," she stated.

She also denies rumours about her rigorous twice-a-day exercise schedule: "I'm a new mother; I don't have time for that. And no, I don't have a trainer living with me." (ANI)