The gilded cover of Flaunt magazine, starring Beyoncé, is quite a pinnacle. The singer has done some quite big and bold things in her time (like that leopard eye she debuted in her Kitty Kat video), but never has she been fully naked save for a thick layer of gold glitter.

She looks, well, pretty unreal. A cross between a nymph/water fairy and a mythological Greek god, Bey has really taken things up a few levels with this new image.

The cover image, as shot by Tony Duran back in 2011, was part of her Year of 4 album but photos never surfaced until now. Blimey – to think these have been stashed away for a good couple of years. Even her full lip is lacquered in bronze and her thick Afro-Caribbean hair has been replaced with what looks like a swimming cap – a chic one, obviously – of shining, sparkly glitter. In whole, it’s a pretty marvellous thing she’s got going on.

Yes it’s daring and a little out there but it’s not Bey’s first time at pushing the boundaries. Oh no. While she’s nowhere near as controversial as Lady Gaga say, the singer still loves to throw a kooky hair or make-up look into the mix. Along with all the classically beautiful public appearances too. Click through the gallery above to see her most iconic beauty moments to date. Do any of them top this Flaunt cover though?