Having kept mum for years on her romance with new husband Jay-Z (better known to his family as Shawn Carter), R&B diva Beyoncé Knowles has opened up in a new interview about married life.

The former Destiny’s Child singer married the “Swagga Like Us” rapper in a secret ceremony back in April, and insists her husband loves all her “flaws”.

“What Jay and I have is real,” she confesses to Essence magazine, revealing why she’s kept quiet about the relationship so far. “It’s not about the interviews or getting the right photo op. It’s real. I never talked about relationships. I only talk about them in my songwriting, otherwise things get too messy. It has worked out because now nobody expects me to talk about them. But it’s hard too. You fall in love and you want to tell everybody. But that’s a place I just don’t go.”

The “Crazy In Love” 27-year-old singer flashed her AUS$3.5 million diamond ring last weekend, snapped by photographer as she holidayed with her younger sister, Solange.