It hasn’t been that long ago since Destiny’s Child announced their decision to once again break up. The last time Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams took a break from Destiny’s Child, it lasted almost three years.

The hiatus almost confirmed what critics said was doomed to be a permanent split. Yet, the multi-platinum trio proved everyone wrong with their 2004 album, “Destiny Fulfilled.”

During the “break,” Williams released a gospel album, “Heard a Word.” Rowland followed suit and released her album “Simply Deep,” and co-starred in the thriller, “Freddy vs. Jason.”

Knowles, however, became a mega pop star over night with her debut “Dangerously in Love.” Her instant star status made critics and fans question whether she’d even need to the group that helped catapult her into stardom.

Knowles explained the group’s intentions shortly after announcing their breakup.

“It’s not our last record because one of us wants to go solo, or because we don’t get along or because we don’t like each other anymore,” Knowles said in an interview with MTV. In a recent phone interview, Rowland said they did not consider their decision to be a breakup.

“We like to say we’re closing a beautiful chapter in our book,” she said. “And you never know what happens in the next chapter.”

As for the media who predicted the Destiny divorce, Rowland said they have learned to ignore the negative rumors.

“The media builds you up and brings you down,” she said. “Being in Destiny’s Child or any group is like being in a marriage; you should always be there for a support system and hold that trust down.”

Each of the girls has plans for their post-group career.

Knowles will be starring in an upcoming movie called “Dream Girls,” and Williams will be doing a number of projects including song writing.

Rowland said she’d be starting her album this year.

“I haven’t even took the time to really figure out what I want to do with it yet,” she said.

“I’m just having such a great time on the tour.”

Still the best of friends, Rowland said Knowles, Williams and she are perfectly fine with drawing the Destiny’s Child legacy to an end.

“We’ll see each other,” Rowland said. “It’s definitely not anything we’re sad over.”

• Jessica De Vault