# data[].attributes.body
Rebellious star image is shown through the examples given here, such as supporting protestors and wearing provocative outfits.

Article, 2015

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
9 Times Rihanna Proved She Was the Ultimate Rebel

Provocative, brash, bold. Words that perfectly describe Rihanna.

Marching to the beat of her own tune, Rihanna sauntered to the top using her unapologetic nature and brazen demeanour

Let's take a look at this free spirit and all the times she simply didn't give a fuck.

1. When she shut down a reporter with class.

Source: Tumblr

Source: Tumblr

Source: Fotpforum

Source: Tumblr

Source: Rolling Stone

Source: Tumblr

@rihanna love , is that cocaine 😒 pic.twitter.com/pVLi0gI4r4
- YourFavDarkSkin (@_MissTink) April 14, 2015

Source: Tumblr

Source: Tumblr

Source: Nymag

Source: Fotpforum

2. When she looked glorious covered in Swarovski at the CFDA Awards.

Source: Pixgood

3. And didn't care if you disagreed.

4. When she knew what being a role model really truly means.

5. She showed solidarity with the Ferguson protests in her recent release 'American Oxygen' which juxtaposes images of protests that have moved America along with images of historical events important to the nation.

6. At her March Madness Festival performance in Indianopolis, she slammed the state's Religious Liberty Bill which allowed businesses to deny service to the LGBT community.

7. Long before the era of 50 Shades of Grey, Rihanna was pushing the boundaries with S&M.

8. When asked what the favourite part of her visit to the White House was, she told TMZ, "My President being black."

9. When she had a kickass reply to a video that allegedly showed her doing coke.

She left this comment on the video:

And posted this image on Instagram:

Preach.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
9 Times Rihanna Proved She Was the Ultimate Rebel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
9 Times Rihanna Proved She Was the Ultimate Rebel Provocative, brash, bold. Words that perfectly describe Rihanna. Marching to the beat of her own tune, Rihanna sauntered to the top using her unapologetic nature and brazen demeanour Let's take a look at this free spirit and all the times she simply didn't give a fuck.

# data[].attributes.body
Rihanna named her first frgrance line 'Reb'l', which is indicative of how her star image is portrayed, as she is not afraid to swear in her songs or wear provocative outfits, even if young girls may view her as a role model.

Magazine Article, 2018

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
You may have thought that between Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty, and being the most influential musician of the 21st century, Rihanna would be too busy to keep updating her line of fragrances - or at least taken a few weeks off this summer. You'd be dead wrong. As HelloGiggles reports, Rihanna surprised us all on Tuesday with a brand new fragrance drop. She's introducing the world to Reb'l Fleur Love Always, an update to one of the first perfumes she ever made.

According to Perfumania, the new fragrance is a reimagining of Rihanna's original Reb'l Fleur fragrance. The revamped scent is "richer and bolder" and apparently "captivates with intensity, feminine power, and sexiness," much like Rihanna herself. Here's more from the mouth-watering description: "Delicious fruits give way to the lush smells of island life and a sultry drydown, creating a daring, timeless, and truly memorable scent." Perfumania also has the DL on the fragrance notes: top notes of red berries, plum, and peach; mid notes of hibiscus flower, violet, tuberose, and coconut water; and base notes of vanilla, patchouli, amber, and musk. It sounds like a vacation to Rihanna's native Barbados.

As of now, there are two ways to shop the scent, which is available through Perfumania. There's a gift set, which contains one 3.4-ounce spray bottle, a bottle of body lotion, and a bath and shower gel, all for $60. Or you can stick to the eau du parfum bottle for the same price.

Rihanna has released 11 () fragrances over the years, four of which also fall under the Reb'l range. But Reb'l Fleur Love Always marks her first time releasing an updated version of the original Reb'l Fleur. For Rih to reach back into the vault, we have a feeling this one is going to be good.
More Rih-mixes: Rihanna's makeup artist Priscilla Ono breaks down her best makeup looks:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rihanna Just Surprised Fans by Dropping a Brand-New Fragrance

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You may have thought that between Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty, and being the most influential musician of the 21st century, Rihanna would be too busy to keep updating her line of fragrances - or at least taken a few weeks off this summer. You'd be dead wrong.

# data[].attributes.body
Toured around the world, proving that she is a transnational star thanks to her music.

Website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
List of Rihanna concert tours - Wikipedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Barbadian recording artist Rihanna has embarked on seven concert tours, five of which have been worldwide. Her 2006 debut, Rihanna: Live in Concert Tour was based in North America only and supported her first and second studio album, Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl like Me (2006).

# data[].attributes.body
Details her success with Fenty Beauty and what may be in store for her new fashion brand. "Rihanna’s fans are 3.7 times more likely to buy her products than those of other celebrities, according to research conducted by marketing consultancy firm NPD in 2016". Cook also notes ho Rihanna has universal appeal due to her inclusive nature within her brands.

Magazine Article, 2019

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Rihanna’s New Fashion Line Makes Her The Ultimate Influencer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Rihanna’s fans are 3.7 times more likely to buy her products than those of other celebrities

# data[].attributes.body
Set up The Believe Foundation in 2006 to help improve the health of thousands of children.

Website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In 2006 Rihanna founded The BELIEVE Foundation*, inspiring and protecting children in need all over the world. Rihanna recognized that the only way to secure the future of our world is to ensure the...

# data[].attributes.body
From the start of her career, Rihanna has been able to mix her fashion influence with her aspirations to help charities, which she was able to do by partnering with Gucci for their collection that they released in which 25% of sales went to UNICEF.

Magazine Article, 2008

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
RIHANNA, having given a stellar performance at Gucci's UNICEF fundraiser during New York Fashion Week in February, will be furthering her relationship with the fashion house by starring in the label's first ad campaign for the children's charity.

To showcase its collaboration with UNICEF, Gucci's creative director, Frida Giannini, chose the songstress for her "strong personality". According to WWD, Giannini said: "When we decided to dedicate a full ad campaign, more than just creating products, to really come out and show our commitment to UNICEF, I felt a musician and a beautiful woman was the perfect icon for this campaign."

The campaign, "Tattoo Heart", will be out in December - and, not wanting to spoil the surprise, we will only say that the ads show Rihanna in limited edition Gucci products for UNICEF, of which 25 per cent of sales will go towards the charity.

For Rihanna, who has long been a fan of Gucci as a brand and already has her own children's charity, The Believe Foundation, says of the collaboration: "It's an honour to represent Gucci."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
RIHANNA, having given a stellar performance at Gucci's UNICEF fundraiser during New York Fashion Week in February, will be furthering her relationship with the fashion house by starring in the label's first ad campaign for the children's charity. To showcase its collaboration with UNICEF, Gucci's creative director, Frida Giannini, chose the songstress for her "strong personality".

# data[].attributes.body
She has a long history of collaborating with various different brands, such as Armani, Balmain and even River Island - caters to all of her fan bases. Designers garner attraction from her loyal fan base. She was also Dior's first black spokesperson.

Magazine Article, 2017

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's no secret that Rihanna is one of the most stylish women in the world. Always quick to tap into trends, or moreover start them, the Bajan beauty has captivated the fashion world with her fearless approach and experimental attitude. Now, as she unveils her latest Fenty x Puma collection, we take a look at her extensive fashion CV.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's no secret that Rihanna is one of the most stylish women in the world. Always quick to tap into trends, or moreover start them, the Bajan beauty has captivated the fashion world with her fearless approach and experimental attitude. Now, as she unveils her latest Fenty x Puma collection, we take a look at her extensive fashion CV.

# data[].attributes.body
Not afraid to wear a potentially controversial outfit. She wore this look in 2018 when she was the co-chair of the Met Gala and so she took the 'Heavenly Bodies' theme very seriously.

# data[].attributes.body
Her outifts are constantly being criticised and commented on in the media as Rihanna is thought of a style icon to many, especially when she is on the red carpet.

Internet Article

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
American Music Awards, 2013: A doobie wrap on the red carpet? Rihanna finessed it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
And then she went and bagged herself the first ever Icon Award. Photo: Getty Images

# data[].attributes.body
Their dedication to Rihanna knows little bounds as they travel across countires, recreate her famous fashion moments, and tattoo her face on to their bodies.

Artcle, 2016

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Photography Eric Chakeen

Emily Graily, a student from California, saved up her money for two years to score VIP tickets to Rihanna's Anti tour. When the only VIP front row tickets left were for the Hartford, Connecticut show, she traveled across the country, with a painstakingly handmade replica of the Giambattista Valli hot pink pouf of a dress the singer wore to the 2015 Grammys. And a mask, with the doodle that has been Rihanna's internet-iconic Instagram avatar since forever. The costume got her backstage to meet RiRi, and it was only one of many Rihanna outfits that she remakes by hand and posts to her Instagram account.

Emily is one of several Rihanna fans I've talked to this year, loyal sailors in the Rihanna Navy. Owen Lauer, a 19-year-old who works at a car dealership in Pennsylvania, has Roy Nachum's Anti cover art tattooed on his arm. Sebastian Napolitano of Queens has come to actual blows with a member of the Beyoncé Beyhive.

Rihanna's record sales rival The Beatles' at this point. And in some ways, her fan base is just as fierce, if not fiercer, than the weeping and fainting adolescents who worshipped the Fab Four. But The Rihanna Navy has taken fandom to a new level, turbo-charged by social media, there are hundreds of fan accounts on Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram spreading love, vitriol, inanities, and creativity. When i-D released its Rihanna cover in January 2015, there were countless fan art homages within hours.

The origin of the Navy term is disputed. Some say it came about after she starred in the 2012 movie Battleship, others claim it developed in a fan forum as a riff on the lyrics of "G4L" ("We're an army / better yet, a navy / better yet, crazy). Regardless, it works. "The Navy fights for the country, we fight for Rihanna," says Eric Nathaniel Best, who works in retail sales and, like Rihanna, is from the Barbados.

But what is it about this 28-year-old woman that inspires young people to tattoo her face on their bodies, to defend her rabidly on Twitter, and to spend their hard-earned money on thousands of dollars worth of Rihanna perfume, clothing, and pillows? She's a supernova to be sure, but there are other deeply talented, genetically blessed entertainers that don't have an army behind them (Joanna Newsom fans don't wait outside her hotel for hours in the snow, to my knowledge).

According to the many fans I spoke to, Rihanna is special because she is always, unabashedly herself. She came from a poor family in the Caribbean, like many of them (watching her father struggle with addiction in Bridgetown, Barbados). And then went on to became one of the most fearless, confident stars that ever lived. She wears what she likes, she does what she wants, she sings what she feels. Ask a Rihanna fan why they love her (as I did, many times), and they'll respond: "She doesn't give a fuck." And if you're a young, creative person trying to figure out his place in the world, that is riveting.

"She's not trying to be anybody's role model," says Emily Graily. That's definitely part of the Rihanna story. One of her best-selling sweatshirts even has the words "Role Model" crossed out. But the irony is that RiRi's insouciance has made her the ultimate role model for thousands of young people around the world. Her fan base is strong in pretty much every country. Rihanna Daily, one of the biggest fan sites, is run internationally by a Brazilian and a Pole. Many people learn English to be able to understand her music. But it's arguably in America, her adoptive home, where she's had the biggest impact on young people's lives.

Aaron Fagama, a tall, elegant young man from the Ivory Coast who currently lives in a homeless shelter near Times Square, is motivated by Rihanna's commitment to work (work, work, work, work). He loves "the fact that she came from nothing, she wasn't born into a rich family. I remember she used to always say in interviews that Beyoncé was one of her biggest influences. But now, she's just as big as Beyoncé. If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is." A barista and aspiring model, Aaron first met Rihanna at her perfume event at Macy's. And since then, he says, "she just makes me want to move forward."

She motivates others similarly. Sebastian from Queens says, "Honestly, if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have gotten through a lot of the things I went through in terms of coming out as gay. Also just getting through certain situations I had dealing with family problems. She never directly coached me through it obviously, but her music gave me an attitude that translated into real life." Helping her fans come out is one of Rihanna's specialties.

Owen, the Pennsylvania boy with the Rihanna tattoo, says, "Whenever I've had any hardships she's gotten me through them with her music, or whenever I've needed a little extra push I remembered that a girl from the islands that came from nothing is now on top of the world."

Rihanna's own issues have proven her resilience to her fans. Bad boyfriend Chris Brown comes up a lot, although he's history; they've been broken up for three years. "She's a person with flaws," says Nkacy Douglas, a Guyanese-American personal trainer. "She can mess up but people still back her up after all the stuff that she's been through."

A lot of that "stuff" is her journey from impoverished Caribbean island to an American dreamland. In a shaky immigration climate, for many of her foreign-born followers Rihanna's appeal is deeply linked to her background. "The fact that she did come from an immigrant family and that she made it in the United States, and then globally, that's why it's really inspiring for me to be determined to make it," says Aaron. Rebekka Smith, whose family is from Jamaica, calls Fenty's Barbadian heritage a "major factor" of her devotion. Plus, as Rebekka says, "she's so humble about it, she still goes back to Barbados to visit her family and she doesn't leave them out."

Rihanna, whose net worth is hovering in the $200 million dollar range, knows who is buying the concert tickets, albums, and merchandise that keep her sailing on yachts around the world. When Work hit #1 on the Billboard 100 for the eighth week in a row, she Instagrammed: "God stays blowing my mind and Navy, you amaze me!" (+ anchor emoji). She sent pizza and towels to Mancunians waiting in the rain for a concert this year. Almost every fan I talked to reported her politician-like gift for remembering their names, and making them feel special. She follows many of them on Twitter and Instagram. It's a badge of honour in the Navy to add "Rihanna follows" to your bio.

For a lot of these fans -- many of whom feel like outsiders for being queer, from elsewhere, or just unique -- the community they find in the Rihanna Navy is what they live for. Sheleah Harris, a 25-year-old telemarketer from Newark, says, "I have social anxiety so it's hard for me to make friends, and then these people just accepted me. The closest people I have in my life are through Rihanna." Many of them meet through Twitter and then connect at concerts, going out to eat at restaurants that they know she likes, like Da Silvano. "I don't know if it's the music or it's just her, but we all click and that's something that you don't find very often," says Rebekka Smith.

These kids feel it's their job, their duty, to worship Rihanna, and to vehemently defend her on social media. I find myself wondering how the fans themselves would feel if there was an army of supporters behind them. "Honestly I would feel a little bit creeped out!," laughs Rebekka. "I can just imagine how overwhelming it would be. But also I know that she can feel the support." It's a calling, and it helps the Navy maybe more than it helps Rihanna herself. "She just helps us through our day," says Sebastian.

Credits

Text Rory Satran
Photography Eric Chakeen

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
inside the rihanna navy: her most extreme super-fans speak out

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Photography Eric Chakeen Emily Graily, a student from California, saved up her money for two years to score VIP tickets to Rihanna's Anti tour. When the only VIP front row tickets left were for the Hartford, Connecticut show, she traveled across the country, with a painstakingly handmade replica of the Giambattista Valli hot pink pouf of a dress the singer wore to the 2015 Grammys.

# data[].attributes.body
She wants to be viewed as a peer to her fans rather than as a role model or someone on a pedestal. This also fits with the idea that Rihanna has a 'girl-next-door' image as her fans feel a personal connection to her experiences as well as her music. Fans have also been able to connect with other like-minded people, purely because they are fans of her.

Article, 2016

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If it wasn't already clear by the rebellious release of her eighth studio album Anti, Rihanna has an extremely devoted fandom. The "Navy," as the Barbadian hip-hop artist affectionately refers to it, is RiRi's legion of fans that has formed its own virtual community complete with, social media and subreddits.

"They go through the same things," Rihanna Oprah in 2012, explaining the close relationship she's taken on with fans across the globe. "I want them to feel comfortable knowing that I have flaws as well. I want them to know those flaws. I'm afraid of the pedestal... I want to be a peer to my fans."

The Navy is a ride or die type of group. The fans have often said they feel a personal connection with their queen, and aren't afraid to share it. Rihanna fans rally behind every event she headlines, every album she releases and even every fire selfie the 27-year-old artist drops on Twitter or Instagram.

In fact, Rihanna came exploding back onto the music scene after an extended silence with a selfie. Donning a nearly $9,000 pair of Dolce & Gabbana headphones, RiRi announced to the world she was listening to Anti ahead of its release. The photo received 1,000 retweets a minute immediately after it was posted to Twitter on Jan. 25. The photo received well over 100,000 retweets in less than 24 hours, mostly from her excited Navy.

"One word to describe Rihanna? Honest," a Navy member wrote for Billboard's 2015 Fan Army Face Off. "She knows that she's not a role model and she does what she wants, when she wants. She knows how to remain simple while being a queen and that's why we love her. Since 2005, Rihanna taught us not to worry about what others think and it's probably what makes the strength of the Navy."

Rihanna certainly reciprocates the love to her fans. When her eighth studio album released in early 2016, Rihanna tweeted a code for her first million fans to download a copy of Anti for free as it was available exclusively through Jay Z's content streaming service Tidal. "Gift to my navy!!!" Rihanna when she released her album code for fans eagerly awaiting new music.

Anti went officially platinum In less than 14 hours, with more than one million people that downloaded the singer's latest album.

"All over the world, from France to Brazil through Indonesia or South Africa, fans have created friendships," the fan continued. "Last thing: 'Nobody's fans go hard like RihannaNavy.'"

Correction: Feb. 3, 2016
A previous version of this story reported that Rihanna interviewed with Oprah in 2011. That interview took place in 2012.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rihanna's "Navy" Has Her Back No Matter What, and Here's Proof

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If it wasn't already clear by the rebellious release of her eighth studio album Anti, Rihanna has an extremely devoted fandom. The "Navy," as the Barbadian hip-hop artist affectionately refers to it, is RiRi's legion of fans that has formed its own virtual community complete with, social media and subreddits.

# data[].attributes.body
Fans are constantly questioning when they will be getting new music, but due to her various other commitments, the release appears to keep being put back, however, she has finally stated that 2019 will be the year of new Rihanna music.

Magazine Article,

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you have opted in for our browser push notifications, and you would like to opt-out, please refer to the following instructions depending on your device and browser. For turning notifications on or off on Google Chrome and Android click here, for Firefox click here, for Safari click here and for Microsoft's Edge click here.

this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Waiting FourFiveSeconds Longer? Rihanna Continues to Tease Fans About a Forthcoming Album

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you have opted in for our browser push notifications, and you would like to opt-out, please refer to the following instructions depending on your device and browser. For turning notifications on or off on Google Chrome and Android click here, for Firefox click here, for Safari click here and for Microsoft's Edge click here.

# data[].attributes.body
One fan sums up Rihanna's multi-industry impact and success as she says you can "listen to her songs when you’re wearing her makeup, and you can wear her clothes".

Article, 2018

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's been 13 years since Rihanna released her debut single, "Pon De Replay" - a track that serviced fizzy slides across school disco floors as much as it became a mainstay of daytime radio. Fast forward another 13 years, and Rihanna is now a bona fide superstar and the epitome of Big Dick Energy. No one fucks with her - she could flip a truck over by looking at it, probably, like an X-men character.

"Work" is still the ultimate summer jam; "Bitch Better Have My Money" is still the chorus playing in the back of every freelancers mind as they pop off invoices; and tracks like "Diamonds", "Kiss It Better", "What's My Name" and "Umbrella" are imprinted in the public consciousness to unavoidable degrees, as though they're comparable to the weather in being crucial to the human experience.

Wherever you look, Rihanna is there, smoking a joint or feeding a baby monkey or creating more bangers. And never has that been more apparent than in 2018 - a year in which she has starred in the number one film in the UK box office, Ocean's 8, and also found her way into makeup bags and underwear drawers through her Fenty Beauty and Savage x Fenty ranges.

With these successes in mind, I sought to find out if the general public believe that Rihanna possesses some sort of divine quality. Heading off to the sweltering London's Kings Cross Station, home to the UK's first Fenty Beauty pop-up shop, I tasked myself with finding out just how powerful and omnipresent Rihanna truly is.

Shelina, 25, Naz, 22

What do you think about Rihanna?
Naz: She's the Queen.

Naz: Yeah, her fashion's on point. Everything's on point. She can do no wrong.
Shelina: You can literally listen to her songs when you're wearing her makeup, and you can wear her clothes.

Basically, you can become Rihanna?
Shelina: Literally.
Naz: It's the dream to be Rihanna.

Natasha, 20

Do you consider Rihanna to be Queen of everything?
*without hesitation*
YES

Everything?
Yes, everything in life. There's nothing that she can't do. Like what can she not do?!

Is there any part of your life that Rihanna isn't part of that you think she should be?
I mean literally anything. She could literally put out toilet tissue and it would be the best toilet tissue in the world!

So, Rihanna over Andrex?
Definitely! Of course, if it has her name on it, you have to go for it because you know it's going to be the best.

Anfisa, 19

Is Rihanna your overlord?
Well, I've been a fan since I was like 10, so she's definitely my idol and a huge inspiration.

So, you stan?
Yeah! NAVY!

Would you say they're like a second family to you?
They were when I first got into her music. Now, not so much - obviously because she didn't release music for a while, but I feel like once she does, they will be my second family again.

Are Fenty Beauty and Savage adequate substitutes for music?
Honestly, for me, it's not the same. I feel like she's a singer firstly, and secondly, everything else. Obviously, everything she does is amazing, there's no doubt about that, but I do miss her music.

Kyle, 19

Is Rihanna your Queen?
Yeah, basically.

Why is that?
Just the way she is. Her style, her confidence, her everything.

So, what sets her apart?
Her style is edgy and she's not scared about what people think. She's really endearing.

Is that what brought you here today?
Yeah, I own everything Fenty Beauty so I thought I might as well come here to buy some shit.

Joy, 20

Do you accept Rihanna as your Lord and Saviour?
Um, no. No, not completely. Actually, not at all. I love Rihanna, I think she's doing great, she's revolutionary. Now all these makeup brands want to come out and try to be diverse. I'm proud of her for doing that, I support her all day.

So, you're not a stan then in terms of her music?
No, I don't even really know what that means, but I am definitely a supporter. I support black businesses and black women.

Do you think she's the queen of everything at the moment?
No. This is definitely her time and she's taking advantage of it.

Ayinde, 20

Hey, why did you decide to come over to the pop up today?
Well, I love anything Rihanna or Fenty. I already have a lot of her makeup. I'm not from here, I'm from America, so this is my first pop up shop.

Did you come over specifically for the pop up?
No, I'm studying abroad, I'm a fashion major.

So, why Fenty Beauty?
First of all, it's Rihanna. Second, she's really inclusive with her shades of colours.

You say "It's Rihanna". What is it about her?
I mean, she's just a role model. With me being a fashion major, I definitely look up to her style. I look forward to seeing what she wears.

Nuno, 25, Lina, 20, Sofia, 25

What is it about Rihanna that possesses such a divine quality?
Lina: Why are you both looking at me?! *pauses* I think it's her confidence and the fact she does her own thing. She does what she wants to do and no one else does that. She's an overall good lady.

It's been two years since "Work" was released and we're awaiting a new summer jam, do you guys want new Rihanna music?
All: Yes!
Lina: I watched the Graham Norton Show when she said she was in the studio, but she needs to just get it out there!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hanging Out With Rihanna Fans at The UK's First Fenty Beauty Pop-up Shop

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's been 13 years since Rihanna released her debut single, "Pon De Replay" - a track that serviced fizzy slides across school disco floors as much as it became a mainstay of daytime radio. Fast forward another 13 years, and Rihanna is now a bona fide superstar and the epitome of Big Dick Energy.

# data[].attributes.body
Cover image feeds the notion that Rihanna does what she pleases and is not sorry for her actions. The words painted on her embody different aspects of her pesonality and what her star image is made up of, such as 'fun' and 'fearless'.

# data[].attributes.body
Worked on various different genres of films, including action, animation and comedy.

Article, 2017

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The trailer for the highly anticipated Ocean's Trilogy sequel/spin-off, Ocean's 8 was released today (Dec. 19) and features an all-star cast of numerous badass women -- including everybody's favorite Barbadian triple-threat, Rihanna.

The iconic superstar has proved time and time again that she is a force to be reckoned since her early days, through her music, fashion and beauty ventures, but also her various acting roles, which have truly showed her versatility and superb talent.

From early work such as Bring It On: All or Nothing to this past year's sci-fi adventure Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Rihanna has proved she has what it takes to make it in the acting world. Here's a look back at Rihanna's roles in both film and television.
Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006)
The cheerleading comedy finds a transfer student trying to join the cheerleading squad of a rough high school, where she not only faces off against the new school's head cheerleader, but against her former school in a cheer competition as well. Rihanna makes a cameo appearance in the film, where she announces the cheerleading competition and declares that the winners shall appear in a music video with her. A small role, yes, but as good a starting place for Rihanna as any.
Battleship
In this sci-fi action film, we find Rihanna far from the comforts of the stage, thrust into a war filled with uncertainty. The 2012 film based off the board game of the same name follows a fleet of ships that battle a series of unfamiliar foes, where Rihanna stars as Cora Raikes, a weapons specialist aboard one of the ships. Director Peter Berg stated in an interview with that he came up with the idea to cast Rihanna after he realized she could act when she performed a skit on Saturday Night Live. Rihanna later went on to state that she accepted the role because she wanted to "do something badass."
This Is the End
The 2013 end of the world comedy directed by Seth Rogen features a hilarious appearance from Rihanna, who is attending a party at James Franco's house where she and numerous other celebrities are faced with the doom that will be brought on from the impending apocalypse. Though brief, Rihanna's cameo showcases her comedic chops and versatility as an actress.
Annie
Starring in a movie-within-a-movie, Rihanna plays the villain of "MoonQuake Lake," the flick that Jamie Foxx and Quvenzhané Wallis go to see together in the musical adaptation. The fake film also co-stars Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher.
Home
This 2015 film from DreamWorks finds Rihanna cast in the lead role as Gratuity "Tip" Tucci, a teenage girl who befriends an alien on the run from his own people. During a round of press interviews for the film, Rihanna and her costars Jim Parsons and Steve Martin were asked about the possibility of life on other planets -- to which Rihanna suggests keeping an open mind.
Bates Motel
On the hit A&E series, Rihanna starred as Marion Crane, the troubled secretary who played an iconic role in the 1960 horror classic Psycho, which the series is based off of. Taking over the character from Janet Leigh, Rihanna brought a modern and more relatable version to the screen for viewers to identify with. Viewers who were hoping for a remake of the infamous murder scene were out of luck, however, as Rihanna's version of Crane survived and her lover, Sam Loomis, meet his untimely demise instead.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Meet Bubble, the shape-shifting burlesque dancer portrayed by Rihanna in this fantasy film about two special operatives who must race to identify the evil that threatens the future of their home and the universe. Director Luc Besson contacted RiRi's manager to offer her the small but crucial role, to which she accepted, and shot around her jam-packed touring and promotions schedule.
Ocean's Eight
Set to be released Summer 2018, Ocean's Eight will find Sandra Bullock's character, Debbie Ocean, attempting to pull off a heist at New York City's star-studded Met Gala, following in the footsteps of her infamous family. Rihanna will star as Nine Ball, a computer genius and hacker who aids Debbie in her quest, and will star along other such acting stars as Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling and Sarah Paulson.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Look At Rihanna's Acting History, From 'Bring It On: All or Nothing' to 'Ocean's 8'

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The trailer for the highly anticipated Ocean's Trilogy sequel/spin-off, Ocean's 8 was released today (Dec. 19) and features an all-star cast of numerous badass women -- including everybody's favorite Barbadian triple-threat, Rihanna.

# data[].attributes.body
Rihanna speaks about her professional and private life. She comes across as very easy-going and willing to answer all of Ross' questions when he enquires about her relationship status.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rihanna HQ full interview at the Jonathan Ross Show 2012

# data[].attributes.body
New film potentially being released in 2019 with fellow singer Childish Gambino. Set on a Caribbean island, thus relating to Rihanna's heritage. Signifies her rise as a film star as she steers away from the music industry.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Guava Island with Rihanna and Donald Glover | NEW FILM TRAILER

# data[].attributes.body
Rihanna has had to change aspects of herself, such as her accent, in order to become more understandable in professional circumstances, like interviews. This shows how it is not always simple to become a transnational star, but this also highlights how Western society's expectations of how someone should speak can have a large impact on a star's image.

Youtube

# data[].attributes.body
Rihanna received the Vanguard Award in 2016 for her outstanding contribution to music, yet most of the headlines afterwards were regarding Drake's speech when presenting her with the award. This shows how female stars' achievements can be overshadowed and trivialised in relation to their private lives.

Youtube

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.entities[].name
Rihanna Accepts Michael Jackson Vanguard

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Drake Presents Rihanna w/ Vanguard Award | 2016 Video Music Awards | MTV

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Drake honors Rihanna with the #MTV #VMA Vanguard Award. Check out more at the VMA News Hub: http://www.mtv.com/news/event/vmas/ Subscribe to MTV: http://goo.gl/NThuhC More from MTV: Official MTV Website: http://www.mtv.com/ Like MTV: https://www.facebook.com/MTV Follow MTV: https://twitter.com/MTV MTV Google+: http://goo.gl/OGY79b MTV on Tumblr: http://mtv.tumblr.com/ MTV Instagram: http://instagram.com/mtv MTV on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mtv/ #MTV is your destination for the hit series Wild 'N Out, Are You The One?, Scream, Teen Wolf, Teen Mom and much more!

# data[].attributes.body
Rumours surrounding what the name of her potenital fashion brand may be called - will she remain authentic and personal to her by using her name, or will it be named after one of her albums is the essential question.

Magazine Article, 2019

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"Now it appears that the venture - dubbed 'Project Loud France,' a nod to Rihanna's fifth studio album Loud - is further along than it seemed," BoF reports. According to filing a French accounting firm obtained, Rihanna is a 49.99% shareholder and brings more the $34 million of her own money to the venture. LVMH is majority stakeholder.

While we are happy to see that Rih & Co are already investing so much money into the project, the fact that the project is called "Project Loud France," is especially exciting. Previous reports of the fashion line speculated a debut timed with an album. Is this a clue? Should we scour Rihanna's looks from the Loud album-era for what could be used as style inspiration?

When Loud was released (with the classic lead single "Only Girl in the World"), Rihanna championed the album, saying "Loud is, the word, the name of the album definitely reflects the attitude of it, it's really sassy and flirty and it grabs your attention and that's why I enjoy it. It takes you through a really really interesting ride. So colorful the album."

"LVMH certainly knows what they're doing," luxury analyst Mario Ortelli tells BoF. "They have one of the best platforms in the world in terms of design, marketing, distribution, supply chain. That's why they'll make the bet. But whether it succeeds will depend on execution."

"Look at, say, Yeezy [Kanye West's partnership with Adidas]... Because the name is separate from the designer who created it, it's easier to get longevity," says Ortelli. "While an eponymous brand, such as, say, Victoria Beckham, is embedded with the person...What will be the final name of the LVMH and Rihanna venture? Will it be Fenty? Fenty by Rihanna? Just Rihanna? Or something else? It will be interesting to see."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rihanna's Rumored Fashion Line's Code Name Is Based Off Of Her Loud Album

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"Now it appears that the venture - dubbed 'Project Loud France,' a nod to Rihanna's fifth studio album Loud - is further along than it seemed," BoF reports. According to filing a French accounting firm obtained, Rihanna is a 49.99% shareholder and brings more the $34 million of her own money to the venture.

# data[].attributes.body
Constantly referring to Barbados as her home and she clearly views that as her personal place to unwind and be her authentic self.

Youtube, 2017

# data[].attributes.body
Constantly asked about her relationships and her image, but is also presented as a very fun and likeable character who does not take herself too seriously.

Youtube Video, 2018

# data[].attributes.body
Set in Rihanna's home country of Barbados - private space but a professional environment as they are surrounded by cameras which are shown during filming. Rihanna presents herself here as someone who almost became a manufactured celebrity, but she pushed against her label's pressures and stayed authentic to herself, even though she states that she does not explicity know who she is. After discussing her relationship with Chris Brown, Rihanna notes how she may appear as 'soft' due to her crying, yet Oprah says that she will appear as 'real'. Also, when driving around the island later on in the interview, Oprah states 'this is how you know who somebody really is'. Everyone calls her Robyn on the island which is her real first name, suggesting that Barbodos is possibly where Rihanna is most authentic.

Youtube

# data[].attributes.body
Success of her albums and singles has meant that she is a historical artist who has broken records.

Article, 2015

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Rihanna has become the first and only artist to surpass RIAA's 100 million cumulative singles award threshold. Encompassing a range of songs from an extraordinarily successful career, Rihanna today claimed 48 million new RIAA Digital Single Certifications, which count download sales and on-demand streams in the United States.

"Gold & Platinum is the industry's premier way to celebrate achievement in the marketplace," said Cary Sherman, Chairman & CEO, RIAA. "We've given awards to artists for nearly 60 years, but it's rare that we have the opportunity to recognize a milestone like the one Rihanna has reached. Congratulations to Rihanna! She has not only surpassed RIAA's one-hundred million mark, but also is the first artist to do so. It's an historic feat and a testament to an extraordinary career."

Rihanna's Westbury Road Entertainment LLC/Roc Nation/Def Jam career song certifications span 38 separate titles released during her decade of music making, and include a 9X multi-Platinum award for "We Found Love," 6X multi-Platinums for "Stay," "What's My Name" and "Only Girl (In The World)," plus a 2X multi-Platinum for new song "FourFiveSeconds," a Platinum for "Bitch Better Have My Money" and many more.

In addition to her 100 million cumulative song honors, Rihanna's career album awards total 7.5 million sold in the United States, including a 2x multi-Platinum for "Good Girl Gone Bad" (2007), five Platinum albums for "A Girl Like Me" (2006), "Rated R" (2009), "Loud" (2010), "Talk That Talk" (2011) and "Unapologetic" (2012) plus Gold for "Music Of The Sun" (2005).

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rihanna Is First Artist To Cross 100 Million Song Certifications, Becomes RIAA's Top Awarded Singles Artist - RIAA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"Gold & Platinum is the industry's premier way to celebrate achievement in the marketplace," said Cary Sherman, Chairman & CEO, RIAA. "We've given awards to artists for nearly 60 years, but it's rare that we have the opportunity to recognize a milestone like the one Rihanna has reached. Congratulations to Rihanna!

# data[].attributes.body
This details Rihanna's long career, with her consistent chart-topping success. But the idea of the creation of a star image is prevelant here as it is clear that Rihanna conciously became more 'sexy' when she moved to America and and more rebellious as she dyed and cut her hair.

Article

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Robyn Rihanna Fenty (born February 20, 1988), known by her stage name, Rihanna, is a Bajan singer. Her song "Umbrella" was one of the highest-selling songs of 2007 and her third album Good Girl Gone Bad was critically acclaimed, helping propel her to superstar status.

# data[].attributes.body
8 albums with 5 that are certified platinum makng her one of the biggest selling artists of all time. She has done numerous collaborations with other artists in various different genres, such as R&B, electronic music and pop.

Website

# data[].attributes.body
This article states that even though Rihanna does not write all of her own songs, "neither did Sinatra or Elvis. She embodies a song in the way an actor inhabits a role--and no one expects the actor to write the script".

Reference: John Seabrook (2012) "The song machine: The hitmakers behind Rihanna" in The New Yorker, 26 March, Vol. 88(6), pp. 48-55.

# data[].attributes.body
Opens up about her relationship with Chris Brown. Presents herself as someone who was in an unhealthy relationship but she does not want to be a spokesperson for people of domestic violence as she does not want to have to relive the situation every time she is asked a question about it in an interview.

Magazine Article, 2015

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What makes Rihanna special-outside of the music-is that she is someone who is genuinely herself. People connect with her. You are seeing the authentic version of who she is. You can see her scars and her flaws.... She's gone through things that everyone's gone through-dysfunctional relationships, things that played out in front of everyone's eyes-and she's done a real good job of keeping her life private, but just living her life as a young person ... unapologetically. You have to have a tough skin in this business; you're going to hear some things about yourself that you're going to think, What?? Are you crazy? -Jay Z

I honestly think how much fun it would be to live my reputation. People have this image of how wild and crazy I am, and I'm not everything they think of me. The reality is that the fame, the rumors-this picture means this, another picture means that-it really freaks me out. It made me back away from even wanting to attempt to date. It's become second nature for me to just close that door and just be O.K. with that. I'm always concerned about whether people have good or bad intentions. -Rihanna

Rihanna sits across the table from me in the private room at Giorgio Baldi, her favorite restaurant in L.A. Her hair is reddish, wavy; her face seems free of makeup. She's even more beautiful in person than she is in her photos. She's wearing a white crop top, denim cutoff shorts, Puma sneakers, and a flowing Chinese-patterned robe. When she orders three half-portions of pasta dishes (spaghetti pomodoro with basil, gnocchi, and ravioli), I ask how she maintains her curvy but slim figure. She says, "Legit, I have been in the gym every day this week because I am not willing to give up my food. But I will sacrifice an hour for the gym." The 27-year-old woman in front of me is not the provocative, wild hip-hop prom queen, the sexy girl allegedly at the center of a jealous, bottle-throwing brawl in a nightclub, nor the habitué of L.A. and New York hot spots 1Oak and Up & Down. Nor is she the woman who has been described as badass, shocking, naughty, tough-pictured in tabloids and online with various rumored rapper/actor/athlete boyfriends. She is elegant, funny, straightforward, and downright horrified (and laughs hysterically) at all of the rumors I toss at her. And while people may assume that her life is just one big, long, sexy night out on the town, she insists it's not true. I ask about her bad-girl reputation. "Honestly, I've been thinking lately about how boring I am," she says. "When I do get time to myself, I watch TV." Now we're off and running, both of us mourning the end of Breaking Bad. She loves Bates Motel and forensics shows. What about NCIS and CSI? "I used to watch them," she says, "until I found The First 48 [homicide detectives, cold-blooded murders at convenience stores] and Snapped [true stories of women who lost control and committed murder]. Those are things that actually happened in real life," she says. "I'm stuck on the fact that these things actually happened. All those other things are just made-up stories."

When it comes to made-up stories, Rihanna knows whereof she speaks. Despite all those rumors of sexual liaisons, Rihanna says her last real, official boyfriend was Chris Brown-when they briefly got back together three years after his arrest for assaulting her in 2009 (more about that later)-and, prior to that, then Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, who she says she was just getting to know when the paparazzi got a picture of them together. "We were still dating ... we were just three months in and I liked his vibe, he was a good guy, and then paparazzi got us on vacation in Mexico. He handled it well; I didn't. I got so uncomfortable because now what? He's not even able to be seen with [another] girl, because I'm dragged back into headlines that say he's cheating on me, and I don't even [really] know this guy. Some guys ... I don't even have their number. You would not even believe it," she says with a laugh. "I'm serious, hand to God." Given that she's supposed to be so freewheeling, can't she just have sex for fun? "If I wanted to I would completely do that," she says. "I am going to do what makes me feel happy, what I feel like doing. But that would be empty for me; that to me is a hollow move. I would wake up the next day feeling like shit.

'When you love somebody, that's different," she continues. "Even if you don't love them per se, when you care enough about somebody and you know that they care about you, then you know they don't disrespect you. And it's about my own respect for myself. A hundred percent. Sometimes it's the first time I'm meeting this person-and then all of a sudden I'm 'with them.' It freaks me out. This industry creates stories and environments that can make you uncomfortable even being friends with someone. If you see me sitting next to someone, or standing next to someone, what, I'm not allowed to do that? I'm like, are you serious? Do you think it's going to stop me from having a friend?" But, she adds, "I'm the worst. I see a rumor and I'm not calling [them] back. I've had to be so conscious about people-what they say and why people want to be with me, why people want to sleep with me.... It makes me very guarded and protective. I learned the hard way.

"I always see the best in people," she says. "I hope for the best, and I always look for that little bit of good, that potential, and I wait for it to blossom. You want them to feel good being a man, but now men are afraid to be men. They think being a real man is actually being a pussy, that if you take a chair out for a lady, or you're nice or even affectionate to your girl in front of your boys, you're less of a man. It's so sick. They won't be a gentleman because that makes them appear soft. That's what we're dealing with now, a hundred percent, and girls are settling for that, but I won't. I will wait forever if I have to ... but that's O.K. You have to be screwed over enough times to know, but now I'm hoping for more than these guys can actually give.

"That's why I haven't been having sex or even really seeing anybody," she says, "because I don't want to wake up the next day feeling guilty. I mean I get horny, I'm human, I'm a woman, I want to have sex. But what am I going to do-just find the first random cute dude that I think is going to be a great ride for the night and then tomorrow I wake up feeling empty and hollow? He has a great story and I'm like ... what am I doing? I can't do it to myself. I cannot. It has a little bit to do with fame and a lot to do with the woman that I am. And that saves me."

Is she lonely? "It is lonely," she says, "but I have so much work to do that I get distracted. I don't have time to be lonely. And I get fearful of relationships because I feel guilty about wanting someone to be completely faithful and loyal, when I can't even give them 10 percent of the attention that they need. It's just the reality of my time, my life, my schedule."

Island Girl

Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty 27 years ago in Bridgetown, Barbados, grew up in a family so close-knit that her report card had to be taken around to every aunt and uncle, and if she didn't take it to them, they came over to her house to see it. She says that everybody knew what everyone else did and how well every child did in school-you couldn't hide your failures; you had to face them. She memorized textbooks (her mother was very strict about grades) and played sports with her two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad. But from an early age she was obsessed with music: first reggae artists Barrington Levy and Beres Hammond, then Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston. Rihanna's career began in 2004 when two American record producers, Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken-both of whom were married to Bajan women and vacationed in Barbados-heard her sing at a local audition, made demos with her, and eventually brought her to the U.S., where she lived in Stamford, Connecticut, with Rogers and his family. They made more demos and tried to get her a record deal. In 2005, at age 16, she auditioned for Def Jam Records' then group chairman, L. A. Reid, president and C.E.O. Jay Z, and executives Jay Brown and Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith. Jay Brown, now part of the Roc Nation team that manages her, remembers her wearing all white, with her hair pulled back off her face. Rihanna says she wore white jeans, white boots, and a turquoise tube top from Forever 21. She remembers that her hair was wavy, parted to one side, and "I had just gotten my first weave." She recalls sitting in the hallway when she saw Jay Z walk by, and she was so freaked out she made sure he didn't see her. According to Ty Ty, "When she walked in the room and started singing, what got my attention was how she looked at you and the tone of her voice. She was very serious." Jay Z recalls, "You see someone who comes in and you know if they have that look about them, that star quality-you can't deny it." Jay Brown says she had a fire in her eyes. But Rihanna says she had no idea she had any fire in her eyes: "These are people who worked with the most talented people in the music industry, and I'm a little seed, from an island far away; to even have the opportunity to audition for them seemed so out of reach. I was terrified; my knees were shaking." She'd already been turned down by another label, but Def Jam wanted her, and she-along with her lawyer-stayed in the building for 12 hours, until three A.M., when she signed what she still refers to as a "great deal." (Jay Brown laughs and says Ty Ty jokingly told the lawyer that the only way they were getting out of the building without signing was through the window.)

Rihanna's rise happened fast. "Pon de Replay," an island-inspired dancehall tune, became a hit, followed by "SOS," "Umbrella," "Rude Boy," "Only Girl (in the World)," "We Found Love," "Diamonds," and many others. She worked nonstop, releasing seven albums in eight years, and today, 10 years after her debut, she's accumulated 54 million album sales, 13 No. 1 singles, and 210 million downloaded tracks. She's toured and performed live concerts for millions of people around the world. She's got 7 billion video views on YouTube, 50.7 million followers on Twitter, 25.4 million on Instagram, and 81.7 million Facebook fans. Even before her acting stint in the 2012 action movie Battleship, her fans called themselves her "navy." She's a singer, songwriter, producer, actress (most recently she voiced a character in the animated movie Home), a mentor on this season of The Voice, fashion designer, style setter (she was the Council of Fashion Designers of America's 2014 Fashion Icon, was named to the International Best-Dressed List for the first time this year, is the creative director for Puma and the face of Dior's Secret Garden campaign), entrepreneur (seven fragrances, a creative director for the Stance sock company), philanthropist (her foundation helps build cancer-treatment centers in Barbados, among other charitable activities), and eight-time Grammy winner.

SOS

But on February 7, 2009-the night before the Grammys-following Clive Davis's party, an episode occurred that would change her life and probably forever be linked to her. Rihanna's then boyfriend, her first love, R&B singer Chris Brown, assaulted her in his rented Lamborghini and left her bloodied and battered on the side of a street. Photos of her bruised and swollen face were leaked to TMZ by, says Rihanna, "a very nasty woman who thought a check was more important than morals. That shocks you? A check trumps morals by miles." And in 2014, nearly six years after that attack, Rihanna was dragged into the Ray Rice domestic-abuse scandal when the N.F.L. and CBS chose not to play "Run This Town"-her hit with Jay Z and Kanye West-during an opening-week broadcast of the N.F.L. season. She reacted with anger on Twitter, and, says Jay Z, "Her response was appropriate. The N.F.L. felt it was a distraction, and she was like, 'You're punishing me for what happened with Ray Rice?' " I ask Rihanna if she thinks she's always going to be a poster child for victims of domestic abuse. "Well, I just never understood that," she says, "like how the victim gets punished over and over. It's in the past, and I don't want to say 'Get over it,' because it's a very serious thing that is still relevant; it's still real. A lot of women, a lot of young girls, are still going through it. A lot of young boys too. It's not a subject to sweep under the rug, so I can't just dismiss it like it wasn't anything, or I don't take it seriously. But, for me, and anyone who's been a victim of domestic abuse, nobody wants to even remember it. Nobody even wants to admit it. So to talk about it and say it once, much less 200 times, is like ... I have to be punished for it? It didn't sit well with me."

Rihanna is quiet and thoughtful when she talks about getting back with Brown for the second time and asking the court to lift the restraining order against him. "I was that girl," she says, "that girl who felt that as much pain as this relationship is, maybe some people are built stronger than others. Maybe I'm one of those people built to handle shit like this. Maybe I'm the person who's almost the guardian angel to this person, to be there when they're not strong enough, when they're not understanding the world, when they just need someone to encourage them in a positive way and say the right thing." So, she thought she could change him? "A hundred percent. I was very protective of him. I felt that people didn't understand him. Even after ... But you know, you realize after a while that in that situation you're the enemy. You want the best for them, but if you remind them of their failures, or if you remind them of bad moments in their life, or even if you say I'm willing to put up with something, they think less of you-because they know you don't deserve what they're going to give. And if you put up with it, maybe you are agreeing that you [deserve] this, and that's when I finally had to say, 'Uh-oh, I was stupid thinking I was built for this.' Sometimes you just have to walk away." Now, she says, "I don't hate him. I will care about him until the day I die. We're not friends, but it's not like we're enemies. We don't have much of a relationship now."

While Rihanna and Brown did a duet on a song in 2012 with a telling title ("Nobody's Business"), her bigger collaborations have been with Jay Z and Kanye West-as well as two huge hits with Eminem, "Love the Way You Lie" and "The Monster." According to Eminem, "I would definitely consider Rihanna a friend. She's always been there for me, and I really enjoy working with her. As an artist, we have similar work ethics, so I've always been able to relate to her in that sense." As for Rihanna's take on him: "He's one of my favorite people. He's got so many layers and he's such a good person-focused, disciplined. I mean you can't tell me that you have to be in the club when Eminem is legit at home and being a good father and is still one of the most prestigious rappers of our generation. He's one of the most talented poets of our time. It was such a brilliant moment to have him ask me to be part of a record; I felt ... anointed, because he thought I was cool enough to be on ["Love the Way You Lie"]. But also, the lyrics [about a dysfunctional relationship] were just so true to what I felt and couldn't say to the world at that time."

Talk That Talk

As our conversation continues into what technically is the next day, Giorgio's keeps the restaurant open for her and we discuss a variety of topics: how little she sleeps (three to four hours), the tight team of friends she works with (her childhood friend Melissa Forde, right-hand woman Jennifer Rosales, and creative director Ciarra Pardo), how we're both basketball fans in general and fans of LeBron James in particular. ("I woke up at seven A.M. in Japan to watch the last game of the finals," she says. "I felt so bad when he lost.") And she talks about Rachel Dolezal, the white N.A.A.C.P. executive who pretended to be black, saying, "I think she was a bit of a hero, because she kind of flipped on society a little bit. Is it such a horrible thing that she pretended to be black? Black is a great thing, and I think she legit changed people's perspective a bit and woke people up."

Rihanna lives in downtown New York City, which she says she loves, and L.A., where she had to find a house with enough bedrooms to turn into closets for her ever expanding wardrobe. Some of the most photographed garments from that wardrobe include a blue fur jacket, a green fur coat, a coat with the Rolling Stones tongue logo on the back, a tuxedo jacket worn with nothing else, fluffy bedroom slippers worn in public, the gorgeous red Azzedine Alaïa dress she wore to the 2013 Grammys, the pink strapless Giambattista Valli gown she wore to the 2015 Grammys, the chic lavender Dior suit worn to the launch of the Tidal streaming service, and, of course, the embroidered, fur-trimmed, yellow satin Guo Pei-designed extravaganza at this past spring's Met Ball-where she stole the show and appeared above the fold on the front page of the next day's New York Times. It was typical of how Rihanna likes to mix things up; she accepted her C.F.D.A. award wearing a semi-nude, sheer gown covered with sparkly Swarovski crystals. "I wanted to wear something that looked like it was floating on me," she recalls. "But after that, I thought, O.K., we can't do this again for a while. No nipples, no sexy shit, or it's going to be like a gimmick. That night [at the C.F.D.A. awards] was like a last hurrah; I decided to take a little break from that and wear clothes."

The same attitude extends to her music. She has recorded everything from the beautiful ballad "Stay" to the reggae/rock-inspired anthem "Rude Boy." Her new, much-anticipated album-her first in more than three years (which, as we spoke, she was still working on)-has taken a while because, says Jay Z, "she wants it to be perfect." One of the songs on it, the hypnotic "American Oxygen," was released accompanied by a moving video with images of Martin Luther King Jr., the Black Power salute at the 1968 Olympics, J.F.K. Jr. saluting his father's coffin, Muhammad Ali, immigrants, ghettos, rocket launches, and more. Then there's the 180-degree turn that was the single-the vengeful and humorous "Bitch Better Have My Money" -in which, Rihanna says, she plays a character but which is also a song about female empowerment. In the music business, Rihanna is a powerful woman; she recently made a deal to own all of her past and future master recordings, and from now on she'll release her music through her company, Westbury Road. Says Jay Z, "What took me 15 or 20 years to get has taken her 10, and will take the next person 5 years. It's great to be able to help fight that fight."

While many people describe Rihanna as "fearless," Jay Z says he sees her more as "fiery." What Rihanna herself fears-aside from "haunted shit" and childbirth (even though she says she wants a child "so bad ... eventually")-is the pedestal that comes with fame. "It all looks very glittery and blinged out," she says, "but it's way too scary and unrealistic. There's a long way to fall when you pretend that you're so far away from the earth, far away from reality, floating in a bubble that's protected by fame or success. It's scary, and it's the thing I fear the most: to be swallowed up by that bubble. It can be poison to you, fame."

So, even though she is more accessible-and polite-to her fans than some stars who pretend to be, she says her everyday conversations with her friends center on: how normal a life can she actually have? I mention that Eminem once told me he would trade a lot of his fame just to be able to go to the mall, and she exclaims, "Dude! Oh my God-this is scary and sad all at the same time. I literally dream about buying my own groceries." Come on, I say. "Swear to God. Because it is something that is real and normal. Something that can keep you a little bit uncomfortable." Uncomfortable? "A hundred percent. Because life is not perfect, and the minute you feel it's perfect, it's not real. Artists sign a deal to make music; we didn't sign to be perfect, or to be role models. We're all flawed human beings who are learning and growing and evolving and going through the same bullshit as everybody else. The fact that people expect the day we sign we're supposed to be perfect does not make any fucking sense to me. Even tragedy, every trial in your life, is a test. It's like a class-you take an exam, and if you pass, you move on to the next. You still have to take another test and prove yourself again."

And, having been through drama, dysfunctional relationships, and all those tests, when it comes to her personal life, Rihanna says that for now "I'm fine being with myself. I don't want to really let anybody in. I've got too much on my plate, and I'm not even worried about it." I say it will take a very special person to share her life. "A hundred percent," she says. "A very extraordinary gentleman, with a lot of patience, will come along when I least expect it. And I don't want it right now. I can't really be everything for someone. This is my reality right now." So one day, I say, someone will come in on a white horse ... "No," she says, laughing. "Not on a white horse. Probably on a black motorcycle."
Correction: As originally published, this article misstated Rihanna's place of birth. It is Bridgetown, Barbados. The piece has also been updated to more accurately reflect the period during which her fans began referring to themselves as her "navy."
Related: The Styling Secrets of Our Rihanna Cover Shoot in Cuba

Get Vanity Fair's Cocktail Hour

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Rihanna is firmly in control of her life and career-but not of her image, which has veered between club-hopping temptress and poster child for victims of domestic abuse. As the 27-year-old readies her long-awaited new album, she talks candidly about the chasm between her reality and her reputation.

# data[].attributes.body
Applauded for speaking out about her experience as it will elevate discourse for issues of domestic violence and shows that it can happen to anyone. Feeds the notion that Rihanna is a relateable figure with 'real life' problems who can overcome them and still be successful.

Magazine Article, 2015

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Indeed she does. Blamed and then punished. Why did she stay? Why did she go back? How could she be so stupid?

In Rihanna's case, she was punished not only for being a victim of domestic violence and then for returning to the perpetrator (she and Brown initially got back together), but also for being famous - as the incident was mentioned and imbued with meaning again and again by commentators.

So it's with some bravery that she's spoken to Vanity Fair. It will genuinely help elevate the debate around domestic violence and will help women all over the world.

"I just never understood that, like how the victim gets punished over and over. It's in the past, and I don't want to say 'Get over it,' because it's a very serious thing that is still relevant; it's still real," she said.

"A lot of women, a lot of young girls, are still going through it. A lot of young boys too. It's not a subject to sweep under the rug, so I can't just dismiss it like it wasn't anything, or I don't take it seriously.

"But, for me, and anyone who's been a victim of domestic abuse, nobody wants to even remember it. Nobody even wants to admit it. So to talk about it and say it once, much less 200 times, is like ... I have to be punished for it? It didn't sit well with me."

Rihanna should be commended for her honesty, her courage and the considerable insight she has shown. She is not, as she said, a "poster girl" for domestic abuse. She has survived it.

At the heart of Rihanna's latest comments lies the issue of choice. Domestic violence is a choice that men make about the power and privilege they assume, and the way they use it. Yet so often it is framed as a choice the victim makes: that she chooses violence by not leaving, by falling in love, by giving him a second chance, by not wanting to be on her own.

This is internalised by women: as Rihanna said, she thought she could be Brown's "guardian angel". She felt it was her responsibility to fix him - a responsibility that every victim of domestic abuse is told by the world must be hers to bear.

Excuses are always made for men's violence. We saw it with Chris Brown. We saw it with Floyd Mayweather. How can women ever move on from abusive men in a culture that tells them the man is not really, truly at fault? How will we change men's behaviour if we refuse to hold them accountable?

We blame women for staying or returning, when they are surrounded by a culture that defines their happiness as dependent on being part of a relationship, pities them when they are single, demands - and gets - huge sacrifices from mothers.

For celebrities this is magnified many times. Every action is scrutinised and becomes grist to the mill that continuously grinds out the expectations that frame ordinary women's lives.

"I was that girl, the girl who felt that as much pain as this relationship is, maybe some people are built stronger than others. Maybe I'm one of those people built to handle s**t like this," the singer admitted, adding that it was her 'willingness' to accept Brown's behaviour that eventually made her realise he'd never truly respect her.

Rihanna is under no obligation to react to the abuse she suffered in any particular way. And in welcoming the way she has now spoken out, I make no suggestion that she 'should' have done so. But I'm very glad she did.

Victim blaming is lethally dangerous. It stops women from seeking help, it clouds professional judgements, it excuses perpetrators, it encourages the cycle of abuse.

Rihanna, I applaud you.

Rihanna talks to Oprah about Chris Brown in 2012:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rihanna's brave domestic violence interview is a triumph for women

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Indeed she does. Blamed and then punished. Why did she stay? Why did she go back? How could she be so stupid? In Rihanna's case, she was punished not only for being a victim of domestic violence and then for returning to the perpetrator (she and Brown initially got back together), but also for being famous - as the incident was mentioned and imbued with meaning again and again by commentators.

# data[].attributes.body
Multi-industry influence and she can be described as a "cultural influence" due to her Carribbean roots and distinctive singing style.

Magazine Article, 2018

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Yes, RiRi is often given props for her status as a cultural influencer. What sometimes gets lost in the conversation surrounding her is the singer's historic impact on the world of pop music. In addition to all of the above, she's not just a chart-topper - Rihanna is a music icon. Since being discovered by Jay-Z in Barbados in 2005, Robyn "Rihanna" Fenty has racked up nine Grammy Awards, over a dozen American Music Awards, and an MTV Music Video Vanguard Award, to name just a few of her accolades. She's had seven certified platinum albums and released 71 (!) singles, 14 of those hitting number one on the Billboard charts, making her the youngest and fastest solo artist to ever hit that number. In fact, there was a period in her career where Rihanna was releasing a studio album every single year, a habit that only stopped in 2012 when she was finally able to take more artistic control over her distribution schedule.

But perhaps most impressive of all? Rihanna has achieved all of the above before turning 30, a milestone she hits on 20th February. And that in itself is something to be celebrated.

Musically, the Barbados-born singer is often criticised, accused of not actually being a talented singer because of her very specific voice, which is not quite standard powerhouse, but more ambient, growling, and breathy at the same time. But that's nothing new to the music industry; just look at everyone from Janet Jackson to Britney Spears. Rihanna's voice might not be the most classically impressive, but it is one of the most versatile of our generation. She can lend vocals to a bass-pumping house hit, a mumbled Caribbean dancehall mix, or a tear-filled, wailing ballad best consumed with a side of whiskey, and it's almost guaranteed to climb the charts. Part of her longevity since she released her first album, Music Of The Sun, is thanks to that unmistakable voice, multifaceted and adaptable enough to glide as easily through that tropical debut album as it roars over the guitar riffs of Rated R. Chris Martin once famously compared her voice to a "beautifully squeezed tube of toothpaste...this whole, rich thing, solid like a tree trunk." And if you listen closely to the radio, influences of Rihanna's vocal styling can be heard in everyone from Sia to Lorde to any bass-pumping club-house hit featuring a lesser-known female singer.

It was Rihanna, in fact, who started the trend of female vocalists pairing up with house DJ Calvin Harris. The 2011 single "We Found Love" on Rihanna's album Talk That Talk was the DJ's first number one Billboard hit, helping skyrocket him into a household name in America and sparking a slew of other catchy radio hits featuring female vocalists. Harris admitted that the collaboration was "different sounding" for the time, but it worked: He'd later go on to create hit singles with the likes of Ellie Goulding, Florence Welch, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, and Kehlani. He's also since said that he loves working with female vocalists because their voices are "at the perfect frequency to play in a club." Still, in the U.S., some of the Harris's most successful singles were the ones with Rih, including "Where Have You Been" and "This Is What You Came For." And one of his other chart toppers, "How Deep Is Your Love" - featuring the vocals of Norwegian singer Ina Wroldsen - sounds like the sibling of a Rihanna-Calvin collaboration.

The music industry can also thank the now 30-year-old for bringing island vibes to the mainstream, particularly recently. Several Caribbean-born artists have managed to break onto the charts over the years, from Shaggy to Sean Paul. And every so often, a reggae-tinged song - think Magic!'s "Rude" in 2014 and OMI's "Cheerleader" in 2015 - will explode everywhere as unexpected summertime hits. But since her debut with "Pon de Replay," Rihanna has consistently released projects representing her Bajan roots (including "Rude Boy," "Man Down," "What's My Name"). Her biggest island-infused success, though, was 2016's "Work," which broke the then-record for most streams in one week at 2.056 million. That song also achieved what many before hadn't: Instead of remaining a singular outlier, "Work" made dancehall sounds a mainstay in pop music, in the form of Justin Bieber's "Sorry," Major Lazer's "Lean On," and a resurgence of reggaeton on the American music scene (hello, "Despacito"). And while rapper Drake has credited the Caribbean tunes of his album Views and mixtape More Life to the West Indian communities he grew up around in Toronto, Canada, it's possible those projects may not have found such success had the hits of his rumoured ex not preceded them. Would there be a "One Dance" or "Controlla" without "Work?"

Rihanna has also set the stage for Black female artists post-early aughts to be unapologetically carefree with their music, in a way we hadn't seen in mainstream music since Sade and Janet Jackson in the '80s and Lil' Kim, Erykah Badu, and Aaliyah in the 90s. Since she first emerged as a polished product of the music industry, Rihanna slowly blossomed into a woman with swaggering bravado who is equal parts fearless, sexual, and confident. This appeared in yes, her performances; her show at the 2015 iHeart Radio Awards in a Lil' Kim-reminiscent look belting out the lyrics to "Bitch Better Have My Money" is one of her most memorable (and has nearly 69 million views on YouTube).

The messages in her music, though, are what have been the most boundary-pushing. Rihanna has only co-written many of her songs, so she's not necessarily a lyricist. But she hasn't shied away from radical lyrics since her first foray into edgier music with 2009's Rated R, which featured the formerly PG-13-friendly singer delivering songs like "Russian Roulette," "Rockstar 101," and "Te Amo," about a tryst with a female lover. Next was 2010's Loud, which had the Bob Marley-inspired "Man Down" about a fictional murder; 2011's album Talk That Talk included "Cockiness" with the mandate "Suck my cockiness/lick my persuasion/eat my words/and then swallow your pride, down, down." In her lyrics, performances, and music videos, Rihanna has been a champion of swapping the stereotypical gender roles Black female pop stars are often boxed into. That swagger-filled, sex-positive branding only further widened the door previously opened by the likes of Jackson for current artists like Kehlani, who now dips between music genres and often rocks gender-bending clothing, and R&B singer SZA, who's currently burning up the charts with a barely-care aesthetic and raw, honest lyrics.

And then there's Anti. RiRi's eighth studio album was a game changer. After consistently releasing album after album, Anti was deliberate, long-delayed and without any obvious radio hits, a major risk for a star of her status. Instead of following the house pop formula that had birthed some of her most recent smashes, it was instead completely experimental in sound, a kaleidoscopic blend of R&B, rock, and hip-hop, with one song, "Higher," featuring wailing vocals so raw, listeners can never be sure whether to cringe or cry from sadness. The New York Times called it "the record you make when you don't need to sell albums." But its ethos was a relatable soundtrack for women, particularly Black women. With Anti, Rihanna gave her listeners encouragement to be as comfortable flipping their exes the middle finger with "Needed Me" as they are revelling in oral sex (thanks, "Kiss It Better"). It was, surprisingly and unfortunately, snubbed by the Grammys last year, overshadowed by Beyonce's Lemonade - a reminder that the awards show does not offer room for more than one Black woman to shine. Still, Grammys aside, the 13-track, idiosyncratic album was a critical and commercial success; just this week, it broke the record previously held by Katy Perry's Teenage Dream for most number one dance club songs from one album.

There is something to be said, though, about Rihanna's impact on fashion and beauty and the way that therefore intersects with her music. Last year, Vevo released a study that revealed that the looks showcased by stars like Rihanna in music videos - among others, like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift - heavily influences fashion and beauty trends. And for all of her impact on the music industry, Rih is a change making influencer across all industries - a quintuple threat as a music artist, clothing designer, beauty maven, actress, and philanthropist. She's been outspoken about education since being named an ambassador to the Global Partnership for Education last year, helping them raise 2.3 billion dollars earlier this month at the Global Citizen conference in Senegal, a move that will no doubt inspire other artists to become more internationally involved. And in between it all, this June, Rihanna will star in the all-female cast of Ocean's 8, which she somehow managed to film in her spare time.

There is a popular Pinterest quote that's been plastered across mugs and t-shirts and Instagrams millions of times that reads "You have the same 24 hours in a day as Beyoncé." But Rihanna should be an equally motivating tour de force for all of us, a woman who has never been afraid of taking on new adventures, musical experiments, and business ventures - and that was just as a 20-something. So happy 30th birthday to a woman who has already built a historic career on just being herself: fuck-free. I'll always be watching closely to see which piece of Fenty Beauty I need in my cabinet next (right now, more Trophy Wife) or what over-the-top fashion trend I should try next. But above all else, I'm most excited to hear what's next from you. Until then, I'll just keep the eight albums you gifted us before 30 on repeat.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How 30-Year-Old Rihanna Changed The Music Industry

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Yes, RiRi is often given props for her status as a cultural influencer. What sometimes gets lost in the conversation surrounding her is the singer's historic impact on the world of pop music. In addition to all of the above, she's not just a chart-topper - Rihanna is a music icon.

# data[].attributes.body
Made an Ambassador of Barbados as it was recognised how much she has helped improved education, health and tourism for the island.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Rihanna has been given a new ambassadorial role by the government of Barbados, which will see her promote education, tourism and investment.

The artist, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, said she "couldn't be more proud" after being named "ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary" on Thursday 19 September.

"Every Barbadian is going to have to play their role in this current effort, and I'm ready and excited to take on the responsibility," she said. "I look forward to working with Prime Minister Mottley and her team to reimagine Barbados."

Rihanna is one of the best-selling singers of all time, with 250 million records sold around the world. Born in Saint Michael in Barbados, she grew up in Bridgetown until being discovered as a teenager by an American record producer, who helped her break into the US charts.

She has also enjoyed success as an actor and fashion designer. She launched a makeup collection last year, Fenty Beauty, that was praised for its diverse range, and she released a new lingerie collection earlier this month.

She recently confirmed to fans that she has been working on a new album, which is said to be heavily reggae inspired.

Last year a street she used to live on was renamed Rihanna Drive in her honour.

"Rihanna has a deep love for this country and this is reflected in her philanthropy, especially in the areas of health and education," Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said in a statement.

"She also shows her patriotism in the way she gives back to this country and continues to treasure the island as her home.

"She has also demonstrated, beyond her success as a pop icon, significant creative acumen and shrewdness in business. It is therefore fitting that we engage and empower her to play a more definitive role as we work to transform Barbados."

The best in film, music, TV & radio straight to your inbox

The best in film, music, TV & radio straight to your inbox

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rihanna 'proud' to accept new Barbados ambassador role

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Rihanna has been given a new ambassadorial role by the government of Barbados, which will see her promote education, tourism and investment. The artist, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, said she "couldn't be more proud" after being named "ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary" on Thursday 19 September.

# data[].attributes.body
Happy and successful couple at the 2013 Grammys.

# data[].attributes.body
Chris Brown after an alleged fight with Drake and Rihanna after the Brown assault. Representation of both Chris Brown and Rihanna as victims, but Rihanna is clearly more severly effected.

# data[].attributes.body
Relationships are extensively scutinised and detailed for everyone to have an opinion on.

Magazine Article, 2012-2013

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
They were teenage sweethearts before Chris Brown viciously attacked Rihanna, leaving her face beaten and bruised.

The world might not be ready to forgive Chris for his actions - but Rihanna has openly sent him messages of support and shown public displays of affection fuelling rumours they are back together.

And following the picture of the dysfunctional couple cuddling up together on a night out, here's a complete timeline of their relationship from the first time they met in 2005 to rekindling their relationship in 2012.

Rihanna and Chris Brown: The complete timeline

2005: Ladies and gentleman, pay attention because this is where it all began. It's the first time Rihanna and Chris Brown were seen together under the bright lights of paparazzi camera bulbs and it happened at the Vibe Awards. Rihanna, then 17, introduced Chris, then 16, to the stage for him to perform his song Run It. It was pretty awkward to watch and everyone looked really young.

2006: There wasn't a great amount of picture evidence of them together this year but it was reported that during the Nickleodeon Kids Choice Awards they were hanging out and flirting like crazy. What else are teenagers supposed to do, huh?

May 2007: They were eventually pictured together later in the year celebrating Chris' 18 birthday at the 40/40 Club - which is a properly swanky party place in Manhattan.

Summer 2007: Chris and Rihanna haven't been seen snogging or holding hands in public but they did the musical equivalent when they collaborated on a remix of Ri-Ri's single Umbrella.

September 2007: Chris announced that his relationship status was "single and ready to mingle" - which we thought was a phrase only printed on tacky t-shirts or what Imogen Thomas would tweet before she settled down.

He did tell Us Magazine that his just mates with Rihanna and sure, they've flirted together but haven't taken things to the next level. So, at this point there still hasn't been any hanky panky or over/under top action.

October 2007: Rihanna is linked to Josh Hartnett by a few US gossip websites. STOP, it's too late to talk about what could have been...

March 2008: Chris and Rihanna went out of their way to deny that they aren't dating and using every interview to boast about how single they are - and probably how much mingling they've been doing. At the Kids Choice Awards, Rihanna stresses that they're more like brother and sister than boyfriend and girlfriend. WHAT A CLASSIC.

She told MTV News: "We are best friends, honestly, like brother and sister."

May 2008: The 'siblings' are spotted doing various couply-things such as canoodling, swimming and holidays together. Eventually Chris admits they're taking their relationship to the next level. "Our relationship is growing. We started off as friends and we're getting a little bit closer now," he said.

June 2008: Not so fast, Chris! Rihanna has completely embarrassed you and denied the pair were dating during an appearance on The View. She claimed: "He's an amazing person, but we are not dating. We're very close friends though. Very, very close." Sometime during 2008, the couple gave up pretending and revealed they were together to the shock of absolutely no-one.

July 2008: Chris Brown reportedly told Rihanna to stop wearing revealing outfits because he's worried it will attract too many male admirers. We're pretty sure that's what happens if you date one of the hottest women in the world.

February 2009: Rihanna and Chris Brown cancel their Grammy performances after reportedly being in a car accident. Following the incident, Chris turned himself in to the LAPD for questioning regarding charges of a felony (that's criminal offence to us British types). At the time, the woman was unnamed but it was later revealed by TMZ to be Rihanna.

Chris was released on $50k bail and skipped a prison sentence by accepting 180 hours of community service. Oh, and Chris was given a restraining order from the court which means he isn't allowed to contact Rihanna under any circumstances.

July 2009: After five months of silence, Chris speaks out and finally says sorry. It's through a YouTube video which you can watch below.

Late 2009: Rihanna doesn't like to talk about her post-attack recovery which is believed to have included a brief romance with rapper Drake. It was so brief in fact, that nobody really knows when it started and when it fizzled out.

2010: Rihanna spoke about her time with Drake to MTV, she admits: "It was at a really fragile time in my life, so I just didn't want to get too serious with anything or anyone at that time." Probably the best thing to come out of their romance was the absolute tune they made together, What's My Name, and the corresponding music video. The worst bit? Well, that's still to come...

Late 2010: Rihanna moves on to a new flame, this time it's NBA star Matt Kemp. In Elle magazine she refers to him as a breath of fresh air. She says: "I have a boyfriend. I'm so happy. I feel really comfortable and it's so easy. I have such a chaotic life but at the end of the day, that is just my peace. It keeps me sane, really, talking to him and talking to my family. Sadly, they began to lose interest in each other and blamed their ridiculously busy schedules on the split.

January 2011: Us Weekly runs a report claiming that Rihanna and Chris are secretly dating but a rep for 'Breezy' denied the pair were romantically involved, again.

Feb 2011: During a court hearing in LA, a judge replaced Rihanna's previous restraining order with a level one order. Which basically means that the ex-couple can talk to each other providing that this doesn't "harass, annoy or molest" her. Rihanna didn't attend the verdict but her attorney went on her behalf.

March 2011: It probably isn't the best way to show the world you're rehabilitated from attacking your girlfriend, but nonetheless Chris full on kicked off on Good Morning America when asked about Rihanna. According to a number of US magazine, his explosive tantrum involved swearing, breaking things and storming off despite pre-agreeing to questions. After the incident, he tweeted: ' I don't say s**t to anybody and everyone feels its cool to attack me. GROWN ADULTS!!!! that s**t happened three years ago! I know alot of you wack @ss(OLD) celebrities probably wanna f**k my ex but talking s**t on me wont get u far. MY MUSIC DOESNT PROMOTE VIOLENCE nor will it ever! only thing it will increase is the pregnacy rate!' Um... yeah. Moving on, shall we?

May 2011: This is pretty massive if you think about it - even though it might not have been such a big deal a year ago. Chris and Rihanna begin following each other on Twitter. GASP. Users on the social networking site started to notice and fans of Ri-Ri began sending her messages or caution and concern - Rihanna replied: 'It's f****n' Twitter... calm down.'

February 2012: Exactly three years after the assault, Chris is invited back to the Grammys and won Best R&B Album before performing some new music. Quite a lot of people argued that the awards show's embrace of the controversial singer was tasteless and disgraceful. Buzzfeed posted a reaction from fans which included: 'Chris Brown could beat me anytime he wanted to,' which raised concern about Chris' involvement. In reaction to the criticism, Chris tweeted (and sorry about the caps lock): 'HATE ALL U WANT BECUZ I GOT A GRAMMY Now! That's the ultimate F**K OFF.' Charming, eh?

February 2012: Rihanna was fairly cryptic in her response to the drama and posted lyrics from her own song 'Hard'. It read: "They can say whatever, Ima do whatever... No pain is forever. Yup! YOU KNOW THIS."

February 2012: It was certainly a busy month for the pair and Chris reportedly attended Rihanna's 24 birthday party. But what surprised us most was when they released remixes lending their voices to each other's songs Rihanna sings on Chris' 'Turn Up The Music' while he gives vocals on Rihanna's track 'Birthday Cake'.

June 10: The New York Post reported that Rihanna and Chris "sat together" at their celeb mate Jay-Z's 40/40 party. A few eyebrows were raised and not least because Chris' alleged girlfriend, Karrueche Tran, was not at the party. According to number of witnesses Chris and Rihanna also visited a nightclub together the same weekend.

June 14: Can you stretch your mind back to 2010 when we told you the worst bit with Drake was still to come for Chris? Well, this is it. The pair were allegedly involved in an altercation at the WIP nightclub in New York. Chris posted a picture of his gashed chin on Twitter and his attorney claims that Drake "threw glassware".

There's not been an official comment surrounding the details of the brawl but it's rumoured that Chris sent his rival a bottle of champagne as a peace deal - which Drake returned with a note referencing his sexual history with Rihanna. Ouch. A source close to Rihanna told HollywoodLife that she was "distraught" over the altercation. The insider added: "She clearly doesn't want anyone fighting and especially not over her."

July: Rihanna spoke about how hard she finds it to let people in after having her heart stomped on before. Talking to US Harper's Bazaar magazine, the 24-year-old said, "I'm rebellious through my music, my fashion, tattoos and my hair. I have been conservative in my love life...it's pretty much nonexistent. If I come across someone who I find really cool, I'll hang out. But the minute I find that we're getting too close I just...I don't let people in."

July 24: Chris and Rihanna are both seen in St.Tropez at the same time. While some gossip sites claimed that Chris was spotted on Rihanna's yacht, a rep denied the allegations and said it was a coincidence they were in the same place at the same time. "CB is in France to shoot a music video for Swizz Beatz album and Ludacris is in it. It's Swizz's song," a person paid to speak on his behalf told X17Online.

And despite rumours that Chris and his girlfriend Karrueche who looks ridiculously like Rihanna have split up, the inside says otherwise. "Karrueche is there with him...They never broke up. He is not on her (Rihanna's) yacht. There is no Rihanna connection."

And Rihanna's Tweets over the last couple of days haven't exactly helped. Just as Chris landed: "Touch down baby, help me pick out my fit / Don't let company choose you... CHOOSE YOUR COMPANY! / Love is the easy part... Respect? Now that's some impressive s**t!!! #1Love / I wanna dance with somebody who loves me." But the post that makes us shudder most is this: "#3words lastnight was beautiful."

August 11: "It was embarrassing. It was humiliating. I lost my best friend," Rihanna tells Oprah on the show. And she also says that things got pretty 'dark' following the assault, which happened on the eve of the Grammy Awards in 2009. "I was resentful. I held a grudge. I was dark," she confesses.

August 16: Rihanna admits she was "more concerned" about Chris Brown after he attacked her. She tells Oprah: "I felt like the only person they hate right now is him. It was a weird, confusing space to be in. Because as angry as I was - as angry and hurt and betrayed - I just felt like he made that mistake because he needed help. And who's going to help him? Nobody's going to say he needs help, everybody's going to say he's a monster, without looking at the source. And I was more concerned about him."

August 18: Rihanna's emotional interview with Oprah continues and the host admits she's surprised that Rihanna "talks a lot, a lot, a lot about you know who, Mr. Chris Brown." The popstar also admits to missing the man who has previously attacked her. "I am reminded by a lot of things. A lot of good memories we had. By the slightest things; hotel rooms, tour venues, any little thing, music, songs, and I do miss him at times."

August 20: In the biggest sign of forgiveness, Rihanna tells Oprah she still loves Chris and he's the love of her life. "We built a trust again and that's it. We love each other and we probably always will." She told continued and struggled to get her words out while crying, "We've been working on our friendship again and now we're very close friends," she said.

"And that's not anything we're going to try to change. It's awkward because I still love him. My stomach drops and I have to maintain this poker face and not let it get to the outer part of me. I have to maintain it and suppress it. When you don't understand those feelings you can make a lot of mistakes."

Chris is now with model Karrueche Tran and Rihanna acknowledged their relationship but still said: "I think he is the love of my life. He was my first love." We have a bad feeling about the way this could end up.

September 7: When Rihanna left the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards - after scooping a gong for video of the year - she spotted Chris from across the room. She walked over and hugged him before patting Chris on his bleach-blonde head before strolling off in complete calmness. In one picture, it appears to show Rihanna kissing Chris on the lips. She might have thought that the cameras had cut away from her as the broadcast began to show the next segment of the two-hour ceremony, but the embrace was caught by 'all access' filming.

September 11: Woah, what's going on here? Chris Brown's got a new tattoo that appears to resemble a sick tribute to Rihanna's bruises after he attacked her. It left everyone speechless as to why on earth he would ever get this image permanently inked on his neck, but Chris has since denied the tattoo is a recreation of Rihanna's injuries. His rep said the ink was inspired by a MAC cosmetics design of a skull associated with the Mexican celebration of the Day of the Dead.

September 12: You would have thought Rihanna would distance herself somewhat from her ex after the tattoo scandal but instead she made another sign of unity. This time she copied Chris' style by wearing a gold mouth guard over her teeth.

September 15: They continue to communicate with ink. This time Chris decides to get an almost identical looking tattoo to Rihanna. See for yourself...

September 25: Ahead of a progress report hearing which was to determine whether Chris had violated the terms of his probation for the 2009 beating of Rihanna, she tweeted him messages of support. Weird. Yet not only did Rihanna get in touch with Chris before the court appearance, she did it for everyone to see over Twitter.

She wrote: 'I'm praying for you and wishing u the best today!' And Chris responded: 'Thank u so much.' Not content with that, Rihanna then tapped out another tweet, which read: 'Praying for you baby, my best wishes are with you today! Remember that whatever God does in our lives, it is WELL DONE!!! #1Love'

September 27: We're going to launch right into this one: Nicole Scherzinger was spotted putting her lips on what looks a lot like Chris Brown's lips and then doing some kind of standing-up-spooning and we don't know what's going on but we're 97% certain that we don't like it. The pair were helping to host the Supperclub's Black Diamond Pyramid party in LA, when an insider claims she saw them making out in front of the whole room.

The gossip equivalent of Sherlock Holmes said: "She put her head on his shoulder and they started kissing! I couldn't believe Chris was being so obvious about it!" Chris Brown's rep denied it, of course, saying: "They were not kissing. They are friends, have been for years and were talking at a club that had loud music playing."

October 4: TMZ are reporting that both Rihanna and Chris were seen leaving the same hotel before they spent the night together at a Jay-Z concert. They were pictured next to each other in the VIP section watching their celeb mate doing a bit of rapping. It doesn't show anything saucy or really intimate that would all but confirm they are back together but Chris DOES have his arm around Rihanna. Or her chair at least. We all know that this is the first phase of making a move, right? In the middle of all this drama, Chris' 'current' girlfriend Karrueche tweeted: 'Bye baby'.

October 4: Chris Brown has officially broken up with his girlfriend Karrueche Tran after she grew tired of his cavorting with his ex Rihanna. He released a statement saying: "I have decided to be single to focus on my career. I love Karrueche very much but I don't want to see her hurt over my friendship with Rihanna. I'd rather be single allowing us to both be happy in our lives."

October 5: And it still develops...Chris has released an emotional video where he talks about their relationship. He says: "When you share history with somebody, then you tend to fall in love with somebody else, it's kind of difficult. That's right, it's difficult - and poor Chris, because he's "just being real" and he "don't want to hurt either or."Oh yes, it carries on..."I'm not trying to be a player, I just care too much sometimes." click here for Chris's video on their relationship.

October 9: Rihanna's dad has given Chris his blessing. "I think everyone makes mistakes and they shouldn't be held to them forever. Everyone should be forgiven once. There's a lot more to Chris than the whole world knows," he told InTouch magazine. "I love Chris, man. He's got so much charisma. And he's always had so much respect for me. That's what I love about him. He's always shown me respect."

October 14: Rihanna and Chris are ready to make their relationship public, according to HollywoodLife, but Ri-Ri's got to finish her album Unapologetic first. A source told US gossip site HollywoodLife: "She is hitting the studio real hard these days, but talks to Chris every step of the way. As soon as she finishes up with this album, they will be out. She gotta focus and get that album together and stay paid."

October 22: A video taken from a mole inside a Beverly Hills party shows Rihanna looking comfortable with Chris while an onlooker told HollywoodLife: "They kissed a few times and were holding hands for a minute. He made sure he claimed her and made her feel comfortable. "He was a gentleman - don't worry. He made sure he was by her side the whole night just like when they first met back in the day."

October 23: Chris Brown's life is becoming more complicated than Lindsay Lohan's at the moment - we're struggling to keep up. Just as we thought that ex-girlfriend Karrueche was out of the picture - he's been spotted hanging out with her again. She was snapped leaving Chris' mansion and getting a few quid (bucks) off his bodyguard for petrol (gas).

November 2: After a court hearing, it was decided that Chris Brown remains under supervision for the 2009 assault on Rihanna and was given permission to go on a world tour by the judge. He was told he must return to court for a progress report when he finishes the tour.

November 7: A sneak peak of Rihanna's new album was posted online and it features a collaboration with Chris Brown - the album is called Unapologetic and you can listen to that over here.

November 9: Rihanna denies being back together with Chris Brown but admits he's "kinda alright". When asked if they were back together during a Facebook Live interview, she revealed: "We're not together. If I had it my way, it would be really nobody's business."

November 23: She hinted at plans to hook up with Chris Brown when she posted a picture of herself on-board a private jet with the caption 'see you soon, lover'. And Rihanna made the not-so-subtle hint and made the decision to spend Thanksgiving partying with Chris.

November 26: Chris Brown has deleted his Twitter account following a disgusting attack on a woman who hit out at the star over his violent past. He had been having a pretty good day, with Rihanna tweeting a snap of him in bed - essentially confirming their romance. But when someone responded to another of his tweets in a negative manner, it's safe to say the singer lost it. Like, really lost it. See what he said here.

November 30: She posted this picture (below) on her Instagram page with the caption: "[Chris] i dont wanna leave!!! Killed it tonight baby!!!" After just two hours of being online, the photo received more than 200k 'likes'. And if this cuddly snapshot wasn't enough to spark controversy, she posted another photo with the phrase: "Home is where the c*ck is."

For all the very latest on Rihanna and Chris Brown, head here.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A complete timeline of Rihanna and Chris Brown's relationship

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
They were teenage sweethearts before Chris Brown viciously attacked Rihanna, leaving her face beaten and bruised. The world might not be ready to forgive Chris for his actions - but Rihanna has openly sent him messages of support and shown public displays of affection fuelling rumours they are back together.

# data[].attributes.body
Her relationships with other popular male stars are looked in to and extensively mapped out for audiences to speculate over.

Magazine Article, 2016

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
While Hiddleswift may have dominated headlines with their recent summer romance, we have our eye on another famous pairing: Drake and Rihanna. After releasing two hit duets earlier this year, Drizzy and RiRi have been spotted out on the town in Europe, and, of course, dancing together onstage during several of major awards shows. Expectedly, rumors of a romance between the two have once again started percolating. Yet neither of them have ever confirmed they are indeed together. (Rihanna has always insisted they're just friends, while Drake has spoken about a brief fling in the past that ended in heartbreak.) For those who are not well versed in the "it's complicated" love story between Riri and Drake, here, a comprehensive timeline.

June 2010
In his first studio album, Thank Me Later, Drake releases a song called "Fireworks," which alludes to his brief dalliance with Riri. "I can tell it wasn't love, I just thought you'd fuck with me / Who coulda predicted Lucky Strike would have you stuck with me / Damn, I kept my wits about me, luckily what happened between us that night / It always seems to trouble me, now all of a sudden those gossip blogs want to cover me." In the same month, Drake admits in an interview with the New York Times that he felt like Rihanna used him as a pawn. "You know what she was doing to me? She was doing exactly what I've done to so many women throughout my life, which is show them quality time, then disappear."

October 2010
Rihanna continues to play with Drake's emotions in their first duet, "What's My Name?" A month later, the two put out a music video for the track, which shows them eating takeout and drinking white wine at home.

February 2011
The two put their chemistry on full display at the 2011 Grammys awards with a performance of "What's My Name?," which marks the beginning of their long history grinding onstage together. A week later, they meet again onstage at the All-Star Game halftime performance. Rumors continue to swirl.

April 2012
Drake releases the music video for his song "Take Care," which again features the rapper and Rihanna in an intimate embrace. The lyrics also seem to point to their undefined relationship: "Can't deny that I want you, but I'll lie if I have to / Cause you don't say you love me to your friends when they ask you / Even though we both know that you do . . . you do."

June 2012
During a night out at the W.i.P. club in New York, Rihanna's ex, Chris Brown, spots Drake and reportedly sent him a bottle of champagne as a peace offering, which Drake rejects. A fight ensued between their two entourages, and several people were injured during the bar brawl. In an interview with GQ a year later, Drake addresses the incident for the first time: "Two rappers fighting over a woman-he's not even a rapper, but still. It's the last way you want your name out there," he said. "It distracts from the music. But he's made me the enemy, and that's the way it's gonna stay, I guess."

September 2013
During an interview on Ellen, the daytime host plays a game with Drake, in which he talks about his many rumored celebrity romances. When a photo of Rihanna comes up on screen, a mortified Drake simply says: "Great girl. We had our moment."

Early 2014
After several sightings of the two of them partying in London and Los Angeles, relationship rumors are reignited. The two add fuel the fire after Drake appears to blow kisses to Rihanna during one of his shows in London and she steps out one day wearing his favorite Pigalle hoodie. Despite the mixed messages, this time it's Drake who insists that their relationship is simply platonic, even though he would like it to be more than that. "She's the ultimate fantasy. I mean, I think about it. Like, 'Man, that would be good.' We have fun together, she's cool and shit. But we're just friends. That's my dog for life."

January / February 2016
Days before Rihanna's much anticipated eighth studio album, Anti, drops, the singer releases "Work" featuring Drake, which quickly jumps to the top of the charts. A month later, they're back to their grinding ways with two back-to-back steamy music videos of the song.

March 2016
While onstage performing "Work" during an Anti tour stop in Miami, Drake gets friend-zoned in front of thousands of fans when he goes in for a kiss and Rihanna ducks away.

April 2016
Drake's album Views finally drops, and no surprise here, Rihanna appears on his Caribbean-tinged song "Too Good." The infectious dance track is essentially a plea from Drake for Riri to stop taking him for granted-and another excuse for both of them to continue to show up at each other's concerts.

June 2016
Drake pops up at Rihanna's show in Manchester for a cameo performance. During the concert he addresses the crowd to talk about his feelings regarding Riri. "Shout-out to the most beautiful, talented woman I've ever seen. She goes by the name of Rihanna. I'm getting my heart broken." Drizzy clearly hasn't learned his lesson.

August 2016
Even though she's been busy touring all over Europe this summer, Rihanna hopped on a plane over the weekend to perform at Drake's OVO music festival in Toronto on Sunday.
Even though she's been busy touring all over Europe this summer, Rihanna hopped on a plane to perform at Drake's OVO music festival in Toronto.

October 2016
Drake and Rihanna have reportedly called it quits or are rumored to be in an open relationship. According to E! News, the on-again-off-again couple started seeing other people after their busy schedules kept them apart. There are rumors that Drake has moved on with model and reality star India Love, after the two were spotted attending a Toronto Blue Jays game together last week. Meanwhile, Rihanna's recent Instagram post has fueled speculation that the summer's cutest music couple is definitely over. On Sunday, RiRi shared a photo with a caption that read: "None of my exes are married or in happy relationships, so it's safe to say that I wasn't da problem lol." Could this really be the end?
Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, and more of Rihanna's Navy pay tribute to "Work":
Save

Save

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Complete History of Drake and Rihanna Toying With Our Hearts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
While Hiddleswift may have dominated headlines with their recent summer romance, we have our eye on another famous pairing: Drake and Rihanna. After releasing two hit duets earlier this year, Drizzy and RiRi have been spotted out on the town in Europe, and, of course, dancing together onstage during several of major awards shows.

# data[].attributes.body
The coverage surrounding her relationship with Chris Brown is still continuous.

Magazine Article, 2018

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Months since Chris Brown publicly wished his ex Rihanna a happy birthday, the singer has ruffled more feathers by commenting not once, but twice on the actress, designer, singer and beauty mogul's Instagram posts.

To promote her lingerie line Savage x Fenty, the bajan posted some snaps of herself in stockings, long gloves and red knickers on a bed.

Almost ten years since Brown plead guilty to assaulting her, he commented with two wide-eyed, flush-faced emojis under one of the pictures.

Whilst many people supported Brown's flirty comments, others were outraged, taking to Twitter and Instagram to voice their anger.

After Brown plead guilty to a felony assault in 2009, and received community service, domestic violence counselling and five years of probation, the couple got back together in 2012 only to end their relationship finally in 2013.

In 2015 Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Fenty, gave an intimate interview about their relationship, detailing that she had asked the court to lift her restraining order against him to Vanity Fair.

'I was very protective of him,' the 30-year-old Ocean's 8 star explained, 'I felt that people didn't understand him. Even after... But you know, you realise after a while that in that situation you're the enemy.

'You want the best for them, but if you remind them of their failures, or if you remind them of bad moments in their life, or even if you say I'm willing to put up with something, they think less of you-because they know you don't deserve what they're going to give.'

Fenty added, 'I don't hate him. I will care about him until the day I die. We're not friends, but it's not like we're enemies. We don't have much of a relationship now.'
21st March 2018: Chris Brown Wished Rihanna A Happy Birthday Yesterday And The Internet Doesn't Know What To Think
Yesterday the internet was alight with the glory of Rihanna since it was the singer, actress, beauty mogul, designer and philanthropist's 30th birthday.

Our Instagram feeds were awash with inspirational images of the Bardadian babe clutching her oversized wine glasses and pinching those elegant blunts, and it was a better place for it.

Many of us took to our feeds to wish the Harvard University 2017 'Humanitarian of the Year' a happy 3-0, including singer Ciara and, notably, her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown.

Brown was found guilty of assault after he physically attacked his then-girlfriend Rihanna in a Lamborghini the night before the Grammys in 2009.

At the time, TMZ released the shocking image of the pop princess battered and bruised with a split lip and a black eye. Rihanna went on to describe the attack in a harrowing police report which you can read online, as well as an emotional interview with Diane Sawyer.

Since then there has been much debate about whether the now 28 year-old Brown should be publicly 'forgiven' for his act of domestic abuse.

Many have cited that Rihanna went back out with her abusive ex, suggesting that if she has 'gotten over it' so should the rest of us.

Others, however, point out that Brown has had a string of allegations against him. He's been accused of stealing a woman's phone, shoving a woman to the floor, forcibly ejecting a woman from his bus, punching a woman in the face in a Las Vegas night club and threatening a woman with a gun.

Yesterday the singer posted a snap of a young Robyn Fenty wishing her a happy birthday, but swiftly switched off the comments.

People instead took to Twitter to air their grievances with the 'Loyal' singer:

Others thought that the reaction against the artist was too extreme, and he should be able to give his ex-partner well wishes:

With TV shows such as Big Little Lies highlighting the insidious and damaging nature of domestic abuse, we wonder whether Brown would have had the same professional success if his attack had been in 2018, not 2009.

However, it wasn't and hopefully he has learnt something in the last ten years.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Chris Brown Keeps Commenting On Rihanna's Social Media And The Internet Isn't Having It

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Months since Chris Brown publicly wished his ex Rihanna a happy birthday, the singer has ruffled more feathers by commenting not once, but twice on the actress, designer, singer and beauty mogul's Instagram posts. To promote her lingerie line Savage x Fenty, the bajan posted some snaps of herself in stockings, long gloves and red knickers on a bed.

# data[].attributes.body
Rihanna's reputation as a victim and survivor but also as a woman who may have provoked the attack. Media, friends and family and parental firgures were all influential in shaping how both Rihanna and Chris Brown were interpreted in relation to this situation.

Reference: Annete Houlihan and Sharon D. Rayno (2014) "VICTIM, RISQUÉ, PROVOCATEUR: POPULAR CULTURAL NARRATIVES OF RIHANNA’S EXPERIENCE OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE" in Australian Feminist Studies, Vol. 29, No. 81, pp. 325–341.

# data[].attributes.body
Rihanna and Chris Brown's relationship was very public and was influential on young black girls in particular as how Rihanna dealt with the situation was scrutinised by all types of people and the media in different ways.

Reference: Dionne P. Stephens and Asia A. Eaton (2017) "Social Networks Influencing Black Girls’ Interpretations of Chris Brown’s Violence Against Rihanna" in  Journal of Black Psychology, Vol. 43(4) pp. 381-408.

# data[].attributes.body
Controversial feminist as a "she refuses to recite the expected survivor narrative, instead taking on the role of author in a violent narrative that arguably subverts culturally expected tropes of black woman as victim".

Reference: Debra Ferreday (2017) "Only the Bad Gyal could do this’: Rihanna, rape-revenge narratives and the cultural politics of white feminism" in Feminist Theory, Vol 18(3), pp. 263–280.

# data[].attributes.body
List of all her activist work.
Various different projects that she has worked on in order to support all different communities, such as her home in Barbados as well as for environmental issues, such as global warming.

Article, 2017

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A List Of All The Times Rihanna Has Been An Awesome Activist

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I have been a fan of many celebrities, some who have become one-hit-wonders and others who have shed light on their problematic ways. However, Rihanna a.k.a BadGalRiRi is someone that, over the course of my childhood and teenage years, I have continued to stan.

# data[].attributes.body
Fans can buy the look of Rihanna in her music videos through the Fenty Beauty website.

Brand Website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Always a stunna, Rihanna stole the show in DJ Khaled’s "Wild Thoughts" music video wearing…

# data[].attributes.body
Linked her beauty business with her activist work so that profits on some products are beneficial to both + the Foundation features on Fenty Beauty's homepage.

Brand Website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Clara Lionel Foundation | Fenty Beauty by Rihanna

# data[].attributes.body
Set up a foundation in her grandparents' name. Focuses on education and healthcare in impoverished communities.

Website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Clara Lionel Foundation, Rihanna’s charity, supports and funds education & climate change programs around the world.

# data[].attributes.body
Feminist as she is not afraid to speak out against body-shamers.

Magazine Article, 2017

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In case anyone forgot, pop's resident BadGal would like all of us to know that she isn't here to score hotness points with the Internet peanut gallery. Last week, Rihanna prompted a (now-unemployed) male blogger to declare that her purportedly fuller figure made her look like she was wearing a "sumo suit." Ridiculous as the ensuing 24-hour discussion of her body was, Rihanna's clap-back yesterday was the bro-slap heard around the world.

In the era of digital body shaming, female celebrities all too often find themselves in the position of explaining away perceived notions surrounding their weight gain or loss on social media. But in typical renegade fashion, Rihanna doubled down on her just-right size instead by posting before/after shots of rapper Gucci Mane that are ten years and a good 20 pounds apart on Instagram. The caption? "If you can't handle me at my 2007 Gucci Mane, you don't deserve me at my 2017 Gucci Mane."

By posting a picture of a man, rather than explain herself, the singer expertly shifted the conversation to one simple fact: In their private and public lives alike, men rarely need to defend their bodies. Accompanied by a crying emoji that seemed more like a proverbial eye roll, Rihanna prompted consideration of a few more heavy hitting truths. With 8 critically acclaimed studio albums, 8 Grammy awards, 53 million Instagram fans, and an estimated $75 million in earnings to her name last year alone, why would the BadGal so much as shed a tear over this kind of "controversy"? To to use RiRi's own lyrics: "Think I give a damn, boy don't you know who I am?"
See this week's best beauty looks: Rihanna on Her Game-Changing Met Gala Red Carpet Look

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rihanna Claps Back at Body Shamers with the Feminist Slap Heard 'Round the World

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In case anyone forgot, pop's resident BadGal would like all of us to know that she isn't here to score hotness points with the Internet peanut gallery. Last week, Rihanna prompted a (now-unemployed) male blogger to declare that her purportedly fuller figure made her look like she was wearing a "sumo suit."

# data[].attributes.body
Girl-next-door image and personality but also superstar presence

Magazine Article, 2018

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's a foggy spring night in Paris, and Rihanna has just wrapped up a meeting with her accountant in the penthouse suite of the Four Seasons hotel, a place that will serve as her makeshift office for the next few days. The evening panorama from the terrace is about as picture-postcard pretty as Paris gets, though at this late hour the lights on the Eiffel Tower have long since gone out. Robyn "Rihanna" Fenty is a night owl. Her most intense bouts of creativity often come after midnight, a rhythm she picked up early in her music career. In the dark, soundproofed environment of a recording studio, time is elastic. And when you're Rihanna, and the world is your oyster, then time is really elastic. It's perhaps why she doesn't seem particularly bothered that today's to-do list is far from done. There is a stack of Fenty Beauty campaign printouts piled high on her desk awaiting her approval; a flood of unanswered emails from Fenty team members in various time zones, all happily waiting on her too. Right now, though, there is a more pressing issue on the agenda, one that demands her full attention: Rihanna has decided that it's time to fix my love life.

"So wait, you're on a dating app? You don't seem like the dating-app type," she says as her almond-shaped green eyes peer into my iPhone. "Come sit here; you gotta teach me how to do this swipe thing." Rihanna is all curled up in a cozy hotel bathrobe and has a pair of comfy Fenty Puma slides on her feet, and yet she radiates flawless glamour-hair tousled in loose waves, skin luminous. Though I have taken great pains to put together what I think is a Rihanna-worthy look- Jacquemus blouse, vintage Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo pants-it's hard not to feel like a tarnished penny next to a freshly minted gold coin as I sidle up to her on the sofa. Rihanna asks if she can take a look through the photos on my app, and I oblige. "What is that dress? Is that vintage Jean Paul Gaultier?" she asks, pausing on my profile picture, a bathroom selfie taken in a swanky Hollywood hotel. "You better werk, girl; you look gorgeous!" I do my best to play it cool, but the little fangirl inside me is freaking out. Hanging out with Rihanna is every bit as fun as her costars in the upcoming Ocean's 8 movie make it sound: You know you're in the presence of a superstar, but it's like you're chatting with an old friend. "It's a combination of being starstruck and being immediately put at ease," explains Sandra Bullock. "She also has this warmth, and when she shines it on you, it makes you feel pretty damn amazing!"

Watch Rihanna's Epic 10-Minute Guide to Going Out Makeup:
Before long, we're on the hunt for potential suitors. "This guy is too pretty-if you're pretty, you at least gotta have wrinkles," Rihanna says, sizing up a male-model type who's posing bare-chested on a surfboard. And so we're on to the next. "OK, and this one is giving me Charlie Manson. No?" I nod in agreement; psychopaths are not an option. After swiping through a dozen profiles or more, she lands on a good one. "Now, this is your type!" she says. She's not wrong: This man is scruffy but handsome, age appropriate (36), and appears to be gainfully employed (an actor, not my first choice, but hey, nobody's perfect). "He looks smart, he's British, and he's got edges!" (Translation: He's got all his own hair.) She swipes right, and a message pops up almost instantaneously on the screen: It's a match! We both throw our heads back and start screaming with laughter.

But don't be fooled: The giddy highs and lows of singledom are fast becoming a distant memory for Rihanna. Right now, she's in a relationship. "I used to feel guilty about taking personal time," she says, "but I also think I never met someone who was worth it before." Though she's reluctant to talk about her partner by name, rumors have been swirling around her connection to Hassan Jameel, a young Saudi businessman, since paparazzi photos of her vacationing with a handsome stranger in Spain made the rounds last summer. These recent romantic developments are, however, part of a much bigger sea change for Rihanna, who turned 30 this year. For the first time in her life, she's fully committed to a healthy work-life balance. "Even mentally, just to be away from my phone, to be in the moment, that has been key for my growth," she says. "Now, when I come to work, I'm all in. Because before you know it, the years will go by. I'm glad I'm taking the time. I'm happy."

Still, making those kinds of pivotal lifestyle adjustments isn't always easy-especially if, like Rihanna, you've been on the celebrity treadmill since you were a teenager. It's even tougher now that she's not only the face of her personal brand but also the CEO of a burgeoning global beauty-and-fashion empire. Pulling double duty as both badass rock star and savvy businesswoman across a working orbit that spans California (home base for her new lingerie collaborators) and Europe can take a physical toll on even the most intergalactic of superstars. Since giving up her apartment in SoHo, New York, last fall, Rihanna spends most of her time in either London or Los Angeles, though to hear her tell it, she basically lives on a plane. I witnessed her pushed up against her limits just a few days earlier, when, hours before the cover shoot for this issue, she was suddenly taken ill. The setting couldn't have been more breathtaking-a villa overlooking Es Vedrà, the mythically charged, rocky island off the southwestern coast of Ibiza that's said to be the third-most-magnetic place on the planet. But not even adamantine willpower could overcome the exhaustion that Rihanna was feeling in that moment. "I don't know if it was too much magnetic energy for me, but it sure knocked me on my ass," she says in Paris, explaining that she often experiences the same symptoms around this time of the year, usually between touring and awards-show season. "It was like my immune system had just had it with me." The next day she appeared to be back to her old self, cracking jokes with photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott and pulling goofy faces between shots when she thought they were not looking, though it was clear her energy levels had taken a beating. She headed to Paris on a private jet a day early and rescheduled our interview, so I followed her flight path.

Rihanna might be a force of nature, but she's not superhuman. She's been thinking more seriously about taking care of herself since she celebrated her birthday in New York this past February. That night she was tucked up in bed well before 4:00 a.m. (believe it or not, this is early for Rihanna) and woke up the next morning without any trace of a hangover in time to see her closest friends and family off to the airport-hardly the kind of behavior we expect from the woman we've come to know as @badgalriri on Instagram. These days she shares the same anxieties about her well-being as many young women her age: "OK, so now that I'm 30, are there things I'm supposed to do? Should I be worried? Should I be freezing my eggs? What do you do at 30?!"

But if you think that means she's slowing down, think again: Judging by the list of her upcoming and ongoing projects, Rihanna is gearing up for what is poised to be one of the most productive periods of her career. There's the much-anticipated release this month of Ocean's 8, in which she plays Nine Ball, a street-smart hacker with waist-length dreadlocks in an all-female crew of bandits ( Sandra Bullock, Sarah Paulson, Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, and Helena Bonham Carter) plotting a heist at the Met ball. (The real-life plot twist here is that Rihanna is cohosting this year's gala, alongside Donatella Versace and Amal Clooney.) Ocean's 8 director Gary Ross remembers first spitballing ideas for the film with Rihanna backstage after a concert she played in Malmö, Sweden, in 2016. It was during that late-night brainstorming session that they decided to tie Rihanna's island roots into her character profile and make Nine Ball Bajan. "Rihanna is so bravely authentic. She doesn't care what people think of her; she's fully invested in being herself," says Ross. "She also has a seriousness of purpose and focus that not a lot of people have. It's all about the work, and it doesn't come with any excess personal baggage."

On the heels of the insanity of making a blockbuster movie, Rihanna somehow managed to launch Fenty Beauty in collaboration with Kendo, LVMH's incubator for cool new makeup brands, last September. Leading with a range of foundations that cover a full spectrum of skin tones (there are 40 different shades), the brand shook up the beauty industry in ways few currently within it could have predicted, prompting a broader conversation about inclusivity that had long been ignored. The success of her cosmetics line was unprecedented, reportedly racking up a staggering $100 million in sales within 40 days. The wait lists at certain makeup counters continued for months. (I was among hundreds of women who lined up outside Harvey Nichols in London last fall, only to find that my shade had already sold out.)

Rihanna was initially taken aback by the response. She had grown up watching her mother apply makeup, so thinking about foundations for darker skin tones came naturally. "As a black woman, I could not live with myself if I didn't do that," she says. "But what I didn't anticipate was the way people would get emotional about finding their complexion on the shelf, that this would be a groundbreaking moment." She's taken the same approach with Savage X Fenty, her direct-to-consumer lingerie line in partnership with online retail giant TechStyle launching May 11th, offering a range of nude underwear that goes far beyond the bog-standard beige T-shirt bra. She's not alone in questioning the limited notion of "nude": Kanye West's debut fall 2015 Yeezy collection featured a diverse cast of models in flesh-toned looks that encompassed a wide range of colors, from palest white to richest brown. Now Rihanna is pushing that idea one step further, shedding light on the frustrations that many black women face in dressing their bodies at the most intimate level. She has said in the past that her biggest regret about the sheer Adam Selman dress she wore to the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards was that she didn't throw on a bedazzled thong, mostly because the nude undies she ended up in weren't the right match-"not my nude," as she points out.

It should go without saying that the new line will carry a body-positive message, too. Rihanna's lingerie models come in all shapes and sizes; they are real women with real bodies who stand as a refreshing counterpoint to the impossible supermodel dimensions that have defined the look of lingerie for decades. Like Gigi Hadid and Serena Williams, Rihanna has been the target of body-shaming internet trolls. Her public responses have been rare, but when she does brush off the haters it's usually done with a razor-sharp dose of wit: Last summer she posted a hilarious before-and-after weight-loss meme of the rapper Gucci Mane, a tongue-in-cheek nod to her own fluctuations on the scale. Because what could be more sexy than a sense of humor? "You've just got to laugh at yourself, honestly. I mean, I know when I'm having a fat day and when I've lost weight. I accept all of the bodies," she says, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm not built like a Victoria's Secret girl, and I still feel very beautiful and confident in my lingerie."

And yet Rihanna's most impressive body of work begins and ends with her music. While it's been more than two years since she released Anti, she continues to dominate the pop charts, and she set yet another benchmark this March as the first female artist ever to surpass two billion streams on Apple Music. With her next record-her ninth-Rihanna is moving the needle on her creative output all over again: She plans to make a reggae album. Though it's too soon to name a full list of collaborators, one early influence may be Supa Dups, the Jamaican-born record producer who has worked with such dancehall greats as Beenie Man, Sean Paul, and Elephant Man. If Rihanna had to name her favorite reggae artist of all time, though, it would have to be Bob Marley. (Descriptions of the Bob shrine she once built in her home are all over the internet.) "I'm gonna sound like a real tourist when I tell you my top Bob songs," she says, pausing to scroll through a playlist on her iPhone before rattling off many of his most beloved hits: "Three Little Birds," "No Woman, No Cry," and "Redemption Song," a Marley classic she has covered on tour. It may surprise you to learn that of all the tunes in the reggae icon's catalog, "Buffalo Soldier" is the one that resonates with Rihanna on a deeply personal level. The song's theme of upheaval and displacement is a familiar refrain for the singer, who was whisked away from Barbados to New York within months of being discovered by record producer Evan Rogers at the tender age of sixteen. Her risk-taking instincts and taste for danger have often earned her comparisons to Madonna, though in fact the similarities between Bob Marley and Rihanna ring truer, even beyond the obvious island connection. Like Marley, Rihanna is possessed of an unstudied yet wholly electrifying sense of cool. Her ability to continually recalibrate the mood of a generation in the way she sounds, looks, and moves through the world has unwittingly positioned her, just as it did him, at the global axis of popular culture.

Rihanna is well acquainted with the pressures that come with being thrust onto the world stage at a young age. She has been obliged to play out many of life's messiest rites of passage in the public eye. It's why she has always been reluctant to embrace the idea of being a role model. "That title was put on me when I was just finding my way, making mistakes in front of the world. I didn't think it was fair," she says. "Now I understand the concept, but at that time I was the same age as the girls who were looking up to me. And that's a really hard place to be in as a teenager." Though she's certainly older and wiser now, the role-model tag still doesn't quite fit. It implies a conventional mind-set that is at odds with her fiercely independent spirit. Rihanna's vibe is more mutable, her instincts more counterintuitive, her energy almost impossible to contain. And her willingness to be vulnerable and bare her soul only amplifies her mystique.

Even Hollywood's most polished veterans seem hopelessly spellbound by Rihanna's preternatural self-assuredness. Cate Blanchett describes her as "like the Sphinx. She is ancient, mysterious, unique, wicked." Mel Ottenberg, the stylist who has helped orchestrate the singer's most audacious fashion moments, lovingly likens her to "a cat that can jump out of a window wearing stiletto heels and still land on her feet." She's not afraid to indulge her primal impulses, either. Her favorite bedroom is painted black, and she has fitted out one of her homes with a man cave-style den-she calls it her "kitty cave."

As it happens, the name Rihanna gave her lingerie line perfectly encapsulates her state of being right now-and it's spelled out in gold letters on a chain hanging around her neck: s-a-v-a-g-e. "Savage is really about taking complete ownership of how you feel and the choices you make. Basically making sure everybody knows the ball is in your court," she says, twisting the nameplate between her purple-lacquered fingernails. "As women, we're looked at as the needy ones, the naggy ones, the ones who are going to be heartbroken in a relationship. Savage is just the reverse. And you know, guys don't like getting the cards flipped on them-ever."

Fans will recognize a version of this mission statement from the lyrics of "Needed Me," the hit single from Anti that has gone platinum five times over. In the video, Rihanna is a woman on a revenge mission who assassinates her former lover in the smoky back room of a Miami strip club. The singer has been criticized for glamorizing violence, though her defenders say that this subversive imaging speaks to the culture's shifting power dynamics. It's funny to think that Anti dropped long before the dawning of Trump, or #MeToo, when you consider the spirit of resistance that quietly pulses through the record. Even the apocalyptic set design and wardrobe for the tour-somewhere between Mad Max and Blade Runner-seemed to foreshadow darker days. The album received a lukewarm reception at the time of its release. Some critics wrote it off as scattershot and uneven, laden with pop songs that were anything but sweet. Others called it self-indulgent, made to please herself. In the end Anti defied all expectations, landing more number-one hits on Billboard 's dance-club-songs chart than any other album in its history. And though it was famously snubbed at the Grammys, Rihanna would end up scooping the prestigious Vanguard award (MTV's equivalent to a lifetime-achievement award) at the VMAs.

It was one of the most memorable appearances of her career, with a medley of songs performed throughout the night and a string of jaw-dropping wardrobe transformations. And yet the whole event was overshadowed by a more titillating chapter in pop-culture history: After taking out a billboard in Los Angeles a couple of days earlier congratulating Rihanna, Drake presented her with the award while professing his undying love for her on live TV. Suddenly what should have been her big moment became all about him.

Rihanna winces slightly at the mention of the rapper's name before her eyes glaze over with cool indifference. "The VMAs is such a fan-focused awards show, so having that energy around me, and knowing the people who had received the award in the past, made it feel like a big deal," she says. "Waiting through that speech was probably the most uncomfortable part. I don't like too many compliments; I don't like to be put on blast." When I ask about the current state of their friendship, her attitude is sanguine. "We don't have a friendship now, but we're not enemies either. It is what it is."

The next afternoon Rihanna invites me over to her hotel suite to try out the new makeup from her Fenty Beauty line. I'm hoping that I might pick up a few tips to up my selfie game, too-that profile picture on my dating app is almost a year old, after all. When I arrive, she's dressed in an airport look: camo pants, a cozy black hoodie, and clear Manolo Blahnik mules. She's busy applying a light foundation base to Jahleel Weaver, a member of her creative team. There are pots of brightly colored powder neatly lined up on the dresser, including one called Sangria Sunset, the hot-pink shade I recognize as Rihanna's avant-garde beauty look from last year's Rei Kawakubo-themed Met ball. I'm already wearing her best-selling Pro Filt'r foundation #360, which I'd finally scored at Sephora a couple of months after the launch. To add to that, I'm instantly drawn to the lipsticks, including one in a deep shade of plum called PMS, and another in zingy violet called One of the Boyz that pops with intense pigment when I test it on the back of my hand. "All the guys in Hollywood wear makeup on the red carpet, even if they won't admit it," she says, turning her attention to me. "You know that, right, Chi Chi?" It seems that, after last night's rendezvous, I've become part of the family. In fact, Rihanna treats her mostly female circle of young employees with the teasing affection of an older sister. Loyalty, she explains, is her number-one priority. When new people are initiated into the Fenty camp, they usually have to learn the ropes as her assistant first, so she can watch them.

That said, it's hard to rival the deep bonds she's formed with her extended family in Barbados. Binge-watching clips of Majesty, her precocious three-year-old niece, might be Rihanna's favorite pastime. The adorable video messages she has archived on her phone offer comfort on the days when she misses Barbados. She has vivid memories of the first time she ever felt homesick, two years after moving to the States, an intense longing that prompted her to get on the phone to her younger brother Rorrey, and tell him just how much she loved him. "I basically grew up in paradise. I mean, people save for their whole lives to go on vacation there, and it's easy to take that for granted," she says.

But even paradise hasn't been immune to the gun epidemic: On Boxing Day of last year, Tavon Kaiseen Alleyne, Rihanna's 21-year-old cousin, lost his life in a shooting. Rihanna has spoken out against gun violence in the past, though her approach to activism is more subtle than that of many of her celebrity peers. She quietly founded a nonprofit-the Clara Lionel Foundation, named after her grandparents-that focuses on education and health care in impoverished communities. (She recently partnered with French president Emmanuel Macron on a global education initiative.) Yet despite these philanthropic efforts and the influence she wields on social media-lest we forget, when she called out Snapchat for making light of domestic violence in an ad they ran about her, the media company lost an estimated $800 million in market value overnight-she feels the same sense of powerlessness that many of us do in the endless scroll of the current news cycle. She prefers to issue her goodwill via more private channels, communicating with fans who direct-message her on Instagram whenever she gets a spare moment. For Rihanna, raising public awareness with an Instagram post is one thing, but at what point is it just lip service? How can we effect change in a bigger way?

Rihanna doesn't pretend to hold all the answers, but she understands that her greatest strength right now is her unflinching realness. In that sense, any political stance she takes will always be tethered to her personal experiences. "I really hugged my cousin the night before he died; I didn't know why. Now each time I hug somebody lately, I hug them like it's the last time. That may be my biggest life lesson, not to wait on anything, not even tomorrow," she says, pausing to gather her thoughts. "Tomorrow is too late in my opinion."

The star's maternal instinct is obvious. I ask her what kind of mother she thinks she'll be one day, though it's abundantly clear that she'll be the kind who loves hard. "I'm not gonna be able to take my eyes off my kid. I know that already about myself," she says. "They're going to have to force me to hire a nanny." Even her taste for reality TV tends toward feisty matriarchs. Lisa Vanderpump, the 57-year-old star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, might be Rihanna's biggest girl crush. "Tell me who is a badder bitch than Lisa Vanderpump! She's goals AF!" she says, cracking open a gold highlighter called Trophy Wife. "She's chic but still funny. She likes to be at home with her husband and then goes and handles her business. Maybe there's a couple of thousand Birkins in her closet, but she's still focused. I love that about her."

I try to imagine what Rihanna's life will look like 25 years from now. Will she be living the quietly opulent and überglamorous life in the Hills like Lisa Vanderpump, a man at her side and a pack of yapping Pomeranian puppies at her feet? Maybe yes-but probably no. The truth is, trying to anticipate the superstar's next move is virtually impossible, and that's what makes her all the more thrilling to watch. Her Spidey sense takes her to places that most of us wouldn't dare to go. Ask yourself "What would Rihanna do?" in any given situation, and the answer is guaranteed to be outside your comfort zone.

"So did you message the actor guy? You know, on your dating app?" she asks. Admittedly I haven't reached out to him yet, but really I should. This weird rule I have about not making the first move suddenly feels horribly old-fashioned. Rihanna is right. Life is too short.
Rihanna on Her Game-Changing Met Gala Red Carpet Look:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rihanna on Body Image, Turning 30, and Staying Real-No Matter What

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's a foggy spring night in Paris, and Rihanna has just wrapped up a meeting with her accountant in the penthouse suite of the Four Seasons hotel, a place that will serve as her makeshift office for the next few days.

# data[].attributes.body
Shows her musical prowess with flashy, glamorous videos.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Rihanna on Vevo - Official Music Videos, Live Performances, Interviews and more...

# data[].attributes.body
Has a stong media presence and has been in Twitter spats, as well as giving witty answers during interviews, making her a very likeable figure.

Magazine Article

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Love her, hate her, or envy her-Rihanna probably doesn't care either way, but you can't deny that she's an icon for this generation. From her fashion, music, music videos, well she does it all. BUT, there's one thing that I think makes Rihanna, well, Rihanna- her attitude. You see, almost everyone should know by now that Rihanna has an attitude that can make you fear for the life of whomever she's dissing or make you burst out into a fit of laughter. Most of these moments can be caught in interviews and also on her social media accounts. If this is your first time ever witnessing any of Riri's queen moments, then you've come to the right place. If you've seen her sass in action before, then welcome back, but either way I think we should all sit back and enjoy the pure awesomeness that is Rihanna on social media and bask in her best moments.

In 2011, Rihanna and Ciara had a bit of a run in after Ciara chronicled how Riri wasn't the nicest gal to her at a get together. Well, after Ciara made those comments, Rihanna took to Twitter and bit back... hard.

You didn't think that was it, did you? Nope. Homegirl came out with a vengeance.

Now this is where it got juicy. See, Ciara wasn't going to have any of the shade that was being thrown at her, so she decided to buck up.

Now, after this Riri came back with the infamous, "U gangsta huh? When she indirected Haaa." Despite all of this mess, the two squashed the beef...but that didn't mean it didn't ensure for a pretty intense hilarious series of tweets.

2. When she indirected TLC after their interview that might've been taken out of context...Picture and all.

When there's no changing the fact that I'm me, and they're well...they're them. pic.twitter.com/RCF4TqxN69- Rihanna (@rihanna) June 6, 2014

Okay, so TLC's comments in their interview might have been taken out of context, but if this doesn't prove to you that Riri will drag you, then I don't know what else will.

When Kendall Jenner tweeted a couple of years ago how upset she'd be if Rihanna didn't sing her song "Complicated," a fan posted a screenshot of Kendall's Tweet on Instagram.

Rihanna's reply, you ask? Well.

Laughing, as we speak.

Okay, okay. I know this doesn't have anything to do with her social media record but, despite all of her sass, her response is about the best darn thing ever. #obligatory

Now, these were only a few of the non-vulgar tweets that I could find. Despite her sass-filled-tweets-bordering-rude, I believe that Rihanna's carefree attitude is something all of us should have a little of. I must admit, I used to not be a fan of her brash attitude until I got older...old enough where there would be times where I simply didn't care whenever someone shaded me. That's when I could come to appreciate Rihanna.

To be honest, don't we all kind of wish we could be a Rihanna when it came to responding to the haters in our lives? As sassy as she may seem, she's just as generous, talented, and completely independent. Although, that might be looked down upon as being mean...well, she's just being Riri. Love it or hate it, you can't help but respect it and to me, there's something admirable about a celebrity who is 100% confident in herself and doesn't care what someone has to say, or what they don't say.

Like her? Cool. Hate her? Cool. Indifferent? Still cool, because either way...Rihanna probably doesn't care.

Keep on being the self-proclaimed bad gal that you are, Riri. I'm sure there will be more sass filled tweets, insta posts and replies to come.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Snapshot Of Rihanna's Best Social Media Moments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Love her, hate her, or envy her-Rihanna probably doesn't care either way, but you can't deny that she's an icon for this generation. From her fashion, music, music videos, well she does it all. BUT, there's one thing that I think makes Rihanna, well, Rihanna- her attitude.

# data[].attributes.body
Recently, this is mainly used to promote her brands, but also enables her to connect with fans and other celebrities

# data[].attributes.body
Large global presence. Shows her leading a glamorous lifestyle but she posts a mixture of private and professional pictures which are mainly to promote her products.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

# data[].attributes.body
Has a very large following for her brands on social media.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
FENTY PUMA BY RIHANNA (@fentyxpuma) * Instagram photos and videos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
977.2k Followers, 118 Following, 434 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from FENTY PUMA BY RIHANNA (@fentyxpuma)

# data[].attributes.body
Her loyal fans follow all of her brand accounts and she has a high level of engagement on posts.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
SAVAGE X FENTY BY RIHANNA (@savagexfenty) * Instagram photos and videos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
1.5m Followers, 301 Following, 699 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from SAVAGE X FENTY BY RIHANNA (@savagexfenty)

# data[].attributes.body
Her sporty and stylish image has allowed her to collaborate with Puma on numerous occassions

Reference: Jessica Iredale (2017) "Fenty Puma by Rihanna" in Women's Wear Daily, 12 September, p. 20.

# data[].attributes.body
Launched a lingerie line designed for all women's body types. Reflective of her inclusive nature and feminist attitudes.

Magazine Article, 2018

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When it comes to her smalls, what does the 'woke' woman wear? While the ready-to-wear market clamours to promote its political connotations, with brands falling over themselves to explain to customers how this coat is empowering, and that eye-cream is ideal for feminists, the lingerie market has lagged behind in embracing the conversations around diversity, inclusivity and meaningful body-positivity.

Autumn's Fash-Leisure Update Comes Straight From Serena Rees's Les Girls Les Boys

Indeed lingerie, and the megawatt spectacles that constitute the big underwear shows - the Victoria's Secret show has a yearly audience of around 1.4 billion people in 192 countries - has doggedly stuck to a tried-and-tested formula, despite the seismic shift effected by #MeToo and Times Up. Where is the Phoebe Philo of the underwear world, chic women wonder? Who is making underwear for the 'Nasty Women'? The Pantsuit Nation? Who will clothe the pussies as they grab back?

Enter Rihanna. Not content with merely shaking up a beauty market that seemed committed to ignoring non-white women, she's now Fenty-fying our underwear drawers. She's spotted the gap in the market for underwear that doesn't equate female excellence with a penchant for goji berries and 5am starts to get to the gym. Her Savage x Fenty show, presented during New York Fashion Week, was a festival of flesh of all different skin tones. There were curves and stretchmarks, sagging stomach and six-packs, love handles and super 'fupas' (thanks again, Beyoncé) and enormous pregnant bellies - the model Slick Woods has since revealed that her labour started as she walked the runway in nipple covers and an elastic harness.

The eclectic crew was cast by Samuel Ellis Scheinman. "Savage X Fenty show has just started and I can already tell that this lingerie brand is going to kick Victoria's Secret's butt. Strong athletic women, no silly headdresses or diamond bras. And the collection will be for sale online the minute the show ends," tweeted the journalist Christina Binkley, as she sat enthralled.

Cult Brand Reformation Launches Sustainable Underwear

"The show was raw. We were all half-naked skin, bones, rolls, curves, scars and stretch marks 100 per cent out for the world to see. In confidence, power and unity we were able to be unapologetically ourselves," says the fabulous shaven-headed model Jazzelle Zanaughtti, who wore a green lingerie set that was a tribute to the lime puffa she wore to the show's casting. "Personally, I usually really don't like doing shows, they always make me feel like I have to put on a face and a walk that doesn't feel like mine. But this one was so special because I felt like me. Everyone was so different, and all looked equally amazing. Most of the time in fashion, diversity feels like it's more about hitting a quota. But this show was different: it was organic, and it came from a place of love."

Savage x Fenty also suggested answers to the difficult and often awkward questions of how fashion can be 'sexy' in an age where women are increasingly speaking out about being objectified and harassed. Rihanna understands that the answer isn't as simple as modesty - she is after all, one of the most sexually confident women in music - nay, the world. (Remember, she once sang: "No heels, No shirt, No skirt, All I'm in is just skin.") Yet she seems to have a more nuanced grasp of the slippery concept of empowerment and choice than other execs in the lingerie, advertising and publishing industries.

Rihanna understands, for example, that our current market and ideals of the pin-up have been shaped by years of dominant male expectations around what makes a woman attractive. Those so-called sexy signifiers - breasts, bums, long limbs, slim bodies, flat stomachs, long hair - are male preferences. It was these constructed ideals that Rihanna was playing with, hence the pregnant bellies, the curvaceous forms, the dance moves that looked vaguely aggressive - a far cry from the cheerleader pointing and kiss-blowing we see on other lingerie runways.

Indeed, rather than have models walk a runway, as passive objects to be viewed, Rihanna constructed a garden for them to prowl and explore. We were simply lucky to peek into it. "I do believe that Rihanna has definitely played a part in how we perceive beauty, in the sense that she is a very inclusive business woman, in a very equality-elusive society," says the Sudanese model Aweng Chuol. "It felt amazing to walk in a show that was so different to the many shows that have been happening in NYC season after season."

5 Ways Mia Kang is Breaking The Lingerie Model Mould

The casting director James Scully has been speaking out about fashion's equality problem for a long while and is happy to see change in the conservative lingerie market. "I think the idea of that kind of Vegas-style parade of overt showgirls is no longer modern," he argues. "A pageant-type, Barbie show feels totally out of step. Even Miss America is trying to modernize the way they hold a competition."

New players such as Savage x Fenty, the bed-to-street brand Les Girls Les Boys, or Nubian Skin, which offers a great array of flesh-toned lingerie in shades other than pale peach, are forging the underwear of the future. "I think it's a shame women have to feel insecure or self-conscious about how their bodies look," said Rihanna after the show. "They've been taught by society that only one thing works." It seems the lingerie industry misguidedly felt the same.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Rihanna's Savage x Fenty Is Changing The Lingerie Game

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When it comes to her smalls, what does the 'woke' woman wear? While the ready-to-wear market clamours to promote its political connotations, with brands falling over themselves to explain to customers how this coat is empowering, and that eye-cream is ideal for feminists, the lingerie market has lagged behind in embracing the conversations around diversity, inclusivity and meaningful body-positivity.

# data[].attributes.body
Outperforming more established brands and is descibed as one of the "popular personality-driven beauty brands" due to Rihanna's star profile.

Reference: Kali Hays (2018) "Fenty Beauty on Track to Top Kylie Cosmetics, KKW Beauty" in Women's Wear Daily, 26 January, p. 2.

# data[].attributes.body
This Instagram follows everything Rihanna does and keeps fans updated on the many different industries that she is involved with, such as makeup, her lingerie collection, music, fragrances, magazine covers, and anything else Rihanna-related.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
FENTY CORP (@fentycorp) * Instagram photos and videos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
92.8k Followers, 209 Following, 178 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from FENTY CORP (@fentycorp)

# data[].attributes.body
Fenty Beauty gained massive exposure on social media, which would lead to an increase in brand value. This exposure was potenitally due to Rihanna's star image which was already known by the target market. This article also reflects how this is not the first secondary business that Rihanna has ventured in to as she also became the Creative Director of Puma in 2014, which is not related to the music industry, but ties in with her image as fashionable.

Reference: Jordannah Elizabeth (2017)

"Rihanna's Fenty Beauty valued at $72 million in first month" in New York Amsterdam News,  2 November, Vol. 108, Issue 44, p. 22.

# data[].attributes.body
This article presents Rihanna as a global star who's singing style is liked in the Caribbean as well as in the United States and the United Kingdom. She is also known for reinventing her musical persona and fashion style.

Reference: Lisa Jansen and Michael Westphal (2017) "Rihanna Works Her Multivocal Pop Persona: A Morpho-syntactic and Accent Analysis of Rihanna’s Singing Style" in English Today, Vol. 33(2), pp. 45-55.

# data[].attributes.body
Rihanna began her career in music and won numerous awards before being recognised for her humanitarian work, which is aided by her role as a fashion icon as she particiapted in the Fashion Against AIDs initiative, amongst many other charitable causes.

Website

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ree-AN-ə; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, songwriter, businesswoman, and actress. She is widely regarded as one of the most prominent singers of the 21st century. After signing with Def Jam in 2005, Rihanna soon gained recognition with the release of her first two studio albums, Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl Like Me (2006), both of which were influenced by Caribbean music and peaked within the top ten on the US Billboard 200 chart. Her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), incorporated elements of dance-pop and established her status as a major icon in the music industry. The chart-topping single " Umbrella" earned Rihanna her first Grammy Award and catapulted her to global stardom.

Rihanna continued to mix pop, dance, and R&B genres on her next studio albums, (2009), (2010), Talk That Talk (2011), and Unapologetic (2012), the last of which became her first Billboard 200 number one. The albums spawned a string of chart-topping singles, including " Rude Boy", " Only Girl (In the World)", " What's My Name?", " S&M", " We Found Love", and " Diamonds". Her eighth album, (2016), showcased a new creative control following her departure from Def Jam. It became her second US number one album and featured the chart-topping single " Work". During her musical career, Rihanna has collaborated with many artists, such as Drake, Eminem, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Ne-Yo, and Shakira.

With sales of over 250 million records worldwide, Rihanna is the second-best-selling female music artist of all time and the highest-certified female artist of all time on the RIAA's Top Artists (Digital Singles) ranking. She has achieved 14 number-one singles, 32 top-ten singles in the US, and 31 top-ten entries in the UK. Her accolades include nine Grammy Awards, 13 American Music Awards (including the Icon Award), 12 Billboard Music Awards, five World Music Awards, six Guinness World Records, the NAACP's President's Award, and an Academy Award nomination. Her acclaimed Super Bowl halftime show performance in 2023 is the most watched in history. named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2012 and 2018. ranked her among the top ten highest-paid celebrities in 2012 and 2014. As of 2023, she is the wealthiest female musician, with an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion.

Aside from music, Rihanna is known for her involvement in humanitarian causes, entrepreneurial ventures, and the fashion industry. She is the founder of the nonprofit organization Clara Lionel Foundation, cosmetics brand Fenty Beauty, and fashion house Fenty under LVMH; she is the first black woman to head a luxury brand for LVMH. Rihanna has also ventured into acting, appearing in major roles in Battleship (2012), (2015), Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017), and (2018). She was appointed as an ambassador of education, tourism, and investment by the Government of Barbados in 2018 and was declared a National Hero of Barbados on the first day of the country's parliamentary republic in 2021, entitling her to the style of " The Right Excellent" for life.

Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born on February 20, 1988, in Saint Michael, Barbados. She is the daughter of accountant Monica (née Braithwaite) and warehouse supervisor Ronald Fenty. Her mother is an Afro-Guyanese, while her father is a Barbadian of African, Irish, English, and Scottish descent. Rihanna has two brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty, and two half-sisters and a half-brother from her father's side, each born to different mothers from his previous relationships. She grew up in a three-bedroom bungalow in Bridgetown and sold clothes with her father in a stall on the street. Her childhood was deeply affected by her father's alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction, which contributed to her parents' strained marriage. Rihanna's father used to abuse her mother physically, and Rihanna would try to get in between them to break up fights.

As a child, Rihanna had many CT scans for the excruciating headaches she suffered, recalling, "The doctors even thought it was a tumor, because it was that intense." By the time she was 14, her parents had divorced, and her health began to improve. She grew up listening to reggae music. She attended Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School and Combermere School, where she studied alongside future international cricketers Chris Jordan and Carlos Brathwaite. At age 11, Rihanna was a cadet in Barbados' Cadet Corps; the later Barbadian singer-songwriter Shontelle was her drill sergeant. She initially wanted to graduate from high school, though chose to pursue a musical career instead.

Music career

2003-2006: Beginnings and early releases

In 2003, Rihanna formed a musical trio with two of her classmates in her home country of Barbados. Without a name or any material, the girl group auditioned with American record producer Evan Rogers, who commented, "The minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn't exist." Rihanna went to Rogers's hotel room, where she performed renditions of Destiny's Child's " Emotion" and Mariah Carey's " Hero". Impressed, Rogers scheduled a second meeting with Rihanna's mother present and then invited Rihanna to his hometown in the United States to record some demo tapes that could be sent to record labels. Recordings were intermittent, taking about a year because she was only able to record during school holidays. " Pon de Replay" and "The Last Time" were two tracks recorded for the demo tape, which were eventually included on her debut album Music of the Sun. That same year, Rihanna was signed to Rogers's and Carl Sturken's production company, Syndicated Rhythm Productions.

Rihanna's demo was shipped out to Def Jam Recordings, where Jay Brown, an A&R executive at the record label, was one of the first to hear the demo. Brown played the demo tape for rapper Jay-Z, who had recently been appointed as president and CEO of Def Jam. When Jay-Z first heard the track "Pon de Replay", he felt the song was too big for her. Despite being skeptical, he invited Rihanna to audition for the label. In early 2005, Rihanna auditioned for Def Jam in New York City, where Jay-Z introduced her to music mogul Antonio "L.A." Reid. At the audition, she sang Whitney Houston's cover of " For the Love of You", as well as the demo tracks "Pon de Replay" and "The Last Time". Jay-Z was absolutely certain about signing her after she performed her future single "Pon de Replay". His boss, L.A. Reid, was also impressed with her audition, telling Jay-Z not to let Rihanna leave the building until the contract was signed. Reid left it to Jay-Z and his team to close the deal which resulted in a six-album record deal with Def Jam. She waited in Jay-Z's office until 3:00 in the morning to get lawyers to draft up a contract because he wanted to prevent her from signing with another label. Rihanna canceled other meetings with record labels and relocated from Barbados to the United States to live with Rogers and his wife.

After signing with Def Jam, Jay-Z and his team did the A&R for Rihanna's debut album and spent the next three months recording and completing her debut album. She worked with different producers to complete her debut studio album, primarily Rogers and his production partner Carl Sturken. With several songs to pick as a lead single, "Pon de Replay" was chosen because it seemed like the best song suited for a summer release. In May 2005, her debut single, "Pon de Replay", was released under her mononym "Rihanna". It charted successfully worldwide, peaking in the top five in fifteen countries, including at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the UK Singles Chart. The song became a club hit in the United States, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs.

Music of the Sun was released in August 2005. It debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of over 500,000 units. The album sold over 2 million copies worldwide. A second single, "If It's Lovin' that You Want", was not as successful as its predecessor, but reached the top 10 in Australia, Ireland and New Zealand. Aside from her work in music, Rihanna made her acting debut in a cameo role in the successful straight-to-DVD film Bring It On: All or Nothing, released in August 2006.

A month after the release of her debut album, Rihanna began working on her second studio album. A Girl like Me was released in April 2006. Rolling Stone felt that "the burning rock guitar" and haunted strings of some of the album's tracks made " A Girl like Me [...] likable." The album was a commercial success, charting in the top 10 in 13 countries. The album reached No. 1 in Canada and No. 5 in the United Kingdom and the United States, where it sold 115,000 copies in its first week. The album became Rihanna's first to be certified Platinum by the RIAA, after selling over 1,000,000 units. Its lead single, " SOS", was an international success, charting in the top five in 11 countries. The song reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and in Australia, her first to reach this chart position. " Unfaithful", the album's second single, reached the top 10 in 18 countries, including No. 1 in Canada and Switzerland. Two more singles were released from the album: " We Ride" and " Break It Off".

2007-2008: Breakthrough with Good Girl Gone Bad

In early 2007, Rihanna appeared on the single " Roll It" with Jamaican band J-Status and fellow Barbadian singer-songwriter Shontelle. The song appeared on J-Status' debut album The Beginning, released in several European countries only. Around that time, Rihanna had already begun work on her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad. With the help of producers Timbaland, Tricky Stewart and Sean Garrett she embraced a new musical direction through uptempo dance tracks. Released in May 2007, the album charted at No. 2 in Australia and the US and topped the charts in multiple countries, including Brazil, Canada, Ireland and the UK. The album received the most positive critical reviews of her first three albums.

The lead single, " Umbrella", topped the charts in 13 countries and remained at No. 1 in the UK for 10 consecutive weeks, the longest-running No. 1 single there since Wet Wet Wet's single " Love Is All Around" spent 15 weeks at the top in 1994. It was Rihanna's first single to be named one of the best-selling singles worldwide, with sales of over 8 million copies. The songs " Shut Up and Drive", " Hate That I Love You" (featuring Ne-Yo), and " Don't Stop the Music" were also released as singles, with the latter becoming an international hit. In support of the album, Rihanna began the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour in September 2007, with 80 shows across the US, Canada, and Europe. Rihanna was nominated for several 2008 Grammy Awards for Good Girl Gone Bad, winning Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Umbrella" alongside Jay-Z, her first Grammy Award.

On June 9, 2008, Rihanna released Good Girl Gone Bad Live, her first live long-form video. The DVD and Blu-ray release featured Rihanna's concert at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, United Kingdom, held on December 6, 2007, as part of the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour. The release also contained a special documentary that presented Rihanna discussing her experiences during the tour. By late 2008, Rihanna still remained on the charts with the release of the fifth single from Good Girl Gone Bad, " Rehab", and was named "Diva of the Year" by Entertainment Weekly for her "newfound staying power". Good Girl Gone Bad has sold over 2.8 million units in the United States alone, receiving a two-times-Platinum certification from the RIAA. It is Rihanna's bestselling album in the country to date. The album has sold 9 million units worldwide.

During the late 2000s, Rihanna experimented further with pop, dubstep, and rock music, officially shifting her musical style and image away from the Barbados island girl. Throughout 2008, Rihanna performed on the Glow in the Dark Tour alongside Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and N.E.R.D. Her third studio album's reissue, Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded, was released in June 2008 with three new songs: " Disturbia", " Take a Bow" and the Maroon 5 duet " If I Never See Your Face Again", plus a Spanglish version of "Hate That I Love You" featuring Spanish pop singer David Bisbal. All four were released as singles and charted highly, reaching peak positions worldwide. In August 2008, Rihanna and a host of other female singers recorded the charity single " Just Stand Up!", the theme song to the anti-cancer campaign Stand Up to Cancer. " Live Your Life", a duet between T.I. and Rihanna, was released that November and topped the Billboard Hot 100.

On February 8, 2009, Rihanna's scheduled performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards was canceled. Reports surfaced that then-boyfriend, singer Chris Brown, had physically assaulted her. He was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats. On March 5, 2009, Brown was charged with assault and making criminal threats. A leaked photograph from the police department obtained by TMZ.com revealed that Rihanna had sustained visible injuries. A few months after the incident, Rihanna was featured on the single " Run This Town" by Jay-Z, which also featured Kanye West and was released as the second single from Jay-Z's eleventh studio album The Blueprint 3.

In early 2009, Rihanna began working on her fourth studio album, Rated R. Rated R was released in November 2009. The album had Rolling Stone magazine stating that Rihanna "transformed her sound and made one of the best pop records of the year". Rated R featured a darker and more foreboding tone than Rihanna's previous albums. Rated R debuted at No. 4 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album was supported by six singles, including " Rude Boy", which was the biggest worldwide success from the album, topping the US Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and reaching top 10 positions in 22 other countries. In January 2010, Rihanna released her charity cover version of " Redemption Song" for the Hope for Haiti Now campaign. She also recorded the song " Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" together with Jay-Z, Bono and The Edge for the same campaign to alleviate the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

In summer 2010, Rihanna collaborated with rapper Eminem on " Love the Way You Lie", which was a major worldwide success, reaching No. 1 in over 20 countries. Reaching number 2, the song became the biggest-selling song of 2010 in the UK and the first of Rihanna's singles to sell over a million copies in the country. In October 2010, Rihanna switched managers, joining Jay-Z's Roc Nation Management. In late 2010, she was featured on three singles: Kanye West's " All of the Lights", from the album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), Nicki Minaj's " Fly", from her debut studio album Pink Friday (2010) and David Guetta's " Who's That Chick?", from the album One More Love (2010).

, Rihanna's fifth studio album, was released in November 2010. The album produced three US Billboard Hot 100s. Its lead single, " Only Girl (In the World)", " What's My Name?", featuring rapper Drake and " S&M", following the release of its official remix featuring Britney Spears. Rihanna set a record as the solo artist with the fastest accumulation of 10 chart toppers in the Hot 100s history. At the 53rd Grammy Awards, "Only Girl (In the World)" won the award for Best Dance Recording.

" Man Down" and " California King Bed" were released as singles in May 2011 with moderate success. " Cheers (Drink to That)", which interpolates Avril Lavigne's 2002 single " I'm with You", was released as the seventh and final single from the album. To promote the album, Rihanna embarked on her Loud Tour in June 2011, which sold out 10 nights at The O₂ Arena in West London, the most sold-out shows for a female artist in the venue's history. The tour was the seventh highest-grossing tour worldwide of 2011. In September 2020 she put her St John's Wood, North London house for sale with a price of £32 million.

2011-2013: Talk That Talk and Unapologetic

Rihanna's sixth album, Talk That Talk, was released in November 2011. The album debuted at No. 3 in the U.S. and number No. 1 in the UK The album's lead single, " We Found Love", topped charts in twenty-seven countries and peaked in the top 10 in 30 countries and broke many chart records worldwide. The single topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 non-consecutive weeks, becoming Rihanna's longest-running No. 1 single on the chart and the longest-running No. 1 single of 2011 in the US. The song was later named the 24th biggest hit of all time on the Billboard Hot 100. " You Da One" and the album's title track, featuring Jay-Z, were released as the second and third singles, to moderate success. " Where Have You Been", the fifth single, successfully charted worldwide, reaching No. 5 in the US and No. 6 in the UK. " Cockiness (Love It)" was released as the album's sixth and final single in a remixed form featuring rapper ASAP Rocky.

In early 2012, two collaborations featuring Rihanna were released: Coldplay's " Princess of China", from their album Mylo Xyloto, and Drake's " Take Care", from his album of the same name. In February 2012, Rihanna won her third Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 2012 Grammy Awards for her Kanye West collaboration "All of the Lights" and was voted the Best International Female Solo Artist at the 2012 BRIT Awards for the second consecutive year. March 2012 saw the simultaneous releases of two collaborations between Rihanna and Chris Brown: remixes of her song " Birthday Cake" and his " Turn Up the Music". The recordings received mainly negative responses due to the pair's history of domestic violence. In September 2012, " We Found Love" won the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year, making Rihanna the first woman to receive the accolade more than once.

Rihanna's seventh studio album, Unapologetic, was released in November 2012. In the United States, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, marking Rihanna's first No. 1 album in the country. The lead single from the album, " Diamonds", reached No. 1 in more than 20 countries worldwide, including on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it became Rihanna's 12 No. 1 on the chart. The album's second single, " Stay", featuring Mikky Ekko, reached the top five in over twenty countries, including No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. As promotion prior to the album's release, Rihanna embarked on the 777 Tour, a mini tour of seven shows in seven countries in seven days. On May 6, 2013, Fox aired a documentary about the tour, with a documentary DVD being released the following day as Rihanna's third live long-form video release.

In February 2013, at the 55th Grammy Awards, Rihanna won her sixth Grammy Award, in the category Best Short Form Music Video for " We Found Love" (2011). Also that month, the United Kingdom's Official Charts Company announced that Rihanna had sold 3,868,000 records in the past year in the country, ranking at No. 1 in the list of 2013 BRIT Awards artist nominees. Rihanna's fifth headlining concert tour, the Diamonds World Tour, began in March 2013, in support of Unapologetic. Rihanna then appeared in the Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg comedy film This Is the End, which was released in June 2013. That same month, American hip hop artist Wale released a remixed version of his single " Bad" featuring Rihanna. In October 2013, Eminem released his Rihanna-assisted single, " The Monster", as the fourth release from his eighth studio album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013).

2014-2017: Standalone releases, Home soundtrack and Anti

In 2014, Rihanna appeared on Shakira's single, " Can't Remember to Forget You". Following the release of Unapologetic and its accompanying tour, Rihanna aimed to take a hiatus from recording music, stating: "I wanted to have a year to just do whatever I want artistically, creatively." In May 2014, Rihanna left Def Jam Recordings to sign fully with Roc Nation, the record label that had managed her career since October 2010.

A year after Rihanna began working on her eighth studio album, the single " FourFiveSeconds" was released, which featured Rihanna paired up with Kanye West and Paul McCartney. Two further singles followed its release: " Bitch Better Have My Money" and " American Oxygen"; neither made the final track listing for Rihanna's eighth studio album. During the creation of the album, Rihanna ventured into other endeavors and appeared in the voice role of Tip in the animated feature film alongside Jim Parsons and Jennifer Lopez, the film was based on The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex. Rihanna also released a concept album soundtrack for the film.

In late 2015, Rihanna inked a $25 million contract with Samsung that would see her promoting Samsung's Galaxy line of products whilst Samsung would sponsor the release of her eighth studio album and its supporting tour. The Anti World Tour was announced in November 2015 and began in March 2016, with Travis Scott supporting in North America and Big Sean supporting at selected European dates.[non-primary source needed ] The Weeknd had also initially planned to support at certain European sites, but he backed out citing "unforeseen changes in upcoming projects". On January 28, 2016, Rihanna released her eighth studio album, , exclusively through streaming service Tidal. The album peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200, becoming Rihanna's second No. 1 and eighth top 10 album on the chart. The album was supported by the release of four singles, including the lead single " Work", featuring Drake, which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Further Platinum-certified singles " Needed Me" and " Love on the Brain" both peaked inside the top 10 of the US Hot 100.

In 2016, Rihanna was featured in several singles. The first collaboration single was Kanye West's " Famous", where Rihanna provided uncredited guest vocals. She was then officially featured on Calvin Harris' " This Is What You Came For", which was a success. Rihanna was also featured on Drake's " Too Good" and on Mike Will Made It's " Nothing Is Promised". In June 2016, Rihanna released " Sledgehammer", a single from the Star Trek Beyond movie soundtrack. On August 28, 2016, Rihanna was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards after performing various medleys of her hit songs.

Rihanna released several collaborations in 2017. First she was the featured part in Future's " Selfish", the lead single from the rapper's sixth studio album, . Summer 2017 saw the release of Rihanna's collaborations with record producer DJ Khaled, " Wild Thoughts", which also featured Bryson Tiller and was a worldwide success, and Kendrick Lamar's single, " Loyalty", which earned Rihanna her ninth Grammy Award at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. In November 2017, Rihanna was part of N.E.R.D's comeback single " Lemon" from the band's album No One Ever Really Dies.

2018-present: Hiatus, upcoming ninth studio album and Super Bowl LVII halftime show

In October 2017, Shakka revealed that he was working with Rihanna on her "absolutely insane" album. In December 2018, Rihanna confirmed that the album would be released in 2019, and later announced that it is a reggae project. In August 2019, fans noticed that Rihanna and co-songwriters Collin Edwards, Monique Lawrence, and Alexander Ogunmokun registered a song titled "Private Loving" with the music publishing organization BMI. In September 2019, it was announced she had signed with Sony/ATV Music Publishing. In December 2019, Rihanna alluded to her album being complete and indefinitely withholding the release date in an Instagram post. She was next featured on Canadian singer PartyNextDoor's song " Believe It", which was released on March 27, 2020. On September 25, 2022, Rihanna announced that she would be headlining the Super Bowl LVII halftime show, which marked her first live performance in over five years, and the end of her previously self-imposed boycott of the event, which she instigated in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick. The show was critically acclaimed. It was initially reported that the performance gained a total of 118.7 million viewers across TV and digital platforms, however the figure was later revised by Nielsen Media Research, who adjusted the number to 121.017 million viewers, making it the most-watched halftime show in history, surpassing Katy Perry's performance at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show. In October, HDD confirmed that Rihanna will do a stadium tour in 2023.

On October 28, 2022, Rihanna released the lead single from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, " Lift Me Up", her first solo musical release since Anti. The song earned her nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Music and voice

Rihanna is a mezzo-soprano, with a range spanning from to . While recording tracks for her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), Rihanna took vocal lessons from Ne-Yo. She said of the experience, "I've never had vocal training, so when I'm in the studio, he'll tell me how to breathe and stuff... He'll call out these big fancy words: 'OK, I want you to do staccato.' And I'm like, 'OK, I don't know what that is.'" Her vocal performance on Loud (2010) received positive reviews from music critics. James Skinner from BBC praised Rihanna's vocals on the song " Love the Way You Lie (Part II)" and wrote that her voice is powerful and that "it is Rihanna's vocal - at once commanding, soulful and vulnerable - that anchors the song, and Loud itself". Andy Gill from The Independent feels that "California King Bed" features her best vocal performance. In a review of Unapologetic, Billboard magazine wrote, "Diamonds finds Rihanna doing one of her throatiest, most impassioned vocals to date, on this inspirational pop ballad." Jon Caramanica of the New York Times stated, "over the years, as her game face froze in place, her voice cured into a weapon of emotional chill and strategic indifference. It's decidedly unfriendly, made to give orders". In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Rihanna at number 68 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

"[My music is] just imagination, being creative; that's what my music is composed with. Being creative and thinking of situations, whether situations I went through or situations I've observed people going through. I can't tell you where I'll see myself in five years, but I can tell you I will work my best to be the most successful artist that I can be in five years. [I want to be] Remembered as Rihanna. Remembered as being an artist from the Caribbean who came here and made it internationally. Just remembered as me, 'cause I'm true to my music, and I just want people to realize that and appreciate me for that"

-Rihanna during her first interview with MTV News

Growing up in Barbados, she mainly listened to reggae, hip hop and soca music. When she first came to the US, she was exposed to different types of music with "rock being one of them, and I fell in love with it. [Now] I love rock music." During her debut, she recorded songs that were inspired by her Caribbean roots and described her early sound as "a fusion of reggae, hip-hop and R&B, with a little something different thrown in". Her early dancehall roots can be found on her debut album, Music of the Sun, and its follow-up, A Girl like Me. Her debut album demonstrates the influence of Rihanna's musical heritage of the Caribbean. Kelefa Sanneh of the New York Times complimented its combination of dancehall and reggae, who said, "Dancehall reggae sometimes seems like a furiously insular form of music, but ... Rihanna is only the latest singer to discover how versatile the genre's spring-loaded electronic rhythms can be". Her debut single, "Pon de Replay" features a dancehall-pop mixture that infuses a reggae style, while " If It's Lovin' that You Want" talks about a girl seducing a guy to be her boyfriend. Aiming for artistic growth, A Girl like Me expresses personal experiences that typical 18-year-old girls go through with ballads that were described as elegant and mature. After her second album, she slowly dismissed her dancehall and reggae roots.

Rihanna's musical career has been an experiment with new musical ideas and stated that she wants "to make music that could be heard in parts of the world that I'd never been to". With its provocative subject matter and lyrics, she began incorporating a wide range of genres including, pop, R&B, reggae, dubstep, hip hop and EDM. During a review for Good Girl Gone Bad, Slant Magazine to write that Rihanna "finally figured out that she's a dance artist and the majority of the album is comprised of uptempo dance-pop [songs like]" "Push Up on Me" and " Don't Stop the Music". It represents a departure from the Caribbean sound of her previous albums and is described as a turning point in her career. While the first half of the record shares many 1980s pop influences with songs like "Don't Stop the Music" and " Shut Up and Drive", the second half retreats into standard R&B.

Recorded after the assault by her then-boyfriend, Chris Brown, Rated R had a much darker tone and was filled with various emotions she experienced throughout 2009. In her fifth album Loud, Rihanna reflects on the fun and energetic vibe she had while recording the album. The album is a mixture of ballads, party anthems and empowering love songs. Talk That Talk was similar to Rated R, as both contain hip hop, R&B, dancehall and dubstep genres. Loud and Talk That Talk saw her explore sexuality in her work (" S&M" and " Birthday Cake") and return to her dancehall roots ("Man Down" and " Watch n' Learn"). She also branched out into house music with tracks like "We Found Love", "Only Girl (In the World)" and " Complicated". Her songs are also inspired through record sampling from other artists.

Influences

Rihanna has cited Madonna (pictured) as her idol and biggest influence.

Rihanna has named Madonna as her idol and biggest influence. She said that she wanted to be the "black Madonna" and praised her ability to reinvent herself throughout her career. She noted, "I think that Madonna was a great inspiration for me, especially on my earlier work. If I had to examine her evolution through time, I think she reinvented her clothing style and music with success every single time. And at the same time remained a real force in entertainment in the whole world." Another major influence on Rihanna's music and career has been Mariah Carey, whose song "Hero" she performed when Rihanna was still a teenager at her high school talent show. She revealed that Carey's song " Vision of Love" "was the song that made [her] want to do music."

In her youth, she would see Bob Marley on television because of his fame in the Caribbean. She stated, "He's one of my favourite artists of all time - he really paved the way for every other artist out of the Caribbean". She built a shrine in her home dedicated to the reggae legend and has covered Marley's " Is This Love" and Bob Marley & The Wailers' " Redemption Song" during her concert tours. During her childhood, she would go around singing Whitney Houston songs and " A Whole New World" into her hairbrush so much that her neighbors started calling her "Robyn Redbreast". She also stated that one of the first songs she remembers falling in love with was Houston's version of " I Will Always Love You" and that it "was really inspiring, and it made me develop a passion for music, so really, she's partly responsible for me being here in this industry."

Rihanna was also influenced by Janet Jackson, Aaliyah, Tupac, Beyoncé and Destiny's Child. Other musical influences and idols include Celine Dion, Grace Jones, Lil' Kim, Alicia Keys, Prince, Fefe Dobson, and Brandy. Rihanna takes influence from the different types of music she discovered when she came to America and revealed that rock music was one of the first genres she fell in love with. She commented, "as I grow older, I want to know more about music. I want to discover more types of music". She cited Brandy's fourth studio album, Afrodisiac (2004), as her main inspiration for her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). In her early career, her music contained strong influences of Caribbean music, including reggae and dancehall. The music video of the song "Rude Boy" featured images inspired by her Caribbean roots.

Videos and stage

Rihanna has worked with music video director Anthony Mandler on more than a dozen music videos, the first being " Unfaithful" (2006). "We've done 16 videos together; they're not all tough, [...] Yeah, I mean, I'm known for the 'Disturbia's and the 'Russian Roulette's and things like that, but 'Only Girl (In the World)' is certainly an ethereal kind of empowering, beauty-filled video," Mandler said. Jocelyn Vena of MTV wrote, "Rihanna, like Madonna, also has a tendency to make truly thought-provoking music videos that fit the songs they represent. Smattered in between glitzier, more glamorous clips, Madge and Ri want us to think about bigger issues". Jon Bream of the Star Tribune commented "[i]n the tradition of Madonna and Janet Jackson, Rihanna has become the video vixen of the '00s ... Rihanna has perfected the pout, the long-legged strut, and trend-setting hairdos that keep women and men alike checking her out on YouTube." George Epaminondas of considers Rihanna's music videos to be "cinematic" due to her "blend of lush island rhythms and swinging pop and ... mischievous sensuality."

Many of her music videos were shot as short films exploring issues such as love triangles, abuse and substance abuse romance, including "We Found Love" and "Man Down". Her music video for "Umbrella" shows Rihanna's transition into adulthood and her newly adopted image. The "dark, creepy" scenes of "Disturbia" have been compared to Michael Jackson's Thriller. The video for "Russian Roulette" features Rihanna in a padded room playing a game of russian roulette with her partner. A scene of Rihanna being approached by a speeding car at night was compared to the altercation with Chris Brown. In 2011, Rihanna released three controversial music videos about sadomasochism, rape and domestic violence. "Man Down", which features Rihanna shooting a man in a train station, was criticized by the Parents Television Council. "We Found Love", which shows Rihanna and her love interest in a drug-filled unhealthy relationship, sparked criticism from the Rape Crisis Centre for its message. Charne Graham of the Houston Press defended her, asking, "Why should Rihanna's music videos get everyone riled up when others' equally sexual and controversial videos are in rotation? [...] she just like[s] to make music videos that give us something to talk about." Rihanna was the first woman to pass 2 billion cumulative views on the music video website Vevo. As of December 2016, she has accumulated over 10 billion views on the site.

Denis Armstrong of Canadian Online Explorer commented on her performance at the Ottawa Bluesfest, saying "her show was a Disney-esque choreographed fantasy of non-stop hip-swiveling, sassy attitude and personal endearments and a string of funky, sugar-free hits." Her performance of "Disturbia" at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards was ranked tenth best on the MTV Video Music Awards, according to a Billboard poll. Her revealing leather costumes during her Good Girl Gone Bad Tour were highly criticized by the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, who recommended that her concert tour should be banned. Whilst commenting on her third album's accompanying tour, compared Rihanna's stage wardrobe styling to that of Janet Jackson and called her "a vision of Ann Summers couture in thigh-high boots and a few scraps of black PVC." In the October 2011 issue of British Vogue, Rihanna said her performance outfits and appearances are all an act; "[t]hat's not me. That's a part I play. You know, like it's a piece of art, with all these toys and textures to play with".

Public image

Rihanna modeling haute couture fashion at the 2017 Met Gala in Manhattan, representing the theme Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons Art of the In-Between

Known for her style and image, the media have constantly followed the evolution of Rihanna's music and fashion sense. In 2009, magazine described Rihanna's early look as that of "a cookie-cutter teen queen", noting she has the ability "to shift looks dramatically and with such ease". Around the time of the release of her second studio album, A Girl like Me (2006), many critics felt that Rihanna's style, sound and musical material were too similar to those of Beyoncé. In an interview with Look magazine, Rihanna spoke about comparisons to Beyoncé: "Beyoncé is a great artist and I feel honored to be mentioned in the same sentence, but we're different performers with different styles". She revealed during Oprah's Next Chapter that Def Jam's pop-princess blueprint made her feel claustrophobic during her early years with the label. According to Rihanna, "I felt like they were giving me a blueprint. [...] They had a brand, they had an idea of what they wanted me to be without figuring out who I was." With the release of her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), Rihanna dismissed her innocent image for an edgier look with a new hairstyle, which was inspired by Charlize Theron's bob cut in the science fiction thriller (2005). She followed the likes of recording artists Janet Jackson and Christina Aguilera who also shed their innocent image for an edgier look and sound.

Nico Amarca of Highsnobiety magazine wrote, "over the course of her now 10-year career, [Rihanna] has undergone one of the most significant aesthetic metamorphoses the world has ever seen". Her image and fashion has changed several times with different hairstyles since the release of her third album. She commented that as a child she "used to watch her [mother] get dressed" and that her love and admiration for fashion started with her mother. When putting together her own wardrobe she stated, "It's become more about taking a risk ... I always look for the most interesting silhouette or something that's a little off." Jess Cartner-Morley of The Guardian wrote that "Rihanna's wardrobe is the most talked-about, influential and dissected in pop right now" and that whatever she wears "is immediately reproduced on the high street, because it sells". Country singer Miranda Lambert admires Rihanna's fashion and style stating, "I don't necessarily get inspired by the whole no-bra thing, but I love that you never know what she's going to wear. It always keeps you guessing, which makes her sassy and interesting."

In an interview with Alexa Chung during Festival 2015, Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing praised Rihanna by stylistically comparing her to some of the biggest fashion icons in music history, such as Madonna, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, and Prince. Commenting on the cultural expectation for pop stars to be role models, Rihanna said "[being a role model] became more of my job than I wanted it to be. But no, I just want to make music. That's it." In a May 2013 interview with MTV, The Vagina Monologues writer and feminist Eve Ensler said, "I'm a huge Rihanna fan, I think she has a kind of agency over her sexuality and she's open about her sexuality, she has enormous grace and she's immensely talented."

Described as one of the sexiest women of her generation, she revealed that being a sex symbol is not a priority and that "it's definitely flattering, but also uncomfortable." Her appearance has landed her on the cover of magazines such as , , Rolling Stone, and in December 2012, Rihanna became the first woman to be featured on the cover of magazine's "Men of the Year" issue.

Rihanna made her first appearance at the Met Gala in 2007. She has made eight appearances in the years since; notably in 2015, for China: Through the Looking Glass, her Guo Pei-designed yellow dress garnered the most attention of the event, accruing a billion impressions on social media. The dress, which had taken two years to make before Rihanna came across it, became the subject of a documentary by Pietra Brettkelly, entitled Yellow Is Forbidden. She co-chaired the 2018 Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination themed event, wearing Maison Margiela.

Rihanna is regarded by the media as a pop and fashion icon, particularly since her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). Nick Levine of Digital Spy described Good Girl Gone Bad as "the closest thing to a that 2007/08 is likely to produce". According to Rolling Stone, her single " Umbrella" and her eighth album are regarded as among the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, respectively. Her single " We Found Love" was ranked by Billboard as the 24th biggest US Billboard Hot 100 hit of all time and her single " Work" has been credited by a Billboard editor for bringing the dancehall genre to the forefront of mainstream American music. Music critic Jayson Greene of described Rihanna as the most influential singer of the past decade, writing:

"Rihanna Voice has become an industry-wide idea, a creative property like the Korg synth or LinnDrum [...] We crave the thrill that you can only get when a dozen or so good ideas manifest themselves in a single voice. For the past 10 years, that voice has more or less been Rihanna's. Now that she's gleefully shredding it apart, she'll probably generate a whole new comet trail of Rihannabes. Inevitably, none of them will carry the charge, the glassy cool and subterranean heat, of the real thing."

magazine included Rihanna on its 100 Most Influential People in the World issue in 2012 and 2018, with Stella McCartney writing: "She's one of the coolest, hottest, most talented, most liked, most listened to, most followed, most impressive artists at work today, but she does it in her own stride. She works hard, very hard. She gives to her fans, friends and foundation not just herself but her energy and spirit." Rihanna was ranked one of the best dressed women in 2018, by luxury fashion retailer Net-a-Porter. On June 2, 2014, Rihanna was presented with the Fashion Icon lifetime achievement award from Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a special prize reserved for "an individual whose style has made a significant impact on popular culture on an international stage". In August 2018, Billboard ranked Rihanna as the tenth biggest Hot 100 artist of all time, as well as the fifth biggest female act of all time. Billboard also ranked Rihanna the top Hot 100 artist of the 2010s decade. In 2014, magazine's pop stardom ranking metric ranked Rihanna second in history, based on all-time chart performance and contemporary significance.

Rihanna has an honorary title of Ambassador for Culture and Youth in Barbados. On February 22, 2008, former Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson launched the national "Rihanna Day" in their country. Although it is not a bank holiday, Barbadians celebrate it every year in honor of Rihanna. In February 2017, Rihanna was named Harvard University's "Humanitarian of the Year" by the Harvard Foundation. During Rihanna's third annual "Diamond Ball", former U.S. president Barack Obama, praised Rihanna's work and stated: "[She's] become a powerful force in the fight to give people dignity." On September 20, 2018, Rihanna was appointed by the government of Barbados to be an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, with special duties of promoting "education, tourism and investment for the island." As of 2021, Rihanna is the world's wealthiest female musician with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion. She was also listed among Forbes' Top 100 Most Powerful Women of 2019. In 2020, she debuted on the Sunday Times Rich List, claiming third place on the list of Britain's richest musicians.

At the 2020 NAACP Image Awards, hosted by BET, Rihanna accepted the President's Award from Derrick Johnson. Johnson stated that "Rihanna has not only enjoyed a groundbreaking career as an artist and musician but has also distinguished herself as a stellar public servant. From her business achievements through Fenty to her tremendous record as an activist and philanthropist, Rihanna epitomizes the type of character, grace, and devotion to justice that we seek to highlight in our President's Award."

Business career

Rihanna's first fragrance, Reb'l Fleur, was released in January 2011. According to Rolling Stone, Reb'l Fleur was a financial success and was expected to gross US$80 million at retail by the end of 2011. Rihanna's second fragrance, Rebelle, was released in February 2012. The promotional campaign for Rebelle, was shot by director, Anthony Mandler, who also shot the promotional campaign for Reb'l Fleur. In November 2012, Rihanna released her third fragrance, Nude. Rihanna's fourth women's fragrance, titled Rogue was released on September 14, 2013, followed by a male version entitled Rogue Men which was released in 2014.

On March 30, 2015, it was announced that Rihanna is a co-owner, with various other music artists, in the music streaming service Tidal. The service specializes in lossless audio and high definition music videos. Jay-Z acquired the parent company of Tidal, Aspiro, in the first quarter of 2015. Including Beyoncé and Jay-Z, sixteen artist stakeholders (such as Kanye West, Beyoncé, Madonna, Chris Martin, Nicki Minaj and more) co-own Tidal, with the majority owning a 3% equity stake. "The challenge is to get everyone to respect music again, to recognize its value", stated Jay-Z on the release of Tidal. In 2016, it was revealed that Rihanna would be releasing her music through her own label Westbury Road Entertainment, which was established in 2005. Westbury Road is the name of her Barbados residence. The music would be distributed through Universal Music Group. Westbury Road Entertainment's artist roster includes Melissa Forde as the label's photographer, and KazeLoon.

In November 2015, Rihanna and Benoit Demouy launched a beauty and stylist agency named Fr8me. The business based in Los Angeles was set up to assist artists in booking commercials, editorial shoots, ad campaigns, and red-carpet appearances. Rihanna stated, "Hair, makeup, and styling play an important role in creativity; I am very involved with that part of my process, so this agency was an organic thing for me to do." The roster includes Rihanna's makeup artist Mylah Morales, wardrobe stylist Jason Bolden, hairstylist Patricia Morales and Marcia Hamilton. In addition to Fr8me, Rihanna opened a photo agency called "A Dog Ate My Homework", which represents photographers Erik Asla and Deborah Anderson.

Fenty was a fashion brand by Rihanna under the luxury fashion group LVMH, which launched in May 2019. She was the first woman to create an original brand for LVMH and also the first woman of color to lead an LVMH brand. The house launched in a pop-up store on May 22, 2019, in Paris, before launching worldwide online on May 29 and included clothing, accessories, and footwear. It was the first line that LVMH had launched since 1987. The fashion brand was described as groundbreaking, and in a statement regarding the launch, Rihanna said that she had been given a "unique opportunity to develop a fashion house in the luxury sector, with no artistic limits." Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, in February 2021, Rihanna and LVMH decided to "put on hold" her Fenty fashion house and continue building on the SavagexFenty lingerie line.

Rihanna exclusively uses her surname for business endeavors not related to her music career so as not to conflate the two. In January 2019, Rihanna filed a lawsuit against her father, Ronald Fenty, over the use of the Fenty name for commercial purposes. The lawsuit alleges Rihanna's cosmetics brand, Fenty Beauty, was damaged commercially by her father's company, Fenty Entertainment, through misrepresentation of his company being affiliated with her. In September 2021 Rihanna dropped the lawsuit against her father.

Fenty Beauty

In 2017, Rihanna launched her critically acclaimed cosmetics company Fenty Beauty under LVMH's Kendo Brands. Rihanna owns 50 percent of Fenty Beauty, according to Forbes. The partnership was worth $10 million and would see Rihanna release various beauty products. The first installment of Fenty Beauty was released on September 8, 2017, in stores and online, available in over 150 countries. It included an array of products including foundations, highlighters, bronzers, blush compacts, lip glosses and blotting sheets and was praised for its diverse range for all skin colors. Time magazine named Fenty Beauty as one of "The 25 Best Inventions of 2017", citing the breadth of its range. In what has been dubbed the "Fenty Effect", the brand revolutionized the way other cosmetic brands approached diversity in marketing and product formulation: "Suddenly beauty houses - niche, establishment and those in between - began extending their shade ranges to accommodate a wider variety of skin tones. Forty shades became the new standard."

Savage X Fenty

In 2018, Rihanna launched a lingerie brand named Savage X Fenty. The line was born from Rihanna's vision creating an inclusive brand. Products come in a variety of shades to match all skin tones and a range of sizes. She showcased the brand at the New York Fashion Week in September 2018. The brand has been positively reviewed by the public for including plus size models in their promotion, though some fans argued there were not enough plus sizes.

In September 2019, Rihanna promoted the brand in a show again during the New York Fashion Week held at the Barclays Center with modeling appearances from models Alex Wek, Bella Hadid, Cara Delevingne, actress Laverne Cox, and musicians Normani and 21 Savage. The show featured performances by DJ Khaled, Halsey, ASAP Ferg, Big Sean, Migos, Fat Joe, Fabolous, and Tierra Whack and premiered on Amazon Prime Video on September 20, 2019, as the Savage X Fenty Show. The show was renewed for a third time in 2020, with appearances from musicians such as Travis Scott, Rosalía, Bad Bunny, Ella Mai, Lizzo, Big Sean, Miguel, Roddy Ricch and Rico Nasty. This version also premiered on Amazon Prime Video on October 2, 2020.

In July 2020, Rihanna launched a skin care brand called Fenty Skin.

Other ventures

Rihanna has ventured into other businesses and industries. In October 2005, Rihanna struck an endorsement deal with Secret Body Spray. In 2010, Rihanna featured in the Optus commercial, in conjunction with Optus supporting Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth. The same year Rihanna also featured in the Kodak commercial along with rapper Pitbull. In October 2010, she released a photo book featuring photos from the Last Girl on Earth tour and served as an accompaniment to her fourth studio album Rated R (2009). In 2011, Rihanna was the face of Nivea and Vita Coco.

Her first television program, Styled to Rock, premiered in the UK in August 2012 on Sky Living. In the 10-week series, Rihanna, Nicola Roberts, Lysa Cooper and Henry Holland assist up-and-coming British designers with their clothing lines. The US version of Styled to Rock premiered on October 25, 2013, on Bravo. In 2013, Rihanna collaborated with MAC Cosmetics and released her own summer, fall and holiday lines of makeup called "RiRi hearts MAC". In July 2013, lager production company Budweiser announced that Rihanna had become a part of their global "Made For Music" campaign, also co-starring Jay-Z.

Early in her career, Rihanna made clear her interest in fashion and desire to work in the clothing design industry. Regarding this, she said, "Fashion has always been my defense mechanism". In November 2011, Rihanna announced her first fashion venture with Armani. In February 2013, Rihanna presented her first women's fashion collection at London Fashion Week for British brand River Island, collaborating with her personal stylist Adam Selman. They published three more collections for the brand. Rihanna then collaborated with numerous fashion house's including Dior, Stance and Manolo Blahnik. In March 2015, Rihanna was chosen as the new face of Dior; making her the first black woman to be the face of the brand.

In 2014, Rihanna became the creative director of the fashion sportswear Puma, overseeing the brand's women's line which will include collaborations in apparel and footwear. The following year, Rihanna released her first trainer with Puma and it sold out online within three hours of its pre-sale launch. Over the next two years, Rihanna released various other footwear in different colorways and styles, which were all met positively by both critics and buyers. 2016 saw Rihanna debut her first clothing line in collaboration with Puma at New York Fashion Week; the collection was met with rave reviews from fashion critics.

Acting career

Rihanna made her acting debut in a cameo role in the straight-to-DVD film Bring It On: All or Nothing, released in August 2006. Rihanna starred as Petty Officer (GM2) Cora Raikes in her first theatrical feature film Battleship, which was released on May 18, 2012. Loosely based on the game of the same name, both the film and Rihanna's performance received mixed-to-negative reviews; the New York Times said she was "just fine in the rather generic role". In 2015, Rihanna appeared in the voice role of Tip in the animated feature film alongside Jim Parsons and Jennifer Lopez; the film was based on The True Meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex.

Rihanna played the recurring role of Marion Crane in the fifth and final season of Bates Motel. The show received universal acclaim from critics. Rihanna also had a major role in the Luc Besson film Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, an adaptation of the comic book series Valérian and Laureline. Also starring Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne, the film was released by STX Entertainment on July 21, 2017, in the US Rihanna was one of the all-female cast in the heist film , directed by Gary Ross and released by Warner Bros. on June 8, 2018. The movie grossed $300 million worldwide and became a major box office success.

In August 2018, it had been reported that Rihanna had been filming a secret project in Cuba titled Guava Island throughout that summer alongside Donald Glover. Glover's collaborator Hiro Murai was directing, with Letitia Wright and Nonso Anozie also involved. The trailer for the full-length movie premiered on November 24 at the PHAROS festival in New Zealand. The exact details project were not announced until April 2019 when advertisements for Guava Island appeared on Spotify indicating something happening on "Saturday Night | April 13". It was later revealed Amazon Studios would distribute the film and Regency Enterprises had financed the film, which was released on April 13.

Philanthropy

In 2006, she created her Believe Foundation to help terminally ill children. In 2007, Rihanna was named as one of the Cartier Love Charity Bracelet Ambassadors, with each celebrity representing a different global charity. To help raise awareness and combat HIV/AIDS, Rihanna and other public figures designed clothing for the February 2008 H&M Fashion Against AIDS line. In 2008, Rihanna performed a series of charity concerts entitled A Girl's Night Out to benefit the Believe Foundation. The concerts were made free for the public. Money from sponsors and advertisers were to be donated to provide medical supplies, school supplies and toys to children in need. In September 2008, Rihanna contributed to the song " Just Stand Up!" with fifteen other female artists, who shared the stage to perform the song live on September 5, 2008, during the " Stand Up to Cancer" television special. The proceeds from the single were given to the fundraiser. The television special helped raise $100 million for cancer research.

I feel strongly that all children everywhere should be afforded the opportunity of a quality education, therefore I'm proud to announce Clara Lionel Foundation's partnership with education advocacy leaders like the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen. Working together, I know we can amplify our efforts and ensure that millions of children gain access to education globally.

- Rihanna, discussing the Clara Lionel Foundation's partnership with the Global Partnership for Education

Rihanna founded the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) in 2012, in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. Programs include the Clara Braithwaite Center for Oncology and Nuclear Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados, and education programs. The CLF hosts an annual Diamond Ball charity fundraiser event. The inaugural event in 2014 raised over $2 million and the second raised over $3 million. On February 12, 2012, Rihanna performed a benefit show at the House of Blues to raise money for the Children's Orthopaedic Center and the Mark Taper-Johnny Mercer Artists Program at Children's Hospital. In November 2012, Rihanna gave $100,000 to food bank donation for Hurricane Sandy. On January 3, 2014, Rihanna was part of the MAC Viva Glam campaign, which benefits women, men and children living with HIV/AIDS. In March 2020, Rihanna donated $5,000,000 to COVID-19 relief and followed that up with additional donations of personal protective equipment to the state of New York and an offer of $700,000 worth of ventilators to her home country Barbados. In April 2020, Rihanna further donated an additional $2,100,000, matching Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey for a total of $4,200,000, to provide support and resources to individuals and children suffering from domestic violence amid the lockdown.

The Clara Lionel Foundation gave big amounts of money to climate justice and climate resilience. Only in 2022 it allocated 13 million euro to climate justice.

During her performance at the NCAA March Madness Music Festival, Rihanna expressed her disagreement with Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act that allows companies and individuals to use their religious beliefs as protection, in case of being accused of discrimination against LGBT people. Rihanna along with numerous other high-profile celebrities featured in an online video titled "23 Ways You Could Be Killed If You Are Black in America". The video was released in partnership with the We Are Here Movement and called for action against police brutality.

In January 2017, Rihanna participated in the 2017 Women's March, which took place in New York among protests the day after US President Donald Trump's inauguration. She has also criticized President Trump's immigration policies-including Executive Order 13769, which sought to ban citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen from entering the United States-and his response to the 2019 shootings in El Paso and Dayton. In October 2019, she stated that she declined to perform at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show in support of Colin Kaepernick following the controversy surrounding his role in the national anthem protests. In February 2021, Rihanna extended her support to Indian farmers' protest against the farm bills through Twitter.

Rihanna with many others called to a transformation of the global financial system so it will be better adjusted to stop climate change and poverty. One of the ideas is to give help to countries heavily suffering from climate change.

Personal life

Rihanna in 2012

Rihanna owns a $14 million penthouse in Lower Manhattan. She also purchased a house in West London for £7 million in June 2018, to be closer to her work with her FENTY fashion label. In December 2018, Rihanna put her Hollywood Hills mansion up for sale after a break-in six months before. The mansion was reported to have sold for $10.4m. began reporting on Rihanna's earnings in 2012.

Rihanna began dating American singer Chris Brown in 2007. After their relationship ended in February 2009, she entered an on-again, off-again relationship with Canadian rapper Drake, which lasted from 2009 to 2016. During an interview with Rolling Stone in January 2013, Rihanna confirmed that she had rekindled her relationship with Brown, although he remained under probation for their 2009 domestic violence case. Their reunion followed persistent media speculation that occurred throughout 2012. In May 2013, Brown stated during an interview that he and Rihanna had broken up again. In 2017, Rihanna began dating Saudi businessman Hassan Jameel. They split in January 2020.

On May 19, 2021, American rapper ASAP Rocky confirmed during an interview with that he and Rihanna were in a relationship. On January 31, 2022, it was revealed that the couple was expecting their first child. On May 19, 2022, it was confirmed that Rihanna had given birth to a son. On May 10, 2023, Rocky and Rihanna revealed their son's name as RZA Athelaston Mayers, named after Wu-Tang Clan leader and founder RZA. On February 12, 2023, during the Super Bowl LVII halftime show performance, Rihanna revealed she is pregnant with her second child, becoming the first person to headline a Super Bowl halftime show while pregnant. The pregnancy was confirmed in a British Vogue cover story featuring her family, which was released days after the Super Bowl appearance.

Domestic violence case

On February 8, 2009, Rihanna's scheduled performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards was canceled. Reports surfaced that her boyfriend at the time, Chris Brown, had physically assaulted her. He turned himself in to the police and was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats. On March 5, 2009, Brown was charged with assault and making criminal threats. Due to a leaked photograph from the police department obtained by TMZ.com-which revealed that Rihanna had sustained extensive visible injuries-an organization known as STOParazzi proposed "Rihanna's Law", which, if enacted, would "deter employees of law enforcement agencies from releasing photos or information that exploits crime victims." Gil Kaufman of VH1 reported the "nonstop coverage of the Rihanna/Brown case has brought up a number of issues regarding the privacy of alleged victims of domestic violence, including the decision by almost all major news outlets to divulge the identity of the victim-which is not typically done in domestic-violence cases" and discussed the controversial distribution of the leaked photograph. Rihanna was subpoenaed to testify during a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles on June 22, 2009. On June 22, 2009, Brown pleaded guilty to felony assault. Brown received five years of probation and was ordered to stay 50 yards (46 m) away from Rihanna unless at public events, which then would be reduced to 10 yards (9 m).

On September 2, 2009, Brown spoke about the domestic violence case in a pre-recorded Larry King Live interview, his first public interview about the matter. He was accompanied to the interview by his mother, Joyce Hawkins, and attorney Mark Geragos, as he discussed growing up in a household with his mother being repeatedly assaulted by his stepfather. Brown said of hearing details of his assault of Rihanna, "I'm in shock, because, first of all, that's not who I am as a person, and that's not who I promise I want to be."

Awards and achievements

As of September 2018, Rihanna has sold over 250 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards and honors, including 9 Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, 13 American Music Awards, 8 People's Choice Awards, among others. Rihanna received the "Icon Award" at the 2013 American Music Awards and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards. She holds six Guinness World Records. In the United States, Rihanna has sold over 10 million albums, while Nielsen SoundScan ranked her as the bestselling digital artist in the country, breaking a Guinness World Record for digital single sales of over 58 million as of 2012.

On July 1, 2015, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that Rihanna had surpassed more than 100 million Gold and Platinum song certifications. In doing so, Rihanna has the most digital single awards and is the first and only artist to surpass RIAA's 100 million cumulative singles award threshold. In the United Kingdom, she has sold over 7 million albums, making her the third bestselling female artist this century. According to Billboard, her total album sales stand at 54 million copies sold worldwide.

Rihanna has accumulated 14 No. 1 singles on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart for the third most No. 1 songs in the chart's history. She has been named the top Mainstream Top 40 chart artist of the past twenty years by Billboard; she ranks first with most entries (36), most top tens (23) and most No. 1 songs (10). As of March 2014, Rihanna has sold over 18 million singles and 6 million albums in the United Kingdom. She is the tenth bestselling and the second bestselling female singles artist in the country, only behind Madonna and is second only to the Beatles for the most million-selling singles in the UK of all time. Her collaboration with Eminem, "Love the Way You Lie", along with "Umbrella", "Disturbia", "Only Girl (In the World)", "We Found Love" and "Diamonds", are among the best-selling singles of all time. Rihanna has seven No. 1 singles on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and Airplay chart, as well as sixteen No. 1 singles on the Rhythmic chart. She has also earned over 30 top-ten songs in the UK and Australia.

Discography

Selected filmography

As a headliner

As a co-headliner

Promotional tours

References

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Robyn Rihanna Fenty ( ree-AN-ə ; born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, songwriter, businesswoman, and actress. She is widely regarded as one of the most prominent singers of the 21st century.

# data[].attributes.body
Rihanna's professional work here is overlooked and instead, the writer depicts her character in relation to her hairstyle that reflects the background of the persona, and of Rihanna herself, as the dreadlocks are inspired by her Caribbean heritage.

Magazine Article, 2018

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's basically the summer of Rihanna - she just hosted the Met Gala, has launched a gorgeous summer makeup collection called Beach, Please, and soon, we'll be able to watch her, Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, and other stars in the summer blockbuster, Ocean's 8. In anticipation of the film's release, Rihanna's longtime hairstylist, Yusef Williams, chatted with Refinery29 about the choice of locs for Rihanna's character, Nine Ball, in the movie.

Rihanna was seen wearing the long locs around New York City while filming the movie back in the fall of 2016, and the style was apparently her request, according to Us Magazine. Williams, who had already been working with Rihanna for a while, did the style for her, and spoke to Refinery29 about the importance of the choice for the character of Nine Ball.

Williams told Refinery29, "We thought it would be strong. Her locs would maintain that tie to Africa. She'd keep her accent. She wasn't just going to be some American girl in this movie. Nine Ball is still a Caribbean girl that just happens to be in America." Given that Rihanna is all about representation and inclusivity in all that she does, including Fenty Beauty and Fenty x Savage, the choice also went beyond the character herself and was about what she'd mean to those watching.

Williams continued, saying, "All in all, the locs are just really badass. I couldn't imagine her character without them." As for whether she'll have the style again? "It probably was the easiest style she's ever had, since she got to be free and cool and see herself differently. She's a huge pop star, and then we kind of stripped her down and gave her locs that we didn't make super, super pretty. She made them glamorous when she wanted, and then super casual when she wanted. I thought it was cool to see her locs own the night whenever she went out. You will be seeing her with locs again, for sure. I don't know when, but it will happen."

Read more about how Rihanna's Ocean's 8 style was created on Refinery29.
Read more about Rihanna: Now, watch 100 years of sun care: Follow Rosemary on Instagram and Twitter.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Important Reason Why Rihanna Wears Locs in Ocean's 8

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's basically the summer of Rihanna - she just hosted the Met Gala, has launched a gorgeous summer makeup collection called Beach, Please, and soon, we'll be able to watch her, Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, and other stars in the summer blockbuster, Ocean's 8.

# data[].attributes.body
Being sexually liberated is part of the Barbados culture, so comes somewhat  naturally to Rihanna.

Magazine Article, 2017

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Crop Over is an annual harvest festival held in Barbados, traditionally held at the end of the summer to mark the culmination of another successful sugar harvest. Since she's been in the public eye, Rihanna has attended four times, and each outfit has been more impressive than the last. Scroll down to see them in all their glory.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Comprehensive History of Rihanna's Carnival Ensembles

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Crop Over is an annual harvest festival held in Barbados, traditionally held at the end of the summer to mark the culmination of another successful sugar harvest. Since she's been in the public eye, Rihanna has attended four times, and each outfit has been more impressive than the last.

# data[].attributes.body
Rihanna frequently uploads mini makeup tutorials to her personal social media as well as her company, Fenty Beauty's accounts. As seen in this video, whilst Rihanna showcases the products available, she is also laughing with her friend and drinking alcohol which presents her as a fun and relatebale person, to which the audience may feel like they are getting ready with her as they do their own makeup.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
TUTORIAL TUESDAYS WITH RIHANNA: CONCEALER TUTORIAL

# data[].attributes.body
This article presents Rihanna as an icon as she is seen as "gorgeous" with "super hot" videos, yet she is also said to have a non-diva attitude when she is hired for the film 'Battleship'.

Magazine Article, 2012

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The idea to cast Rihanna came from me. I'm a fan of Rihanna, like every man. She's just gorgeous.

Her videos are super-hot and I'd watched them a lot. It clicked for me though after she got assaulted and she went on Diane Sawyer's show and talked very frankly about that night and what happened. She was so intelligent and articulate. She was sat there in a very conservative dress and just came across as very, very real. I remember thinking, "Wow. There's much more to this woman than I'd thought." I then saw her do this stupid little skit on Saturday Night Live where she was in a classroom giving a hard time to these boys. She was funny as all hell! I knew in that moment that the girl could act. No question.

I've worked with actor-musicians before. Tim McGraw is a big country star in the States who was in The Kingdom and

Friday Night Lights and did a phenomenal job in both. You know, Frank Sinatra acted in From Here To Eternity, Mick Jagger acted in Performance and

David Bowie acted in The Man Who Fell To Earth. More recently, Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey were excellent in Precious. It's not a new idea, that a musician can act.

She was nervous and she came with no entourage. She looked me in the eye and said: "Please protect me and make sure I'm good. I will do anything to be good. Don't go easy on me. Don't stop until you feel like you've got it." She meant it and she never stopped. There was no diva crew or glam squad. All she had was a hair girl with her, which is more than reasonable - everybody on set has a hair girl with them!

She's not the lead. I wasn't going to ask her to carry a film.

Having acted a lot myself I think I understand how to work an actor a bit differently to other directors. I was very conscious of easing her into it. As she became more comfortable I gave her a bit more to do and she took it. She has a prominent role in the film and does a great job. She's riding a wave right now!
As told to Kevin Perry. Battleship is released nationwide on 11 April. Click here to see Rihanna's photo shoot for British GQ. Click here for Peter Berg on dealing with Hasbro, why he won't be directing the N.W.A. biopic and starting the day with a Breakfast of Booze.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The idea to cast Rihanna came from me. I'm a fan of Rihanna, like every man. She's just gorgeous. Her videos are super-hot and I'd watched them a lot. It clicked for me though after she got assaulted and she went on Diane Sawyer's show and talked very frankly about that night and what happened.

# data[].attributes.body
Rihanna frequently appears on here to share tutorials or in pictures of new campaigns they are launching for new products. Seeing her using the products may invite fans who want to look or be like her to buy them.