Robyn Rihanna Fenty (/riˈænə/ⓘree-AN-ə;[2][3][n 1] born February 20, 1988) is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman and actress. Known for her artistic reinventions, she is an influential figure in both music and fashion. Rihanna is one of thebest-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 250 million records.
Rihanna's parents' house in Bridgetown, just a few meters from the city's harbor
Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born inSaint Michael, Barbados, on February 20, 1988.[5][6] She is the daughter of Monica (née Braithwaite), anAfro-Guyanese accountant,[7] and Ronald Fenty, a Barbadian warehouse supervisor ofAfrican,Irish, English, and Scottish descent.[8][9][10] Rihanna has two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty, as well as two half-sisters and a half-brother from her father's previous relationships.[11][12] She was raised in a three-bedroom bungalow inBridgetown and helped her father sell clothes at a street stall.[13][14] Her childhood was affected by her father'salcoholism andcrack cocaine addiction, which strained her parents' marriage.[15][16][17] Rihanna has spoken about witnessing her father physically abuse her mother, describing her as "one of the strongest women I know, if not the strongest".[18][11]
As a child, Rihanna suffered from intense headaches that required multipleCT scans, with doctors once suspecting atumor. Her health began to improve after her parents divorced when she was 14.[19][20][21] She attended Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School andCombermere School.[22][23] One of her teachers described her as a "well-behaved student" who avoided trouble.[23] She showed an interest in singing, dancing, and poetry. Around this time, Rihanna began listening toreggae artists such asSizzla andDamien Marley, as well asR&B musicians likeWhitney Houston andMariah Carey.[24][25] At the age of 11, she became a cadet in Barbados'sCadet Corps, with future singerShontelle as her drill sergeant.[24] Though she initially planned to finish high school, she ultimately dropped out at age 16 to pursue a music career.[26]
2003–2006: career beginnings withMusic of the Sun andA Girl Like Me
In 2003, Rihanna formed a music trio with two classmates in Barbados.[27] Unnamed and without original material, thegirl group auditioned for American producerEvan Rogers, who recalled that "the minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn't exist".[28][29] The trio went on to perform acover ofDestiny's Child's "Emotion".[28][30] Impressed, Rogers arranged a second meeting with Rihanna and her mother—this time without the other two girls—and later invited them to his hometown inConnecticut to recorddemo tapes for record label submissions.[31][32] Rihanna's demo tape included "Pon de Replay" and "The Last Time".[33][34] In 2005, she became the first artist to sign with Syndicated Rhythm Productions, the production company founded by Rogers and Carl Sturken.[31][35]
Rihanna's demo was sent to rapperJay-Z, who had just become the president and CEO of the record labelDef Jam Recordings.[36][37] Although Jay-Z initially thought "Pon de Replay" was too big for a new artist, he invited her to audition. In early 2005, she performed in New York City for Jay-Z and music executiveAntonio "L.A." Reid, singing Whitney Houston's "For the Love of You" along with demo tracks "Pon de Replay" and "The Last Time".[31][38][39] Jay-Z was convinced of her potential,[40] and Reid told him not to let her leave the building without a deal.[41] She waited in Jay-Z's office while lawyers finalized a six-album contract with Def Jam.[42] Rihanna canceled scheduled meetings with other labels and, shortly after turning 16, moved from Barbados to the US. There, she completed her high school education with a tutor.[43][44]
After Rihanna signed with Def Jam, Jay-Z and his team spent three months completing her debut studio album.[45][46] She collaborated with various producers, primarily Rogers and Sturken.[45] "Pon de Replay" was selected as the lead single because of its summer appeal.[47] The song was released on May 25, 2005, and became a commercial success, reaching number two on both the USBillboard Hot 100 and theUK Singles Chart.[48][49] Her debut studio album,Music of the Sun, was released on August 29, 2005. It debuted at number ten on the USBillboard 200 with first-week sales of 69,000 units.[50][51] Its second single, "If It's Lovin' That You Want", peaked at number 36 in the US.[52] Rihanna made her acting debut with acameo in thestraight-to-DVD filmBring It On: All or Nothing (2006), in which she portrayed herself.[53]
Soon after releasingMusic of the Sun, Rihanna began working on her second studio album in September 2005.[51] TitledA Girl Like Me, the record was released on April 25, 2006.[54][55] Apop and reggae album,[56][57]A Girl Like Me peaked at number five on theBillboard 200 chart, with 115,000 copies sold in the US in its first week.[58][59] It became her firstRIAA-certifieddouble platinum album, surpassing one million units sold.[60] It spawned four singles: "SOS", "Unfaithful", "We Ride", and "Break It Off". "SOS" became her first song to reach number one on theBillboard Hot 100,[61][62] while "Unfaithful" was a top-ten single worldwide.[63] To promote bothA Girl Like Me andMusic of the Sun, Rihanna embarked on her debut headlining concert tour, entitledRihanna: Live in Concert Tour, throughout 2006.[64]
2007–2008:Good Girl Gone Bad
In early 2007, Rihanna began recording her third studio album.[65] Aiming to dismiss hergirl-next-door image in favour of a more mature and rebellious persona,[66] she worked with such producers asNe-Yo,Timbaland,Justin Timberlake, andTricky Stewart for the album.[67][63] The resulting album,Good Girl Gone Bad, was released on May 31, 2007, to critical acclaim.[68][69] Regarded as a turning point in her career,[70] it marked a shift from the Caribbean-influenced sound of her earlier work,[71] embracing a more contemporary pop direction driven by uptempodance tracks.[72][73] The album debuted at number two on theBillboard 200, selling 162,000 copies in its first week.[74]
The lead single fromGood Girl Gone Bad was "Umbrella", featuring Jay-Z. It topped the charts in several territories, spending ten consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart and seven at number one on theBillboard Hot 100.[75][74] The following singles, "Shut Up and Drive" and "Hate That I Love You", saw moderate success, while the album's fourth single, "Don't Stop the Music", peaked at number three in the US.[76][77][78] In support of the album, Rihanna embarked on the worldwideGood Girl Gone Bad Tour in September 2007, performing 80 concerts across five continents.[79][80] At the2008 Grammy Awards, she received multiple nominations forGood Girl Gone Bad and won theGrammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Umbrella" alongside Jay-Z.[81] In late 2008, she released "Rehab", the fifth and final single fromGood Girl Gone Bad; it peaked within the top 20 of the charts in both the US and UK.[82] Having sold ninemillion copies as of 2023,Good Girl Gone Bad is her best-selling album worldwide.[83]
Entertainment Weekly named Rihanna "Diva of the Year" in 2008, praising her "newfound staying power".[84] In April 2008, Rihanna joinedKanye West as asupporting act on hisGlow in the Dark Tour.[85] The reissue ofGood Girl Gone Bad, subtitledReloaded, was released on June 2;[71] selling 63,000 copies in its first week, it helped the original album rise to number seven in the US.[86]Reloaded spawned four new tracks, two of which—"Disturbia" and "Take a Bow"—topped theBillboard Hot 100.[87] Soon after the release ofReloaded, she issuedGood Girl Gone Bad Live, aDVD documentary featuring Rihanna's December 2007 concert at theManchester Arena.[88] In 2008, she announced her romantic relationship with singerChris Brown and topped the Hot 100 once again with a feature on rapperT.I.'s song "Live Your Life".[89][90]
On February 8, 2009, Rihanna was forced to cancel her scheduled performance at the51st Annual Grammy Awards following reports that she had been physically assaulted by Brown.[91] He later turned himself in to authorities and was detained on suspicion of making criminal threats. On March 5, 2009, he was formally charged with assault and making criminal threats.[92][93] The case garnered widespread media attention, particularly afterTMZ published a leaked police photograph showing Rihanna with visible injuries.[94]
Rihanna was subpoenaed to testify at a preliminary hearing in Los Angeles on June 22, 2009.[95] The incident and its aftermath influenced her artistically, prompting her to begin work on her fourth studio album, titledRated R, one month after the Grammy Awards.[91] Released on November 20,[96]Rated R marked a shift away from the upbeat sound of Rihanna's earlier albums, embracing a darker, more introspective tone withrock influences.[97][98] The album debuted at number four on theBillboard 200 chart and sold 181,000 copies in its first week.[99] The single "Rude Boy" peaked atop the Hot 100 for six weeks,[100] while "Russian Roulette" and "Hard" both peaked within the top ten.[101] In support of the album, Rihanna embarked on theLast Girl on Earth tour from 2010 to 2011.[102][103]
Rihanna entered anon-again, off-again relationship with Canadian rapperDrake in 2009.[104] In June 2010, she collaborated with rapperEminem on the single "Love the Way You Lie". It topped theBillboard Hot 100 for seven consecutive weeks and peaked at number two in the UK; it was also the latter country'sbest-selling song of 2010.[105] In October that year, Rihanna switched management, signing with Jay-Z'sRoc Nation.[106] Rihanna returned to her more upbeat sound with her fifth studio album,Loud, which was released on November 12, 2010.[107] Adance-pop record,[107]Loud debuted at number three in the US with first-week sales of 207,000 copies.[108] It spawned threeBillboard Hot 100 number-one singles: "Only Girl (In the World)", "What's My Name?" featuring Drake, and "S&M", which topped the chart following the release of its remix withBritney Spears.[109] Rihanna became the youngest and fastest solo artist inBillboard Hot 100 history to accumulate ten number-one singles.[110][111]
Rihanna aimed to explore more sexually expressive themes on her sixth studio album,Talk That Talk,[121][122] which was released on November 18, 2011.[123] A dance-oriented pop andR&B album,[122][124]Talk That Talk opened at number three on the USBillboard 200 with first-week sales of 198,000 copies,[123] while debuting atop the UK Albums Chart with 163,000 units sold.[125] The album's lead single, "We Found Love", became a worldwide chart-topper.[126] It spent ten non-consecutive weeks at number one on theBillboard Hot 100, making it both Rihanna's longest-running chart-topping single and the longest-running number one song in the US in 2011.[127][128] The album spawned three other singles: "You da One",[129] "Talk That Talk",[130] and "Where Have You Been".[131] "Where Have You Been" peaked at number five in the US.[132]
Rihanna's seventh studio album, titledUnapologetic, was released on November 19, 2012.[142] Asynth-pop record withEDM andhip-hop elements,[143][144]Unapologetic debuted at number one on theBillboard 200 with first-week sales of 238,000 copies, becoming Rihanna's first chart-topping album in the US.[145] The album's lead single, "Diamonds", topped the USBillboard Hot 100, becoming Rihanna's twelfth number-one song on the chart.[146] The album's second single, "Stay", reached number three in the US.[147] To promote the album, Rihanna embarked on the777 Tour, performing seven shows in seven countries over the course of seven days.[148] A documentary about the tour aired onFox in May 2013, followed by the release of aDVD version the next day—her third long-form live video.[149] In January 2013, Rihanna and Brown rekindled their relationship,[150] although he remained under probation for their 2009 domestic violence case.[151] The two broke up around four months later.[152]
Rihanna made her feature film debut as Petty Officer Cora Raikes inBattleship (2012).[153] Loosely inspired by theboard game of the same name,[154]Battleship received mixed reviews,[155] thoughNeil Genzlinger, writing forThe New York Times, said that she was "just fine in the rather generic role".[156] That same month, theOfficial Charts Company reported she had sold 3.87 million records in the country over the past year, placing her at number one among the2013 Brit Awards artist nominees.[157] Her fifth headlining tour, theDiamonds World Tour, launched in March 2013 in support ofUnapologetic.[158] Rihanna made a cameo in the comedy filmThis Is the End (2013),[159] and later collaborated with rapperWale on his remix of the single "Bad".[160] In December 2013, she topped both theBillboard Hot 100 and UK Singles Chart with a feature on Eminem's song "The Monster".[161][162]
2014–2017: standalone releases andAnti
In 2014,Shakira featured Rihanna on her single "Can't Remember to Forget You".[163] Following the release ofUnapologetic and the ensuing tour, she expressed a desire to take a break from recording, saying she wanted "a year to just do whatever I want artistically, creatively".[164] That May, she officially parted ways with Def Jam Recordings and transitioned fully to Roc Nation, the label that had been managing her career since October 2010.[165] While working on her eighth studio album, Rihanna released the singles "FourFiveSeconds" (a collaboration with West andPaul McCartney), "Bitch Better Have My Money", and "American Oxygen";[166][167][168] none of the three appeared on the album's final tracklist.[169] In 2015, she starred alongsideJim Parsons andJennifer Lopez as the voice of Tip in the animated filmHome. Rihanna also curated and released aconcept album asits soundtrack.[170]
In late 2015, Rihanna signed a $25 million deal withSamsung to promote itsGalaxy product line, with the company also sponsoring the rollout of her eighth studio album, titledAnti, andits accompanying tour.[171][172] The album was released exclusively on the streaming serviceTidal on January 28, 2016.[173] With an eclectic blend of genres such as pop,dancehall, andpsychedelic soul,[174]Anti peaked at number one on theBillboard 200, marking her second chart-topping record in the US.[175] The lead single, "Work", topped the USBillboard Hot 100 chart,[176] with the third and fourth singles, "Needed Me" and "Love on the Brain", peaking within the top ten.[177][178] Announced in November 2015, the Anti World Tour was launched in March 2016 in support of the album.[179]
2018–present: hiatus, motherhood, and Super Bowl LVII halftime show
Rihanna visiting the US Embassy in Barbados in 2024
Rihanna was part of the all-female ensemble cast of the heist filmOcean's 8 (2018), directed byGary Ross.[199][200] The film was a major box office success, earning $300 million globally.[201] AlongsideDonald Glover, she starred in the filmGuava Island (2019), in which she played his character's love interest.[202] In September 2019, it was announced that she had signed withSony/ATV Music Publishing.[203] Rihanna appeared onPartyNextDoor's song "Believe It" (2020).[204] American rapperASAP Rocky confirmed that he and Rihanna were in a relationship in May 2021;[205] the two started dating around a year prior, soon after she had broken up with Jameel.[206] Rihanna gave birth to their first son in 2022.[207]
In 2023, Rihanna became the first person to headline a Super Bowl halftime show while pregnant, revealing her pregnancy during the performance. Later that year, she gave birth to her and ASAP Rocky's second son.[214][215] In 2025, she voicedSmurfette in the animatedadventurecomedy filmSmurfs, which was critically panned,[216] and gave birth to her and ASAP Rocky's third child, a daughter.[217]
Artistry
Music and voice
Rihanna is amezzo-soprano with avocal range spanning fromB2 toC♯6.[218][219] She began vocal training during the recording ofGood Girl Gone Bad (2007) under the guidance of Ne-Yo, who taught her breathing techniques and vocal delivery.[220][73] Critics have highlighted her versatility across different projects: James Skinner of theBBC described her performance on "Love the Way You Lie (Part II)" as "commanding, soulful and vulnerable",[221] while Andy Gill ofThe Independent cited "California King Bed" as her strongest vocal performance.[222]Billboard said that "Diamonds" showcased her "throatiest, most impassioned vocals",[223] and Jon Caramanica ofThe New York Times wrote that her voice developed into "a weapon of emotional chill and strategic indifference".[224] In 2023,Rolling Stone ranked her sixty-eighth on its list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time".[225]
Rihanna's musical career has been characterized by experimentation,[226] and she has stated her goal was "to make music that could be heard in parts of the world that I'd never been to".[227] In Barbados, Rihanna drew early inspiration from reggae,soca, and hip-hop, and after relocating to the US, she was introduced to a wider variety of genres, including rock.[228] Rihanna's early dancehall roots are evident on her first two albums,Music of the Sun (2005) andA Girl Like Me (2006).[51]Music of the Sun demonstrates the influence of her Caribbean musical heritage;Kelefa Sanneh ofThe New York Times called Rihanna "the latest singer to discover how versatile the genre's spring-loaded electronic rhythms can be".[229][230] Aiming for artistic growth,A Girl Like Me expresses personal experiences that typical young adult women undergo, withballads that were described as elegant and mature.[231]Good Girl Gone Bad (2007) marked a departure from her Caribbean-influenced beginnings and is widely regarded as a turning point in her career, with uptempo dance-pop tracks like "Push Up on Me" and "Don't Stop the Music".[71][232][233] The album's first half features strong 1980s pop influences, while the second half leans more toward traditional R&B.[21][68]
Rihanna's rock-imbued recordRated R (2009), released after the assault by her then-boyfriend, Chris Brown, had a much darker tone and was filled with various emotions she experienced since then.[98][234] With the dance-pop setLoud (2010), she reflected on the fun she had while recording the album, incorporating ballads, party anthems, and empowering love songs.[235][236] OnTalk That Talk (2011), Rihanna expanded on her dance-pop style while adopting a more overtly sexual persona and incorporating elements of R&B, hip-hop, dancehall, anddubstep.[237]Loud andTalk 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").[238] Vulnerability is explored on the pop and synth-pop recordUnapologetic (2012), whichVulture described as an "act of defiance[...] to sort out her feelings about her[... ex-boyfriend Brown] and her public image".[239][240]Anti (2016), created amidst creative struggles and emotional turmoil, incorporateslo-fi beats and eclectic influences such assoul andtrap.[241]
Rihanna has identifiedMadonna as her idol and primary inspiration. She expressed her aspiration to become the "Black Madonna" and commended her talent for continually reinventing herself throughout her career. Rihanna praised Madonna's ability to change her fashion and music repeatedly, while remaining a "real force in entertainment".[242] She also named Mariah Carey as a major influence on her music and career. She recalled performing Carey's 1993 song "Hero" at her high school talent show.[243][244] Rihanna also said that Carey's "Vision of Love" (1990) was the song that inspired her to pursue a career in music.[245] After moving to the US, she was exposed to a wide range of musical genres, which she said had a profound effect on her.[21] Rihanna identified Brandy's fourth album,Afrodisiac (2004), as a primary source of inspiration for her albumGood Girl Gone Bad.[246]
In her youth, Rihanna often watchedBob Marley on television due to his popularity in the Caribbean.[245] She deemed him one of her all-time favourite artists, crediting him with "pav[ing] the way for every other artist out of the Caribbean".[247] She created a shrine in her home dedicated to Marley and has performed covers of both "Is This Love" (1978) and "Redemption Song" (1980) during her concert tours.[197][248] As a child, she sang Whitney Houston songs and "A Whole New World" (1992) into her hairbrush so frequently that her neighbors started calling her "Robyn Redbreast".[249] She also mentioned that one of the earliest songs she developed an affection for was Houston's rendition of "I Will Always Love You" (1992). She credits that song with sparking her passion for music and partly attributes her presence in the industry to Houston.[250][251] Rihanna was also influenced by artists such asJanet Jackson,[252]Aaliyah,[253]Beyoncé,[254]Celine Dion,[245]Grace Jones,[255]Lil' Kim,[256]Prince,[257] andBrandy.[246]
Videography and stage
Rihanna has worked with music video directorAnthony Mandler on seventeenmusic videos, the first being "Unfaithful" (2006).[258][259] Jocelyn Vena ofMTV News observed that Rihanna often creates music videos that are thought-provoking and aligned with the themes of her songs.[260] Jon Bream, writing for theStar Tribune, deemed her thevideo vixen of the 2000s, lauding her mastery of the pout, confident strut, and trend-setting hairstyles that draw attention from audiences onYouTube.[261]InStyle's George Epaminondas described Rihanna's videos as cinematic and highlighted their island rhythms, pop sensibilities, and playful sensuality.[262]Billboard ranked her eleventh on its list of "The 100 Greatest Music Video Artists of All Time" in 2020, stating that she "rarely shields her emotions, as she's always willing to unmask every side to her in her videos".[263]
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".[260] The former, portraying a turbulent, drug-fueled romance,[264] was condemned by the Rape Crisis Centre for what it considered a troubling message.[265] The latter, which depicts Rihanna shooting a man in a train station, drew criticism from theParents Television Council.[266][267] Charne Graham of theHouston Press defended her, asking, "Why should Rihanna's music videos get everyone riled up when others' equally sexual and controversial videos are in rotation? [... S]he just like[s] to make music videos that give us something to talk about."[264] Her music video for "Umbrella" shows Rihanna's transition into adulthood and her newly adopted image.[268] The "dark, creepy" scenes of "Disturbia" have been compared toMichael Jackson's Thriller.[261][269] In 2013, Rihanna became the first woman to pass two billion cumulative views on YouTube.[270]
Rihanna's concerts frequently incorporate elaborate staging and choreography.[271][272][273] Critics have commended her stage presence[273][274] and her experimental stage costumes.[275][276]Billboard readers ranked Rihanna's2008 MTV Video Music Awards performance of "Disturbia" the tenth-best in the show's history.[277] Reviewing the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour,The Times compared her stage wardrobe to that of Janet Jackson and described her as "a vision ofAnn Summers couture in thigh-high boots and a few scraps of blackPVC".[278] She described her performance identity as distinct from her real self, calling it "a part I play. You know, like it's a piece of art, with all these toys and textures to play with".[279]
Public image
Rihanna at the Australian premiere ofBattleship in 2012
Rihanna has been described by the media as apop andfashion icon, particularly since the release ofGood Girl Gone Bad (2007).[280][53][281] Known for her changing style and image, Rihanna's music and fashion choices have been closely followed by the media.[282] In 2009,New York magazine described her early look as that of "a cookie-cutter teen queen" and praised her ability to shift appearances with ease.[283] Around the time of her second albumA Girl Like Me (2006), critics often compared her style and sound to that of Beyoncé.[284][36] When asked about the comparisons, Rihanna toldLook magazine that while she admired Beyoncé and felt honoured to be mentioned alongside her, they were different performers with their own approaches.[285] Speaking later withOprah onNext Chapter, she explained that Def Jam's early attempts to mold her into a "pop princess" made her feel boxed in, saying the label had a clear image for her without first allowing her to find her own identity.[286][287]
With the release of her third albumGood Girl Gone Bad (2007), Rihanna abandoned her innocent image in favour of a sharper, edgier style. Herbob haircut, which became emblematic of the era, was inspired byCharlize Theron's look in the filmÆon Flux (2005).[226][288][289] Nico Amarca ofHighsnobiety later observed that Rihanna had undergone "one of the most significantaesthetic metamorphoses the world ha[d] ever seen".[290] Her appearance and fashion have changed repeatedly since then,[291][292] and each shift has often become associated with her artistic identity.[293] Rihanna has credited her mother as the earliest inspiration for her love of fashion, recalling how she admired her getting dressed as a child.[294][295] She has said that her own approach to style is about taking risks and finding unusual silhouettes.[296]Jess Cartner-Morley ofThe Guardian called her wardrobe "the most talked-about, influential and dissected in pop", stating that whatever she wears is quickly reproduced in mainstream fashion.[297]
Rihanna has been described by critics as havingsex appeal.[298][299][300] She is often labeled as asex symbol, a label she has said is flattering but also uncomfortable.[301] She has appeared on the cover of magazines such asMaxim,FHM, andRolling Stone.[302] In December 2012, Rihanna became the first woman featured on the cover ofGQ's "Men of the Year" issue.[303] She first attended the Met Gala in 2007 and has appeared several times since.[304] Her 2015 appearance in a yellowGuo Pei gown drew massive attention online, generating over a billion impressions and inspiring a documentary,Yellow Is Forbidden (2018).[305][306] Rihanna later co-chaired the 2018 gala, wearingMaison Margiela for the Heavenly Bodies theme.[307] Through her fashion ventures, Rihanna has become one of thewealthiest musicians; in 2021, she became the richest female musician at the time, with a net worth of $1.7 billion.[308]Forbes included her on itsCelebrity 100 list in 2014,[309] 2016,[310] and 2017,[311] and featured her on its list of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women of 2019.[312] Active on social media, she ranked atopForbes' 2012 list of "Social Networking Superstars".[313]
Rihanna has fourteen number-one singles on the USBillboard Hot 100 chart, placing her third for themost chart-topping songs in its history.[324] In August 2018,Billboard ranked Rihanna as the tenth-most successful Hot 100 artist of all time[325][326] and it also named her the top Hot 100 artist of the 2010s.[327] Rihanna has eight number-one singles on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,[328] seven on theAirplay chart,[329] and sixteen on theRhythmic chart.[330] In the US, Rihanna has sold more than ten million albums.[60] She has also earned nine number-one songs on the UK Singles Chart and ranks second tothe Beatles for the most million-selling singles in the country.[331][332] She is the UK's third best-selling female artist of the 21st century, having sold seven million albums.[333]
Severalwax figures of Rihanna are found atMadame Tussauds Wax Museums in major cities around the world.[352][353] She has been honoured with the title of Ambassador for Culture and Youth in Barbados.[354] On February 22, 2008, Prime MinisterDavid Thompson officially proclaimed "Rihanna Day" in Barbados, which—while not an official public holiday—is celebrated annually by locals in her honour.[355] She was named "Humanitarian of the Year" byHarvard University's Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations in 2017.[356] The Barbadian government appointed her as an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary on September 20, 2018, with the duty of promoting education, tourism, and investment on the island.[357][358] At the2020 NAACP Image Awards, Rihanna received thePresident's Award fromDerrick Johnson. He highlighted her multifaceted career, "from her business achievements through Fenty to her tremendous record as an activist and philanthropist".[359] Prime MinisterMia Mottley declared Rihanna aNational Hero of Barbados during theRepublic ceremony on November 30, 2021.[360]
Other ventures
Rihanna has expanded into various business ventures and endorsements. In 2010, she featured in aKodak advertisement alongside rapperPitbull.[361] That year, she releaseda photo book documenting the Last Girl on Earth tour, serving as a companion to her albumRated R (2009).[362][363] In 2011, Rihanna was the face ofNivea andVita Coco.[364][365] Rihanna's first television program,Styled to Rock, premiered in the UK onSky Living in August 2012. Over the ten-week series, she joinedNicola Roberts, Lysa Cooper, andHenry Holland to mentor emerging British designers on developing their clothing lines.[366] TheUS adaptation ofStyled to Rock debuted onBravo in October 2013.[367] In July 2013,Budweiser announced that Rihanna had joined their global Made For Music campaign, appearing alongside Jay-Z.[368]
Business ventures
Rihanna's first fragrance,Reb'l Fleur, was released in January 2011.[369]Rolling Stone deemed it a commercial success, projecting that it would generate US$80 million in retail sales by the end of the year.[370] Her second fragrance,Rebelle, followed in December 2011.[371] Director Anthony Mandler shot the promotional campaigns for both fragrances.[372][373] In November 2012, she introduced her third fragrance,Nude.[374] Her fourth women's scent,Rogue, debuted in September 2013; a men's version entitled Rogue Man launched in 2014.[375][376] In 2013, Rihanna partnered withMAC Cosmetics to launch her own summer and fall makeup collections under the name RiRi Hearts MAC.[377][378] In March 2015, Rihanna was announced as a co-owner of the music streaming platformTidal, alongside several other artists.[379] The service specializes inlossless audio and high-definition music videos.[380][381] Including Beyoncé and Jay-Z, 16 artist stakeholders co-own Tidal, most of whom own a 3% equity stake.[382] In 2016, it was confirmed that Rihanna would release her music through her own label, Westbury Road Entertainment, founded in 2005 and named after her childhood home in Barbados.[383][384]
In November 2015, Rihanna partnered with Benoit Demouy to launch Fr8me, a Los Angeles-based beauty and stylist agency supporting artists with commercial bookings, photo shoots, campaigns, and red-carpet appearances.[385] She also established a photography agency, A Dog Ate My Homework, representing photographers Erik Asla andDeborah Anderson.[385] Early in her career, Rihanna expressed a strong interest in fashion and a desire to pursue clothing design, calling the former her "defence mechanism".[386][387] In November 2011, she launched her first fashion venture in collaboration withArmani.[388] By February 2013, she debuted her first women's fashion collection at London Fashion Week for the British brandRiver Island, working closely with her personal stylist, Adam Selman.[389] Together, they released three additional collections for the brand.[390][391] Rihanna went on to collaborate with numerous fashion houses, includingDior,Stance, andManolo Blahnik.[392][393][394] In March 2015, she became the first Black woman to be named the new face of Dior.[395]
In 2014, Rihanna was namedcreative director ofPuma's women's line, overseeing both apparel and footwear collaborations.[396] The following year, she launched her first sneaker with the brand, which sold out online within three hours of its pre-sale.[397] Over the next two years, she released a variety of footwear in different styles and colourways, all receiving positive responses from critics and consumers alike.[398][399] In 2016, Rihanna debuted her first clothing line with Puma at New York Fashion Week, which was commercially successful, earning the company over $1billion.[400][401][402]
Fenty
In 2017, Rihanna launched her cosmetics lineFenty Beauty throughLVMH's Kendo division, holding a 50% ownership stake.[403] The $10million partnership produced a wide range of beauty products, with the first collection released on September 8, 2017, in stores and online across more than 150 countries.[404][405] It included an array of products includingfoundations,highlighters,bronzers,blush compacts, lip glosses, and blotting sheets, and was praised for offering shades that catered to all skin tones.[406]Time named Fenty Beauty one of "The 25 Best Inventions of 2017", commending its inclusivity.[407] The brand sparked what became known as the "Fenty Effect", as cosmetic companies across the industry began to expand their shade ranges to better serve diverse skin tones, with forty shades becoming the benchmark.[408]
Rihanna in a promotional video forFenty Beauty in 2018
In 2018, Rihanna launched thelingerie brandSavage X Fenty, designed as an inclusive label offering products in a wide range of shades and sizes.[409] The line debuted atNew York Fashion Week in September 2018[410] and was praised for its diversity, particularly for featuring plus-size models, though some critics felt larger sizes were still underrepresented.[411] In September 2019, Savage X Fenty returned to New York Fashion Week with a show at theBarclays Center, featuring models such asJoan Smalls,Bella Hadid, and Cara Delevingne. It premiered onAmazon Prime Video that month as theSavage X Fenty Show,[410] and was renewed asVol. 2 in October 2020,[412]Vol. 3 in September 2021,[413] andVol. 4 in November 2022.[414] She stepped down as CEO in June 2023.[415]
Rihanna launched the fashion brandFenty under luxury group LVMH in May 2019.[416] She became the first woman to create an original brand for LVMH and the first woman of colour to lead one of its houses.[417] The line debuted in a Paris pop-up on May 22 before a worldwide online release seven days later, featuring clothing, accessories, and footwear.[418][419] It was LVMH's first new fashion house since 1987.[416] In February 2021, amid the effects of theCOVID-19 pandemic, Rihanna and LVMH agreed to suspend the brand and focus on expanding the Savage X Fenty lingerie line.[420] In July 2020, Rihanna introduced Fenty Skin, askin care line debuting with a cleanser, toning serum, and moisturizer-sunscreen, designed to be gender-neutral and inclusive of all skin tones.[421] In June 2024, she launched thehair care brand Fenty Hair, offering products formulated to suit all hair types, textures, and routines.[422]
Rihanna exclusively uses her surname for ventures outside of music to keep her business and artistic identities separate.[423] In January 2019, Rihanna filed a lawsuit against her father, Ronald Fenty, over the use of the Fenty name for commercial purposes. The lawsuit alleged that 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.[424] She dropped the lawsuit in September 2021.[17]
In 2006, Rihanna founded the Believe Foundation to support terminally ill children.[425] In February 2008, she joined other public figures in designing clothing forH&M's Fashion Against AIDS campaign to raise awareness and combatHIV/AIDS.[426][427] That same year, she performed a series of charity concerts calledA Girl's Night Out to benefit the Believe Foundation. The events were free to the public, with funds from sponsors and advertisers directed toward providing medical supplies, school materials, and toys to children in need.[425][428][429] In September 2008, Rihanna joined fifteen other female artists to record and perform the song "Just Stand Up!" during theStand Up to Cancer television special. Proceeds from the single supported the fundraiser, which ultimately helped raise $100 million for cancer research.[430][431]
Rihanna founded theClara Lionel Foundation (CLF) in 2012, named after her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite.[432][433] The foundation funds groundbreaking education and emergency preparedness and response programs worldwide.[434][435][436] The CLF frequently hosted Diamond Ball charity fundraiser events. The inaugural event in 2014 raised over $2 million, and the second raised over $3 million.[437][438] In February 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 atChildren's Hospital.[439] In December, Rihanna gave a $100,000 food bank donation forHurricane Sandy.[440] In January 2014, Rihanna was part of theMAC Viva Glam campaign, which benefits women, men and children living with HIV/AIDS.[441]
In March 2020, Rihanna donated $5million 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.[442][443] The next month, Rihanna donated $2.1million—matchingTwitter CEOJack Dorsey for a total of $4.2million—to provide support and resources to individuals and children suffering from domestic violence amidstthe lockdown.[444] In January 2022, Rihanna, through the CLF, donated $15million to eighteenclimate justice organisations across seven Caribbean nations and the US.[445]
Advocacy
During her set at theNCAA March Madness Music Festival in February 2016, Rihanna voiced her opposition toIndiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which permits companies and individuals to cite religious beliefs as a defence when accused ofdiscrimination against LGBT people.[446] Rihanna appeared alongside other celebrities in the online video "23 Ways You Could Be Killed If You Are Black in America" (2016), released in partnership with the We Are Here Movement to raise awareness about police brutality.[447][448]
In 2022, Rihanna advocated for reforming the global financial system to better address climate change and poverty, including providing aid to nations most affected by climate-related crises.[455] In 2024, Rihanna endorsedKamala Harris during theUS presidential election.[456]
^SanMiguel, Celia (June 2006)."Review:A Girl like Me".Vibe: 160. Archived fromthe original on April 8, 2017.a pop album, one informed but not bounded by Rihanna's Caribbean roots
^Watson, Margeaux (December 29, 2008)."Rihanna: Diva of the Year".Entertainment Weekly.Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. RetrievedJanuary 31, 2022.
^Aguirre, Abby; Abby Aguirre, Mert Alas; Piggott, Marcus (March 17, 2016)."It's Rihanna's World".Vogue.Archived from the original on August 16, 2025. RetrievedJuly 18, 2025.
^"Rihanna".Interview (Interview). Interviewed byKanye West. November 18, 2010.Archived from the original on December 2, 2010. RetrievedSeptember 7, 2025.
^abBream, Jon (2008). "Hush Hush Rihanna; The Decade's Hottest Pop Diva Is All A-Twitter About Monday's Jingle Ball. But Don't Ask About Costar and Boyfriend Chris Brown – Her Lips Are Sealed".Star Tribune. p. E.1.ISSN0895-2825.
^Epaminondas, George (August 2008). "Rihanna, Revealed".InStyle. Vol. 15, no. 8. p. 196.ISSN1076-0830.
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