Once an unknown protégée of Jay-Z, Rihanna has transformed into one of the most influential and iconic figures in pop culture. Crowned the best-selling digital artist of all time, every one of her albums has landed in the top ten on the American charts. Her trophy case overflows with nine Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Awards, six Guinness World Records, an MTV Lifetime Achievement Award, and the first-ever Icon Award at the American Music Awards. If Beyoncé or Taylor Swift had not won an award in the last decade, it’s on Rihanna’s shelf.
In an industry that often polices female artists while giving male rappers free rein, Rihanna, at 36, has made it her mission to break barriers and defy expectations. She doesn’t play by the rules—fluctuating between gaining and losing weight, baring it all or covering up (sans bras) without a care in the world. She's voiced her desire to be the "Black Madonna," and like her spiritual mother, she continuously crafts provocations that keep working wonders for her.
While it might be hard to pinpoint a major musical breakthrough from her in recent years, Rihanna dominates in fashion, lifestyle, and creating perpetual buzz. And if that’s not enough, in 2018, she was appointed as an honorary ambassador for her homeland, Barbados. This month, she also became the new face of Dior’s perfume. What’s more important? You decide.
Her style? Positively regal. Rihanna is one of the world's most stylish artists. A decade ago, she snagged the Fashion Icon Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and she’s been living up to the title ever since. Her outfits at the glittering Met Gala (except for this year’s no-show) set the standard for fashion brilliance and event comprehension.
Noteworthy looks include a yellow fur dress the size of a small continent by Chinese designer Guo Pei, a black thief ensemble by Balenciaga, a white rose coat by Valentino, and that floral teacup-inspired piece by Comme des Garçons.
But she’s not just dressing up; she’s dressing others. Under the Fenty brand, she runs a beauty line, a haircare line (where she revealed her natural hair for the first time), and most notably, the Savage X Fenty lingerie line, challenging every norm about lingerie, female beauty, and even the very concept of a fashion show.
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Appearing in Paris in 2024
(Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Christian Dior)
Rihanna also has a successful collaboration with Puma, spanning nearly a decade, recently boosted with new versions of Avanti shoes designed by her.
When she’s not dazzling on red carpets or strutting in minimal lingerie, Rihanna is redefining maternity fashion. Her pregnancies, especially the latest, unleash her boundless creativity—her belly always on display, elegantly framed by corsets, giant coats, furs, nets, tiny skirts, or work pants. Fans view this look as a "radical message of empowerment and women’s rights," though it may also stem from her well-documented love of bare skin.
Either way, she’s crafted a new lexicon for "what to wear when pregnant," devoid of any hints of concealment, restraint, or, heaven forbid, tunic cuts. For example, the red jumpsuit with a matching plastic corset by the Spanish brand Loewe, paired with the baby bump courtesy of Rihanna herself.
Her partner and father of her children, rapper ASAP Rocky, is a known fashion enthusiast with his fresh brand AWGE. His latest collection at Paris Men’s Fashion Week blended street fashion, avant-garde, and social protest, earning the title of "celebrity favorite." Perhaps, it's his relationship with Rihanna that they adore.
Forecast: With Rihanna, the sky isn’t even the limit. We wish her to double her wealth (currently estimated at $1.4 billion and counting), win two more Grammy Awards, and secure a new award invented just for her, collaborate with Beyoncé on a duet, design a resort collection with Pharrell Williams, and add a few more uniquely named children to the family so Rza and Riot aren’t left alone.
Applause or tomatoes? While we stand and give a round of enthusiastic applause for her immense style, promotion of diverse beauty standards, and overall fashion correctness, let’s not forget Rihanna's personal growth. She bravely emerged from an abusive relationship with Chris Brown, proving that songs about female empowerment resonate even stronger when backed by actions. It took time, but she has chosen her path to personal freedom.