At the age of 34, Rihanna is proud and happy. In February 2009, upon waking up, people saw pictures of Rihanna with a bruised face on TMZ. The culprit behind those brutal punches was none other than her boyfriend at the time, Chris Brown. To make matters worse, not long before that, Rihanna and Chris Brown were known as one of the most beautiful celebrity couples in the United States.
When the not-so-beautiful photos of her were circulated, Rihanna was the one who suffered the most. About eight months after the violent incident that shook the United States, Rihanna opened up for the first time on Glamour magazine, revealing how embarrassed and exploited she felt when her own photos were widely shared and used without permission.
Amid physical injuries and emotional scars, the 21-year-old Rihanna admitted that, no matter what happened, Chris Brown remained the beautiful first love she ever had.
As it turns out, a past love not only leaves memories but also lasting wounds.
The music queen who reigns Hollywood
After the notorious violence, Rihanna spent eight months to “rebirth” herself through music. Instead of wallowing in pain and heartache, she emerged as a positive, independent, and strong person.
To be honest, she has had a memorable decade of contributions to the music industry. In 2010, the release of Loud marked one of Rihanna’s most successful albums, with almost all of its singles becoming hits.
In the same year, a fateful collaboration between Rihanna and Eminem gave birth to “Love the Way You Lie” – a song full of symbolism, blending love and the harmful aspects of a violent relationship: “I’ll just stand there and watch you burn; But that’s alright because I like the way it hurts; I’ll just stand there and hear you cry; But that’s alright because I love the way you lie…”
Over the past decade, Rihanna has sold over 250 million records with 14 number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her first international hit, “Umbrella” (2007), was certified 7x Platinum in the US and sold over six million copies worldwide.
She has won nine Grammy Awards, 13 American Music Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, six Guinness World Records, and has contributed to shaping the global music scene.
It’s easy to affirm Rihanna’s status as a queen when everything she touches can shine in a remarkable way. Some have said that no one is more “greedy” than Rihanna, but in reality, she puts 100% dedication into every field she steps into, rather than just “riding on her laurels.”
In recent years, Rihanna has “frozen” her music career to build her fashion and beauty empire.
In 2017, after many years of planning, Rihanna launched her own cosmetics brand called Fenty Beauty. The name of the brand was inspired by Rihanna’s real last name, which is Fenty. From the very beginning, Rihanna aimed to create a brand that would be inclusive and celebrate diversity without discriminating against different races or skin tones. She explained that Fenty Beauty was designed to be for everyone, regardless of their personality, culture, or ethnicity.
Following its launch, Fenty Beauty quickly became popular across the United States and around the world due to its rich color palette that catered to people with yellow, white, black, and even albinism skin tones. The brand’s makeup products are suitable for all skin types and shades, making it an ideal choice for anyone who wants to look their best.
In order to focus on building her cosmetics empire, Rihanna disappeared from the music scene for almost 7 years before returning with the release of Lift Me Up. Alongside her successful cosmetics career, Rihanna has also established herself as a prominent figure in the fashion industry. From the age of 17 until present day, Rihanna has consistently been recognized as a top fashion icon in showbiz. The media has even affectionately dubbed Rihanna as the “front-row beauty” to emphasize her standing with major brands.
Even during Rihanna’s hiatus from the music industry to focus on her cosmetics business, brands have continued to show their desire for the stunning beauty born in 1988. Rihanna has previously served as a designer for Armani and River Island and has partnered with MAC. She has also collaborated with brands such as Dior and Cover Girl. In 2017, Rihanna teamed up with Dior for a feminist campaign featuring a plain t-shirt with the words “We Should All Be Feminists,” which became a sensation in the fashion industry.
In 2018, Rihanna launched her lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty, with a mission to redefine beauty standards. Unlike other brands that solely feature thin models on the runway, Savage X Fenty celebrates the uniqueness of every body type, whether you’re skinny or curvy, tall or short, and regardless of your skin color or gender identity.
Savage X Fenty’s 2019 fashion show was even listed as one of the top 10 feminist cultural moments of the year. And, for Valentine’s Day 2021, Rihanna released a short clip titled “You think you’re the only Valentine?,” which delivered a rebellious yet feminist message.
At 34 years old and with 22 tattoos, Rihanna has proven to be a rebellious fashion icon who is independent and strong-willed. She is someone who can buy herself flowers instead of waiting for someone else to do it for her.
Rihanna’s success in business can be attributed to her community-driven approach, according to experts. This approach stems from her love and acceptance of her body, flaws and all. It’s undeniable that Rihanna’s music and fashion empire have set remarkable trends in the industry while promoting body positivity and inclusivity.
Seeing a confident woman wearing crop tops or sheer shirts to show off her baby bump has become one of Rihanna’s unforgettable fashion moments. Forbes magazine named Rihanna as one of the wealthiest self-made women in America and the highest-earning female musician in the world. Apart from her successful career, Rihanna’s charity work is highly appreciated for her efforts to build a better life for others. She has dedicated her time, energy, and money to raise funds and donate to noble causes. At the Super Bowl stage, Rihanna shone like a phoenix in her vibrant red outfit amidst the sparkling fireworks. This was a special event as it took seven years for Rihanna to have a live performance again.
Rihanna’s stadium is packed with eager fans waiting for the beauty to return to the stage, but there’s one very special fan – her 9-month-old son – and of course, her boyfriend, rapper Rocky. In this special moment on stage, Rihanna proudly shows off her “curvy” figure and shares the joyous news of her second pregnancy. The image of a happy, beautiful, strong, radiant and powerful woman on stage is truly one of the most special moments of 2023.
This message is sure to inspire many women to enter love and life with an independent, confident, and attractive mindset. Because there’s nothing more attractive than a talented, proud, and happy woman.