rihanna

Girl Makes Good

For entrepreneur and fashion icon Rihanna, becoming a star singer was just the beginning. By Donna Rolando

Move over, Madonna—and Beyoncé too. Make room for Rihanna. A professed work-work-workaholic, she took top place among female musicians on the 2020 Forbes list of America’s richest self-made entrepreneurs. This was a first for the 33-year-old Barbados native, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, but not unexpected—she signed her first record contract at age 16.

Right now, her net worth of $600 million leaves giants like Madonna and Beyoncé in the dust. But Rihanna says she’s more about finding joy in the work than becoming the next billionaire. Fact is, she also shines for her charitable spirit—for example, giving upwards of $8 million to pandemic relief. And her sometimes startling, often stunning personal fashion choices draw notice for sure.

It would be easy to file Rihanna under “M” for music. After all, she has amassed nine Grammy Awards as well as multiple American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards and Guinness World Records. “Umbrella,” the lead single on her breakthrough 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad, topped the charts in 13 countries.

But she’s also an actress, with films like Ocean’s 8 and Bates Motel under her belt. And the biggest source of her $70 million annual paycheck is not on any playlist. She gets most of her fortune from Fenty Beauty, which she launched in 2017 with 40 foundation shades. To say she filled a need for diversity is an understatement. This cosmetics venture with French luxury goods giant LVMH made $100 million in the first 40 days, $600 million that initial year and is still going strong.

Another booming success is Savage X Fenty, a lingerie line valued at $1 billion that she co-owns with LA-based TechStyle Fashion Group. Thriving despite COVID, the size- and gender-inclusive company recently introduced its first bridalwear.

In 2019, Rihanna achieved another milestone as the first black woman in charge of a major luxury fashion house in Paris. Under the family name Fenty, she developed a line as diverse as she is, everything from sculptural suits and minis to bright island-hued wraps and tangerine dresses. For her the fashion had to be honest. “I don’t want anyone to pull up my website and think, ‘Rihanna would never wear that.’”

That line with partner LVMH was put on hold two years later during the pandemic. Some say it has been shuttered for good. But that’s not about to hold back Rihanna. Beauty and fashion remain her muses as much as chartbusters. She traces this love back to childhood and watching how her mom put together her own individual style.

Today the street fashion industry keeps watch on Rihanna as if every ensemble is a future gold mine. Anyone else might feel intimidating pressure knowing that what they pop out of the closet is so inspirational. But not Rihanna. Loud, unapologetic—these are not just album titles, but apt descriptions of her style sense. As a trendsetter, Rihanna is considered as influential as David Bowie, Prince, Michael Jackson and Madonna have been. She’ll pick an outfit for an intriguing silhouette or a slightly “off” feature—think sweatpants with pearls or a masculine denim jacket with a corset.

And by outfit, we mean the works right down to accessories, such as white-rimmed sunglasses with army pants; metallic boots with an orange trench coat; or Louboutin stilettos with a Versace animal print. Her bold approach was hard to beat when she wore an ensemble by Maison Margiela that was topped by a papal-style hat to the 2018 Met Gala with beaded headdress, strapless mini and detailed overcoat.

Rihanna did more than turn heads at the 2015 Met Gala, when she appeared in a 55-pound dress of gold thread and fox fur that took an embroideress two years to make. The online frenzy that surrounded Chinese designer Guo Pei’s creation included Photoshop images of a giant pizza or omelette. Beyond laughs, the showstopper was part of director Pietra Brettkelly’s documentary Yellow is Forbidden, a look at haute couture and China.

Rihanna is no doubt perfectly at home in this or any controversy, perhaps staying up at night thinking how next to stun her fans. “I’ve never been afraid to take risks,” she says.

Love her, hate her or simply don’t know what to make of her, one thing is certain: Her one-word name has entered the culture, whether it’s topping the charts at a given moment or not. “Told you I’ll be here forever,” sings Rihanna in one of her megahits. It seems just possible.

She may be a Vogue cover, but Rihanna is always the master of her own style. The star of pop and fashion seems the epitome of comfort in this Alexander McQueen original with a sparkling strapless top and a multi-tiered bottom. And no wonder—she has made the covers of everything from Maxim to GQ, a list rivaled only by her awards. She accessorizes with rings from Shay Jewelry, Hoorsenbuhs, Hermès and Delfina Delettrez.