Rihanna: Music and Beauty Mogul

I always believed that when you follow your heart or your gut, when you really follow the things that feel great to you, you can never lose, because settling is the worst feeling in the world.

Robyn Rihanna Fenty is an icon in every sense of the word. Since she entered the music industry in 2005, she’s built a massive empire. With 8 albums under her belt, her creative partnerships with companies such as Puma, Armani, Dior, and Manolo Blahnik, have catapulted her into superstar status. The Bajan beauty currently handles multiple business ventures, including Fenty Beauty and SavageXFenty and is expected to drop an album and launch her very own Luxury Fashion House in 2019.

The singer was born February 20th, 1988, in St. Michael Parish on the island of Barbados. She is the eldest of her two siblings from parents Monica and Ronald Fenty. Her childhood was rough. She watched her father mentally and physically abuse her mother for majority of her life in Barbados. Rihanna suffered from migraines because of this, which she hid from friends, and family. She picked up singing as a distraction from the drama going on at home, and soon formed a group with 2 of her friends. They auditioned in front of music producer, Evan Rogers who was awed by Rihanna’s natural beauty and talent. For her friends however, it meant the end of the road, as far as a career with Rihanna. “The minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn't exist,” said Rogers.

Shortly after, she moved to America at the age of 16 to sign her deal with Def Jam Records and began recording her first album, Music of the Sun. Being This album went on to sell two million copies worldwide. Since then, she’s went on to release 7 platinum albums. Although Rihanna has obviously seen massive commercial success, she has often been cheated from managers, label executives, and even her accountant. Not to mention the personal trauma that the singer has experienced, all while being in the public eye. The very public domestic violence situation between Rihanna and Chris Brown shocked everyone. Rihanna speaks on the incident with in an interview with Oprah, stating, “I thought I hated Chris, not realizing it was love that was tarnished, it looked like it, because it was ugly and angry and tainted. I realized that what it was, was that I had to forgive him...and the minute I let go, I was able to start living again”. Rihanna grew immensely as an artist after the situation. Her music, style, and entire persona changed. One could say she slowly became herself. On top of this, Rihanna was facing some serious financial troubles. In 2009, the singer suffered a $9 million loss. Rihanna claims that she started the year with $11 million in cash but was down to $2 million by the time 2010 came around. Primarily because her accountant convinced her to buy a $7.5 million mansion in the hills, which ended up being filled with mold and leaks. Her expenses we’re also doubling at the time. The mansion ended being sold at a $2 million loss. Rihanna eventually won a lawsuit for $10 million in 2012. In 2015, she released Bitch Better Have My Money, which addressed the situation in the best way possible. About a year earlier the singer switched management companies and went to Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company. As of 2019, the singer is worth $265 million. All this to say, Rihanna used pain and turned it into power, a lesson we should all take note of.

Rihanna’s discography isn’t the only thing that has generated her massive success. She’s also the founder of Fenty Beauty, the cosmetic brand housed by parent company, LVMH (Louis-Vuitton Moet-Hennessy). The brand apparently brought in over $100 million in brand value  within the first two months. In 2018, she released her critically acclaimed, body inclusive, lingerie line, Savage XFinity, which flew off the shelf.

On top of her businesses, she’s also dabbled in acting. Rihanna has a pretty impressive big screen history under her belt, such as: Battleship, Valerian, This Is The End, and Ocean’s 8, to name a few! The superstar has also been seen in her fair share of films and even made an appearance in the hit tv-drama, Bates Motel.

Rihanna has also made tremendous strides in philanthropy, specifically with her non-profit organization, Clara Lionel Foundation.  Founded in 2012, the org focuses their efforts on education and global health. The mission statement reads, “We believe in the right to education as a weapon against injustice and inequality, and the right to health as a necessity to happiness and productivity”. Forbes wrote an article on the organization and what was being done on the inside. In 2018, the foundation put together $25 million for hurricane relief funds. All in all, Rihanna’s non-profit has, “donated 735,025 supplies and reached approximately 275,127 people…”.

Throughout her years in the entertainment industry, Rihanna has been able to dominate many walks of life. Very few are able to sing, perform, design, act, start multiple businesses, and genuinely give back, while doing them all well! At only 31 years old, I think we can all agree, BadGalRiRi is far from finished. We are excited to see all of the amazing things she has planned in 2019 and beyond. Happy Birthday, Rihanna!