Rihanna’s real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, born on February 20, 1988 in Saint Michael, Barbados. As a child, Rihanna and her father made a living selling clothes at a street stall. Her childhood was deeply affected by her father’s drug addiction, which led to family tensions and her parents’ divorce.
While in high school, Rihanna formed a musical trio with two Barbadian classmates and auditioned for American record producer Evan Rogers, who was immediately drawn to her talent.
After a successful audition, she was invited to record a demo tape. Over the course of about a year, intermittent recordings produced tracks such as “Pon de Replay” and “The Last Time”. Both were later included on her debut album “Music of the Sun”.
“Music of the Sun” was released in August 2005. The album was a commercial success, debuting at number 10 on the Billboard 200. Her second album “A Girl Like Me” topped the charts in several countries, cementing Rihanna’s status as a global star.
In the summer of 2010, Rihanna collaborated with Eminem on “Love the Way You Lie”, a global hit that reached number one in over 20 countries and became the best-selling song of 2010 in the UK. She then co-headlined a tour with Eminem, grossing over $36 million in just six shows.
According to BET, Rihanna embarked on the Loud Tour in support of her self-titled album in a year, earning an estimated $90 million. The Loud Tour marked a record-breaking 10 sold-out nights at The O2 Arena in West London, making her the female artist with the most sold-out shows in the venue’s history. The tour was ranked as the seventh highest-grossing tour worldwide in 2011.
In 2015, Rihanna began work on her latest studio album, “Anti.” She signed a $25 million deal with Samsung, which involved her endorsing Samsung’s Galaxy line of products. In return, Samsung sponsored the release of her studio album and accompanying tour. Since then, Rihanna has collaborated with stars such as Kanye West, Calvin Harris, Drake, and DJ Khaled.
Fenty Fashion Empire
Easily transitioning from stage to business, Rihanna’s influence extends far beyond music. The launch of her Fenty fashion line marked a groundbreaking moment in the industry. Fenty not only broke traditional beauty standards but also championed inclusivity with its diverse product offerings.
In 2019, Rihanna unveiled her partnership with LVMH (a French international luxury goods conglomerate), revealing the name and logo of the joint venture on her social media platforms. In her appreciation message, she praised LVMH as an ideal partner, expressing her readiness for the world to witness their shared creativity.
The partnership made Rihanna the first woman of color to lead an LVMH brand. Fenty represents the addition of LVMH’s clothing, footwear, fragrance, and accessories lines since 1987, alongside iconic brands such as Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, and Christian Dior.
