Back in February 2009, folks were shocked to see images of Rihanna sporting bruises on her face circulated by TMZ. The culprit behind the assault was none other than her partner, Chris Brown. To make matters worse, not too long before the incident, Rihanna and Chris Brown were one of the most adored musical couples in the US.
Rihanna was deeply hurt when unflattering photos of her were spread, causing her embarrassment and exploitation. She opened up about this in Glamor magazine, admitting that despite the physical and emotional damage from the violent incident with Chris Brown, he was still her first love. However, she also acknowledged the scars that remain from that love. After the incident, Rihanna spent 8 months focusing on her music and using it as a way to heal. She emerged stronger and more independent, dominating Hollywood with her successful career in the music industry. Her album Loud, released in 2010, became one of the most successful of her career with numerous hit singles.
In the year that saw the fateful meeting of Rihanna and Eminem, the iconic song “Love the Way You Lie” was born. It was a perfect mix of love and toxicity in a relationship, including themes of violence as depicted by the words “Will just stand there and watch you burn; But that’s okay because I like the pain; Will just stand there and listen to you cry; But that’s okay because I love the way you lie.” Over the last decade, Rihanna has sold over 250 million records, with 14 of her songs topping the Billboard Hot 100. Her first international hit was “Umbrella” in 2007, which went on to be certified 7x Platinum in the US and sold six million copies worldwide. With 9 Grammy Awards, 13 American Music Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, 6 Guinness Records, and a contribution in shaping the world music industry, Rihanna is undoubtedly a musical powerhouse. Moreover, she has established herself as a successful entrepreneur, building a fashion and cosmetics empire that has witnessed great success. Despite being called “greedy,” Rihanna is always committed to whatever field she ventures into and never rests on her laurels.
In 2017, Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty after a long period of development. The brand’s name was inspired by her real last name, Fenty, and it was built to promote inclusivity for all skin types and colors. Rihanna stated that the brand is for everyone, regardless of culture, personality, or race. The cosmetics line quickly gained popularity and sold out across the United States before expanding globally. Fenty Beauty’s color palette caters to people with diverse skin tones, including those with albinism.
After taking a break from the music industry for almost 7 years, Rihanna shifted her focus to building her cosmetics empire and made a comeback with the release of Lift Me Up. Alongside her success in the beauty industry, Rihanna also established herself in the fashion world.
