Rihanna: The Cross-Cultural Musician, Fashionista, Philanthropist

Robyn Rihanna Fenty, known most commonly to her fans as Rihanna, is a singer, actress, and business woman whose influence can be seen worldwide.

As a global superstar, Fenty makes sure to represent her cross-cultural background through her music, fashion designs, and philanthropy.

Early childhood
Fenty was born in Barbados and raised by her Barbadian father and Guyanese mother. According to Fenty, her middle name and stage name “Rihanna” comes from the Arabic word meaning “sweet basil.”

As a child, she grew up listening to Caribbean music, Hip-Hop and R&B, and these influences can be heard throughout all of her albums. At age 15, she moved to the United States after she was discovered by an American record producer, making her a Cross-Cultural Kid (CCK).

Rihanna and her career
Fenty’s music career kicked off in 2005 with the release of her single, “Pon de Replay,” which showcased a blend of Caribbean and dance-pop beats. She then moved forward to release her debut album Music of the Sun that same year, making waves in the pop industry with her unique melodies. Since then, the star has released eight albums, and has been teasing her fans with the potential release of a ninth album.

Fenty has not only made groundbreaking success in the music industry, but she is also a successful businesswoman as well, with both a fashion and makeup line. Fenty became the first Black woman to be in charge of a major luxury fashion house in Paris.

In addition to her luxury fashion line, Fenty also developed a gender and size inclusive lingerie line called Savage x Fenty, which became a major success due to its revolutionary inclusivity for all genders, all sizes and all races.

Fenty launched her cosmetics line Fenty Beauty in 2017, and shook up the entire makeup industry with her inclusive shade range of over 50 shades. She also received praise for making her beauty line gender inclusive as well.

Her humanitarian work

Not only is Fenty a wildly successful artist and businesswoman, but in 2008, she was appointed as a cultural ambassador for her home island country of Barbados. As a cultural ambassador, she was in charge of promoting tourism, education, and investment for the island.

Ten years later, in 2018, Fenty’s title expanded to “Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary,” which gives her an even more prestigious role to play in her home country.

Fenty has a special way of being arguably one of the most influential people on the planet in everything she does, whether it be through her music, her business, or her humanitarian efforts. She is not only an inspiration for her home country of Barbados, but a global inspiration as well.