Years before Rihanna became a globally renowned singer and fashion icon, she was already tapping into her creative side at just 14 years old in Barbados. As a teenager named Robyn, she worked alongside Barbadian designer Anwar Muhammad to design outfits for a street festival. Muhammad recalled how Rihanna and her friends would visit his workshop regularly to help create costumes for Crop Over.

Muhammad remembered Rihanna’s intense focus and dedication to the project, standing out amongst her friends. He also shared a sweet memory of picking cherries for her neighbor’s fruit tree, a practice that later influenced her Fenty skincare brand.

Despite her incredible success, Rihanna has remained connected to her Bajan roots. She often references her homeland in her music and has even been appointed as Barbados’ ambassador in 2018. Rihanna expressed her pride in representing her country and vowed to do her part in serving her nation.