Fabulous Facts About Rihanna

October 4, 2017 | Miles Brucker

Fabulous Facts About Rihanna


"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" -Rihanna

Rihanna was born on Feb 20, 1988 in Barbados. At age 16, she signed with Def Jam Records, and she released her first album, titled Music of the Sun, in 2005. The album sold more than two million copies worldwide, and established her as a major talent on the world stage. She continues to dominate the pop music scene and is an all-around diva. Below are 49 fabulous facts about Rihanna.


Rihanna Facts

1. Loves “Diamonds,” not Diamonds

“Diamonds,” from Rihanna’s album Unapologetic, is Rihanna’s favorite of all her songs. Ironically, when it comes to jewellery, she prefers gold baubles to diamonds.

Rihanna at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards - 2012Jaguar PS, Shutterstock

2. Taste Test Tuesday

Beyonce and Jay-Z are constantly trying to expand Rihanna’s palate, and they have a weekly tradition called “Taste Test Tuesday” or “New Flavor Fridays” or “Substitute Saturdays” where she has to try new foods.

Singers Beyonce Knowles (L) and Rihanna (R)Larry Busacca, Getty Images

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3. Confined by Her Career

At the beginning of her career, the studio execs at Def Jam wouldn’t allow Rihanna to wear anything too revealing—or even wear red lipstick—so that she could appeal to a younger demographic. Rihanna describes this period as “claustrophobic”; she felt like they were forcing her into a blueprint.

ay-Z hosts The Teen People Listening LoungeKevin Winter, Getty Images

4. I’m Not Leaving Until You Sign

When Jay-Z met Rihanna, he wouldn’t let her leave the building until she signed a record deal with him. She signed a six album deal that same day.

Singer Rihanna (L) and Jay-Z attend 2017 Roc Nation Pre-Grammy BrunchAri Perilstein, Getty Images

5. A True Artist

After her album Good Girl Gone Bad dropped, Rihanna felt like it was her first step to becoming a true artist. She said: "The other stuff I did was easy breezy—a lot of [it] I felt was stuff that any artist could have done. This [album] only a certain artist can do."

Rihanna Plays Rheinland-Pfalz Open AirAlexander Heimann, Getty Images

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6. Rihanna Sounds Better

Rihanna didn’t go by her middle name until after she became a star. Her full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty.

Rihanna attends the Mike Coppola, Getty Images

 

7. A Little Bit of This and That

Rihanna has an interesting heritage. Her father is Irish-Barbadian, and her mother is Afro-Guyanese. Her paternal grandfather was Afro-Bajan, and her paternal grandmother has English, Scottish and Irish ancestry.

Rihanna's 3rd Annual Diamond Ball BenefittingDimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images

 

8. The Three Rs

Rihanna’s two brothers’ names also begin with R: Rorrey and Rajad.

Monica Braithwaite, Rihanna and Rajad Fenty Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images

 

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9. Not a Girly-Girl

Rihanna was a self-professed tomboy when she was growing up, but even then she still had a penchant for shoes.

Singer Rihanna performs during the Victoria's Secret 2012 Fashion ShowBryan Bedder, Getty Images

 

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10. Corporal Rihanna

When Rihanna was a kid, she joined the army cadets. The singer Shontelle was her drill sergeant, and would order the cadets to do push-ups when they showed up late on the parade square.

Rihanna on stage for NBC Today Show Concert - 2008Everett Collection, Shutterstock 

11. Pageant Queen

Back when she was in high school in 2004, Rihanna won the Miss Combermere school beauty pageant.

Rihanna (L) and mother Monica Braithwaite - 2012David Livingston, Getty Images

 

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12. Winning with Mariah

At age 15, Rihanna won a talent show with a rendition of Mariah Carey’s hit song “Hero”.

Rihanna at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Battleship' - 2012Tinseltown, Shutterstock

13. A Quartet of Divas

Rihanna cites Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Madonna, and Beyonce as her singing idols when she was growing up.

Rihanna & Mariah CareyTheo Wargo, Getty Images

 

14. The Only One in the Room

While music producer Evan Rogers was vacationing in Barbados, mutual friends arranged to have Rihanna and two of her classmates audition for him. He told Entertainment Weekly in an interview that the minute Rihanna walked into the room, "it was like the other two girls didn't exist."

Rihanna performs during the 3rd This Day Africa Rising concert on July 11, 2008 in Abuja, Nigeria.Dan Kitwood, Getty Images

 

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15. I Can’t Look!

When Rihanna met Jay-Z, she was so star-struck she remembers thinking “I can’t look! I can’t look!"

Singer Rihanna (L) and Jay-Z in the audienceLarry Busacca, Getty Images

 

16. False Rumors

At one point, Rihanna was falsely rumored to be having an affair with Jay-Z, who was with Beyonce at the time.

Beyonce Knowles (L) and her man, rapper Jay Z attend the Marc Jacobs Fall 2005 showEvan Agostini, Getty Images

17. First Try, Top Five

Rihanna’s first single “Pon de Replay” hit the top five on the Billboard chart. The song was so big that Jay Z was worried it would be the only song she would become known for.

Rihanna makes an appearance on MTV's Total Request Live on September 6, 2005Getty Images, Getty Images

 

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18. An Opening Act

In 2005, Rihanna was the opening act on Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Lovers tour. She definitely doesn’t need to open for anyone now!

 Gwen Stefani attends a party hosted by Chasing Fireflies to introduce her Harajuku Lovers children's collection - 2015Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

 

19. First Hit Song

"S.O.S. (Rescue Me)" was Rihanna’s first number one hit. Altogether, she’s recorded a record-setting 14 number one songs on the Billboard Top 100.

Rihanna at the 2nd Annual Diamond BallTinseltown, Shutterstock

20. Award-Winning Collaborations

Rihanna won her first Grammy Award for "Umbrella," a collaboration with Jay-Z. Her second Grammy was also for a collaboration, this time with Jay Z and Kanye West on "Run This Town."

Rapper Jay-Z (L) and singer Rihanna accept the Best Rap/Sung Collaberation awardKevin Winter, Getty Images

 

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21. Leave the Umbrellas at Home!

Fearing that fans would injure themselves trying to copy her dance moves with the umbrellas when she performed "Umbrella," she banned audiences from bringing them to her UK concerts.Rihanna performs during Thomas F. Starke, Getty Images

22. Twice as Hot

In 2007, Rihanna was ranked #8 on Maxim’s Hot 100 Women list. In 2008, she was ranked 15th.

Rihanna arrives at the 2008 American Music AwardsFrazer Harrison, Getty Images

 

23. Digital Download Queen

Rihanna’s songs have been downloaded an estimated 75,000,000 times; she is the best-selling digital download artist of all time.

Rihanna waves to fansFrancois Nel, Getty Images

 

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24. Cover Girl

In Sept 2009, Rihanna appeared on the cover of Italian Vogue for their “Extreme Couture” edition.

Rihanna performs at the NFL Pepsi Smash Super Bowl ConcertKevin C. Cox, Getty Images

 

25. Honorary Title

Rihanna was named the official face of Barbados tourism in 2007, and holds the honorary title of “Ambassador for Culture and Youth.”

Rihanna poses for a portraitScott Gries, Getty Images

 

26. A National Holiday

Barbados also created a national holiday to honor Rihanna in 2008. Rihanna put on a free concert for her local fans as a way of saying thanks.

Rihanna performs onstage during a partyScott Gries, Getty Images

 

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27. It Can Happen to Anyone

Rihanna’s tumultuous relationship with Chris Brown was frequently in the headlines while they were dating, but things came to a head right before the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009, when Brown assaulted her. It took her 9 months to break her silence about the incident: She told Diane Sawyer “This happened to me. It can happen to anyone.”

Chris Brown and RihannaVictor Decolongon, Getty Images

 

28. Rihanna’s Law

After TMZ got hold of a leaked photograph of Rihanna’s injuries from the LA Police department, an organization called “STOParazzi” proposed a law that would deter law enforcement employees from releasing exploitive photos of crime victims. The law was referred to as "Rihanna’s Law."

Singer Rihanna  walk out of a preliminary hearingPool, Getty Images

 

29. Picky Eater

Rihanna doesn’t like Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, or Indian food. She also doesn’t care for vegetables.

Rihanna at Stratford, London. 19th November 2012.landmarkmedia, Shutterstock

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30. The Usual Please

One of Rihanna’s favorite restaurants is an Italian restaurant in Santa Monica called Georgio Baldi. Her usual order is spaghetti with tomato sauce and fried calamari.

Rihanna attends Sephora Fenty Beauty by Rihanna launch event on April 5, 2018 in Milan, Italy.Andrea Raffin, Shutterstock

31. Feature Film Debut

Rihanna made her feature film debut in the 2012 movie Battleship. The film starred Liam Neeson and Alexander Skarsgård.

 'Battleship' Japan PremiereKoki Nagahama, Getty Images

 

32. Too Big to Return

Rihanna likes to send her mother gifts, but her mother often sends these presents back because they are too expensive. One gift that her mother couldn’t send back was the five bedroom house in Barbados Rihanna purchased for her.

Rihanna and The Clara Lionel Foundation Host 2nd Annual Diamond Ball Christopher Polk, Getty Images

 

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33. No Thanks!

Despite having posted some racy photographs of herself on Instagram, Rihanna has repeatedly turned down offers to pose for Playboy Magazine.

Recording artist Rihanna attends the 2nd Annual Diamond Ball - 2015Christopher Polk, Getty Images

 

34. Down the Hatch

Rihanna always drinks a shot prior to going on stage. Usually she drinks dark liquor, but she’ll occasionally have vodka instead.

Singer Rihanna during The 59th GRAMMY Awards at STAPLES Center on February 12, 2017 in Los AngelesChristopher Polk, Getty Images

35. Eau de Rihanna

Rihanna has her own fragrance line, and achieved great success with her debut scent “Reb’l Fleur.” Subsequent fragrances include “Rebelle” and “Nude.”

Musician Rihanna attends the RiRi by Rihanna fragrance unveiling at Macy's Downtown Brooklyn on August 31, 2015 in New York City.Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images

 

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36. Please Leave

The Video “We Found Love” was shot on a farm in Ireland but, after seeing Rihanna's raunchy dress code while the crew were filming, the farmer had a change of heart and asked her and her crew to leave and “go find God.”

Rihanna is seen out for lunch before the Grammy awards on February 9, 2013 in West Hollywood, CaliforniaJoe Seer, Shutterstock

37. Stream Queen

In 2016, Rihanna was Spotify’s most streamed female artist and most streamed R&B artist. She was also the third most streamed artist overall, behind Drake and Justin Bieber.

Singer Rihanna performs onstag - 2016Christopher Polk, Getty Images

 

38. 6th Most Liked

Rihanna is ranked 6th on a July 2017 list of the Top Ten Most Popular People on Facebook. She has 81 million likes, edging out Justin Bieber's 78.7 million likes.

Rihanna at The Recording Academy and Clive Davis Present The 2010 Pre-Grammy Galas_bukley, Shutterstock

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39. This One Goes to Bieber

Rihanna is the most subscribed-to female artist on YouTube, with almost 24 million subscribers. She is the second most subscribed-to artist overall; this time Justin Bieber takes the top spot with over 26 million subscribers.

Singers Justin Bieber (L) and RihannaNoel Vasquez, Getty Images

 

40. Six Digit Seat

Rihanna is reportedly paid $100,000 by fashion designers to sit in the front row of their catwalk shows and pose for cameras at various Fashion Weeks. Not too shabby.

Rihanna attend the Miu Miu show as part of the Paris Fashion WeekPascal Le Segretain, Getty Images

 

41. Loves Her Ink!

Rihanna has at least 25 known tattoos, including music notes on her foot, a star inside her ear, a skull on her ankle, and a tribal design on the back of her hand.

Singer Rihanna, hand detailChristopher Polk, Getty Images

 

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42. Getting a Feel for Her Audience

Before a performance, Rihanna likes to disguise herself as a fan and go into the audience to get a feel for their energy. She will often wear a hoodie to keep herself from being recognized.

Rihanna and fans enjoy the TIDAL X: RIHANNA BBHMM event on July 1, 2015Jason Kempin, Getty Images

 

43. Getting Naked

After a show, Rihanna likes to go into her dressing room and strip down to her fishnet stockings for a while. She has said that she finds being naked relaxing.

The dressing room for RihannaIan Gavan, Getty Images

 

44. A Green Bouquet

On Valentine’s Day 2013, Rihanna received the unusual gift: a marijuana bouquet. Some sources believe the sender was Chris Brown, as the two were together that day.

Chris Brown (L) and Rihanna attend the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Christopher Polk, Getty Images

 

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45. A Serious Craving for Munchies

Rihanna loves junk food, and rumour has it that her entire tour rider (a set of demands for a musical performance) is filled with requests for junk food. Flaming Cheetos are among her favorite snacks.

Rihanna is seen out for lunch before the Grammy awards on February 9, 2013Joe Seer, Shutterstock

46. Banned in 11 Countries

In 2011, Rihanna stirred up controversy with her "S&M" Music Video. YouTube restricted the video, deeming it “inappropriate for some users.” The video was also banned in 11 countries, and BBC Radio 1 refused to play the track before 7pm.

Rihanna at the Reb'l Fleur by Rihanna Perfume Launch, Macy's, Lakewood, CA. 02-18-11s_bukley, Shutterstock

 47. Hardcore Trekkie

Rihanna is a hard-core Star Trek fan, and her 2016 single “Sledgehammer” was used to promote the third film in the franchise reboot. In an interview with High Snobiety, she explained that her dad got her into the show when she was a child, and that it only took her one episode to get hooked.

"Star Trek Beyond" UK PremiereGareth Cattermole, Getty Images

 

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48. Spooky Stuff

When Rihanna was a little girl, she witnessed an exorcism at a friend’s house. Since then, she’s been afraid of ghosts: She won’t visit the Chateau Marmont due to her fears. She insists that the place is haunted, and that the hotel is “borrowed space.”

Chateau Marmont Hotel — on the Sunset StripGary Minnaert, Wikimedia Commons

 

49. From Pop Princess to Sex Symbol

With the release of her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad, Rihanna shed her Pop Princess image and emerged as a full-fledged sex symbol. The album was also a musical departure from her breezy, Caribbean sound, and featured a more upbeat R&B/electronic sound that incorporated many 80s pop influences. The experiment paid off, and the album sold more than 7 million copies worldwide.

Rihanna performs onstage during CBS RADIOs third annual We Can Survive, presented by Chrysler, at the Hollywood Bowl on October 24, 2015Christopher Polk, Getty Images

 

Sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,


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