# Rihanna

> Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian singer, founder, designer and philanthropist whose career moved from the 2005 hit "Pon de Replay" to nine Grammy wins, Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty and the Clara Lionel Foundation. Her distinctive move was not simply to license fame, but to turn the exclusions she observed in beauty and fashion into product briefs built around wider participation.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO of Fenty Beauty; founder of the Clara Lionel Foundation; founder and Brand Visionary of Savage X Fenty
- **Organizations:** Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty, Clara Lionel Foundation, Westbury Road Entertainment, Roc Nation
- **From:** Saint Michael, Barbados
- **Nationality:** Barbadian
- **Known for:** Won 9 Grammy Awards from 34 nominations., Became the first artist to surpass 100 million cumulative RIAA song awards; the RIAA later listed 121 million cumulative single awards across 43 songs., Received the 2014 CFDA Fashion Icon Award.

## Career timeline

- **2003** — Formed a girl group in Barbados and was discovered after auditioning for American producer Evan Rogers.
- **2005** — Auditioned for Def Jam, signed with the label and released her debut single "Pon de Replay" and album Music of the Sun.
- **2007-2008** — "Umbrella" became a global hit; the collaboration with Jay-Z earned her first Grammy Award in 2008.
- **2012** — Founded the Clara Lionel Foundation in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite.
- **2014** — Received the CFDA Fashion Icon Award.
- **2016** — Released Anti, an album that marked a more self-directed creative phase.
- **2017** — Launched Fenty Beauty with 40 foundation shades and received Harvard's Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award.
- **2018** — Launched Savage X Fenty and was appointed Barbados' Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
- **2019** — Created the Fenty fashion maison with LVMH, becoming the first Black woman to lead a major luxury house under the group.
- **2021** — Was named the 11th National Hero of Barbados as the country became a republic.
- **2022** — Returned to music with "Lift Me Up" for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, earning Academy Award and Grammy nominations.
- **2023** — Headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show.
- **2025** — Released "Friend of Mine" and served as a producer and the voice of Smurfette in Smurfs.
- **2026** — Was included in the TIME100 Philanthropy list as the Clara Lionel Foundation reported more than $100 million distributed in grants since 2012.

## Achievements

- Won 9 Grammy Awards from 34 nominations.
- Became the first artist to surpass 100 million cumulative RIAA song awards; the RIAA later listed 121 million cumulative single awards across 43 songs.
- Received the 2014 CFDA Fashion Icon Award.
- Received Harvard's 2017 Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award.
- Founded Fenty Beauty, which launched with 40 foundation shades and helped reset expectations for complexion-product ranges.
- Was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Barbados in 2018, with responsibility for promoting education, tourism and investment.
- Was named Barbados' 11th National Hero in 2021.
- Headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in 2023.
- Founded the Clara Lionel Foundation, which reports distributing more than $100 million in grants since 2012.
- Earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for the song "Lift Me Up."

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — TIME included Rihanna in its TIME100 Philanthropy list; her foundation reported more than $100 million in grants distributed since 2012.
- **2025-06** — Attended the Brussels premiere of Smurfs, a film she produced and in which she voiced Smurfette.
- **2025-05** — Released "Friend of Mine" from the Smurfs soundtrack, her first solo lead single since 2022.
- **2025-04** — The Clara Lionel Foundation outlined a refreshed strategy centered on climate solutions, women's entrepreneurship, arts and culture, and future generations.
- **2025-02** — Told Harper's Bazaar she had "cracked the code" on the direction of her next album, without announcing a release date.

## Links

- Website: https://www.rihannanow.com/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/rihanna
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@rihanna
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badgalriri/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rihanna
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rihanna

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/rihanna
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-21