“I stand up for what I believe in, and a lot of the time that can be against people’s opinions.”
Robyn Rihanna Fenty has repeatedly proven the power of determination and passion through her successes in both her music and business careers. Although “Rihanna” now resides in a lavish London mansion, a young Robyn Fenty lived in a cramped bungalow in Barbados. Her traumatic childhood in Barbados resulted in her clinging to music, particularly reggae, as an escape from the madness. After landing an audition with Evan Rodgers and meeting with Jay-Z, Robyn Fenty was signed to Def Jam; thus “Rihanna” was born. Since the release of her debut single, “Pon De Replay”, Rihanna has become an 8 time Grammy award winner and one of the most influential artists of the generation. Besides her feats in the music industry, Rihanna also triumphs in her businesses. In 2017, Rihanna took the makeup industry by storm with the release of her makeup line, Fenty Beauty. The inclusive shade range Fenty Beauty has to offer has redefined the meaning of diversity in the makeup industry. The same week of Fenty Beauty’s launch, posts, comments, and tweets flooded the internet, informing the public that most locations had sold out of Fenty’s darker shades. Fenty Beauty’s prosperity can be attributed to the fact that Rihanna used inclusivity, which is something that the makeup industry rejected, as means for success. 2017 was a busy year for Rihanna’s endeavors in business, as her lingerie line, Savage X Fenty was also launched. Rihanna branded Savage X Fenty as feminine, confident, and empowering. Similar to Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty promotes inclusivity, as it offers sizing options ranging from XS to 3X, and anywhere in between. It is evident in both Rihanna’s music and business careers that she is a risk taker; she pushes the boundaries of the norm and ultimately triumphs because of her courageous efforts.
Nationality: Barbadian
Industry: Music, Makeup, & Fashion
Q: When you were starting your career, did you always know that you wanted to build an empire and not just be an entertainer?
A: “No, sis…But the thing that keeps me alive and passionate is being creative. With every business outlet, I’m making something from a vision to a reality, and that’s the thing I really enjoy. Music had led me to these other outlets, and to things that I genuinely love.”
