Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born on February 20, 1988, in Saint Michael, Barbados. She grew up in Bridgetown with her parents, Monica Braithwaite and Ronald Fenty, and her two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad. Her childhood was impacted by her father's struggles with addiction, which led to her parents' divorce when she was 14. As a teenager, she found an escape in singing. In 2003, she formed a musical trio with two classmates, and they landed an audition with American record producer Evan Rogers, who was vacationing in Barbados. Rogers was impressed with Rihanna and, at 16, she moved to the United States to pursue a music career under his guidance.
Music Career
In 2005, Rihanna signed a record deal with Def Jam Recordings after a successful audition with its then-president, Jay-Z. Her debut album, "Music of the Sun," was released the same year and featured the hit single "Pon de Replay," which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Her second album, "A Girl Like Me" (2006), included her first number-one single, "SOS." A significant turning point in her career came with the release of her third album, "Good Girl Gone Bad" in 2007. This album marked a shift towards a more dance-pop sound and featured the international hit "Umbrella," which earned her a Grammy Award. Subsequent albums like "Rated R" (2009), "Loud" (2010), "Talk That Talk" (2011), and "Unapologetic" (2012) solidified her status as a global pop star, producing a string of number-one hits including "Rude Boy," "Only Girl (In the World)," "We Found Love," and "Diamonds." Her eighth studio album, "Anti," was released in 2016. After a hiatus from music, she performed at the Super Bowl halftime show in 2023.
Career Highlights
- Nine Grammy Awards
- Fourteen number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100
- Over 250 million records sold worldwide
Business Ventures
Rihanna has successfully translated her fame into a billion-dollar business empire. In 2017, she launched her cosmetics brand, Fenty Beauty, in partnership with LVMH, which was widely praised for its inclusive range of foundation shades. The brand reportedly generated over $550 million in its first year. Following this success, she launched her lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty, in 2018, which is celebrated for its body positivity and diverse sizing. In 2020, she expanded her Fenty brand with the launch of Fenty Skin, a gender-neutral skincare line. Her latest venture, Fenty Hair, was announced to launch in June 2025.
Philanthropy
In 2012, Rihanna founded the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) in honor of her grandparents. The foundation supports and funds education, health, and emergency response programs around the world. The CLF has donated millions to various causes, including establishing an oncology and nuclear medicine center in Barbados, providing scholarships to students, and contributing to COVID-19 relief efforts. For her philanthropic work, Rihanna was named Harvard University's "Humanitarian of the Year" in 2017 and received the NAACP's President's Award in 2020.