Rihanna: Life in pictures
Rihanna, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, can seemingly do no wrong when it comes to making hit music.The It-girl for the last few years, she has produced a string of popular songs, including “Umbrella” and “Disturbia.” There is no denying that the multi-racial songstress is a pop music powerhouse, and with three top-selling albums in three years, Rihanna is set up for a long career. (Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images)
Caribbean queen
Thanks to a friend of a friend,
Rogers whisked the teenage Barbados-native from her island home in 2003 to
Her first single, the Caribbean-infused “Pon de Replay,” made it to No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)
Giving back
In 2006, Rihanna created the Believe Foundation for terminally ill and disadvantaged children. She has since performed concerts and signed countless autographs in hospitals across the country in support of the charity.
Rihanna has also been involved in UNICEF and H&M’s Fashion Against AIDS campaign.
Her inspiration?
“When I was young and I would watch television and I would see all the children suffering, I always said: ‘When I grow up, I want to help,’ ” she told People. (Aaron Favila / Associated Press)
Take a bow
To promote “Good Girl Gone Bad,” Rihanna began a 79-date worldwide tour in September 2007. She also managed performances at every major music award show in 2008, including the 50th Grammy Awards (where she picked up her first Grammy for “Umbrella”), the American Music Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Style star
In just a few years, Rihanna has transformed from the cutesy, earrings-wearing girl of the “Music of the Sun”-era to a more sophisticated and edgy starlet with a more daring fashion style -- though in her stage shows, she exhibits a risque even outlandish persona.
Along with raising hemlines, Rihanna has merged femininity and originality with extreme pixie haircuts and a tattoo count that has risen to about a dozen. (Kevork Djansezian / Associated Press)
