Lets get excited! Rihanna is featured on the latest cover of Sunday Magazine printed in Australia! Adel sent us a brand new, never seen before photo shoot from it. Read below an interview from the set. I’ve added also the magazine cover and behind the scenes pictures (click here for the video). If you have this magazine and could scan it for us please e-mail rihannadailycom@gmail.com
Story: Claire Bradley Photography: Georges Antoni
WHAT’S the longest period of time youve waited for someone? Twenty minutes? An hour?
I start to get cranky around the five-minute mark, so imagine how grumpy I am after waiting four hours on a Sunday afternoon for the subject of today’s photoshoot to arrive. You know how a watched pot never boils? Well, let me assure you, a watched doorway never brings a Rihanna.
For much of the afternoon, I’ve been steadily receiving text messages letting me know that the singer won’t be long (“definitely within the hour”) until, finally, when the crew are weak with starvation, we’re startled into action by a flurry of voices. Striding at the front of the 10-strong pack is the surprisingly tall star, immaculately groomed in a simple white shift dress and giant sunnies (even though it’s 7pm). She takes the time to greet each of us with, “Hi, I’m Rihanna.”
Considering she’s only in town for a 72-hour promo tour, she has one hell of an entourage. There’s the manager, two assistants (one of whom heads for the stereo to blast the boss lady’s new album, Rated R, kicking off with the chart-topping single Rude Boy), the hair and make-up artists, the wardrobe keeper, the best friend and two drivers. They busy themselves taking over the entire studio space, while Rihanna squeaks with excitement at the designer pieces she’ll be wearing.
On the surface, the US-based singer, who originally hails from sunny Barbados, projects a sexy but tough ghetto-girl image. Yet, in person, she’s sweet, polite and even a little shy as she tries to gauge the situation. But while she admits she loves dressing up and says “the whole thing is fun”, the flashing cameras and hired help must feel a long way from the beach-side idyll she once called home.
“Where I lived in Saint Michael was literally 30m from the beach,” the 22-year-old tells me in a thick West Indian accent. “It was perfect - a paradise - and we took it for granted. Basically, we woke up on a vacation every day.”
After making a splash in her local industry as a cutesy pop singer (“I can’t even watch some of my old videos”), the former beauty pageant queen born Robyn Rihanna Fenty plucked up the courage to leave behind her single mother and two younger brothers - not to mention her father’s crack cocaine habit - and head stateside at age 16.
“I was like, oh my God, I’m really going. I wasn’t looking back.”
There, she auditioned for Jay-Z, head of Def Jam label at the time, and the story goes that he refused to let her leave until she signed a contract. “I signed her in one day,” says the rapper of his first meeting with Rihanna. “It took me two minutes to see she was a star.”
Under the guidance of the new label, her first single, Pon de Replay, charted well, as did SOS from her following record, but it was her fourth album, edgier look and one tune in particular - Umbrella (‘ella ella’) - that set her apart from the rest of the R’n’B pack.
These days, her solo music releases and collaborations are instant hits, and her forward fashion has led to her being touted as a style icon of the new decade. (Although not everyone agrees. Despite her role as a youth and culture ambassador for Barbados, there’s a contingent back in her home country who feels her image is a disgrace to her heritage and are openly hostile on blogs and in the press.)
But all that success was tainted by one much-publicised night with her ex-boyfriend, fellow musician Chris Brown.
When Rihanna collected an award for her collaboration on Run This Town with Jay-Z and Kanye West at the 2010 Grammy Awards in late January, it marked a year since her life took a dramatic turn just before the 2009 awards.
The first the world knew of the incident was when it was reported that the couple, who’d been scheduled to perform that evening, had pulled out. The show went on with Al Green, Keith Urban and friends stepping in to fill the gap. However, reports of a violent argument began to surface. Some said Brown had thrown a phone at his girlfriend; others said he’d bitten and tried to strangle her. It wasn’t until a photo was leaked showing Rihanna’s cut, bruised and puffy face that the world realised it was much more than a media beat up. (Brown eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years’ probation and community service and was slapped with a restraining order.)
The two bunkered down as more reports of arrests and court cases surfaced. There was a public apology from Brown on Larry King Live. But it wasn’t until Rihanna agreed to appear on US current affairs program 20/20 that the world heard her side of the story. In a stoic interview with host Diane Sawyer, the star - just 21 at the time - spoke of that night and her shock at having domestic violence in her life: “I’m strong. This happened to me … it can happen to anyone.”
A controversial holiday reunion in Miami sparked criticism regarding her position
as a role model, and Rihanna admits it’s something she had to have a long, hard think about. “It doesn’t get easier, you know. Most people define a role model as someone who’s perfect, who doesn’t do anything wrong, but that’s not human, it’s definitely not rockstar - and that’s what I am.” (In this environment, she needn’t remind me.)
Just one month after the incident, though, the singer pulled herself together and went back into the studio to record her fifth album, Rated R. The result, she says, “is a display of growth as a person”. Dirty, raw, urban and rooted in street beats, there’s little evidence of the reggae undertones of her past.
“It’s a big leap from where I left off last time and it definitely shocked people when they heard the new sound and saw the new image,” she says. “It was very personal; I couldn’t think so much about pleasing other people. I was in a place where all I wanted to do was make myself happy.
“This was a time when all eyes were on me, and people really wanted to hear what I had to say. I couldn’t just give them ordinary pop songs - I had to give them depth and a look into who I am and what was going through my head.”
To herald the end of an ugly period in her life, Rihanna says she did what she normally does when she has something to celebrate - she got a tattoo. The latest, the 13th in her collection, reads, ‘Never a failure, always a lesson,’ backwards.
“It’s my mantra,” she explains. “It says it’s OK to make mistakes, just don’t make them twice.”
And so, it’s onwards and upwards for the leggy star with the killer curves, who’s just finished looking like a Bond girl in a zipper-fronted swimsuit. While her make-up artist wipes away any leftover body glow, she tells me about the tour that will have her roaming the globe for more than six months and lead her back to Australia in October.
“Australia and New Zealand was my favourite, favourite leg of my last headline tour - it was awesome - so we’re definitely coming back,” she says. “Coming from Barbados, I think in terms of culture, we’re very similar. But the tour is going to be massive in its overall look and feel, and the costumes are really cool.”
Cleaned up and ready to hit an iconic local restaurant (which has also received constant updates and had the booking time pushed back - though, let’s be honest, who’d dare close the kitchen?), Rihanna shimmies off into the dressing-room to change and the crew starts dreaming of bed after a long day.
Minutes later, she emerges, wearing an oversize white dressing gown, towering white patent-leather heels and those giant sunnies, and bids us all a final farewell with a “thanks so much for everything”. She’s all geared up for a big night out with the girls, every inch the star. Better late than never.
Rated R (Universal Music) is out now.
Hot!
Comment by AnaLovesRihanna — March 20, 2010 @ 7:31 am
hot :rotfl:
Comment by q3delemo — March 20, 2010 @ 7:31 am
Gorgeous!!!
Comment by João — March 20, 2010 @ 7:31 am
AM adel i sent htem am so proudto see my name up there again am http://twitter.com/3delemo 3delemo
Comment by q3delemo — March 20, 2010 @ 7:33 am
very sexy! cant wait for all the pictures :-)
Comment by Teddy — March 20, 2010 @ 7:33 am
daaaamn!!! those legs! whew! :-* :chic:
Comment by lisette — March 20, 2010 @ 7:33 am
She is so sexy!!
btw, what do you think about Te Amo?
I think it’s a perfect next single. It could be next Umbrella (maybe not chart wise, but summer-feel wise). And I have a good feeling about Te Amo.
Comment by HumanitySector — March 20, 2010 @ 7:33 am
and she looks EXTRA FUNNY at 2nd pic. lmao
Comment by HumanitySector — March 20, 2010 @ 7:34 am
SHES FREAKIN HOT OMG!!!!
Comment by Lindy — March 20, 2010 @ 7:35 am
RIHANNA IS SO SUPER HOT, SEXY, BEAUTIFUL & AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3333333333
I LOVE RIHANNA!!!!!!! <3333333333
Comment by TK-75523 — March 20, 2010 @ 7:36 am
OMG HOT HOT HOT
Comment by RUMORED — March 20, 2010 @ 7:43 am
HOT!!!
what are these photos for?
Comment by zzmyth — March 20, 2010 @ 7:46 am
Gm RD!!
HOT PICs !! Guyzz Can You Imagine These Pics with The New Hair OMG!!!!!!!! INCREDIBLE But Like That is Awsome Too RiRii You’re Da Besst !!!!
Comment by Wait-Your-Turn — March 20, 2010 @ 8:07 am
@ zzmyth, morning i think they said for another book, not sure ,,,, but shes awsome, so smart, and as a young woman has got her head screwed on “right”,,,gotta love it off to thre situation room :-) :-) :-)
Comment by bodacious — March 20, 2010 @ 8:08 am
@ zzymth it says at the top , where the header reads for “sunday magazine” riri has the most top # ,,,1 in australia ,,, also it was reported a while back on singersroom,,, :-) :-) : :-) :-) :-) :-) http://rihannadaily.com/request
Comment by bodacious — March 20, 2010 @ 8:11 am
@zzmyth Have You the PopBars ??
Comment by Wait-Your-Turn — March 20, 2010 @ 8:11 am
# zzymth look back at the top and theres a copy of the “sunday magazine with her on the cover of the mag. http://rihannadaily.com/request
Comment by bodacious — March 20, 2010 @ 8:12 am
Since when was ‘Rated R’ her fifth album :S ?
Comment by Rehab — March 20, 2010 @ 8:13 am
WAW ! Follow Me please http://twitter.com/sublimefenty
Comment by SublimeFenty — March 20, 2010 @ 8:18 am
@ SUNSHINERD,,,,, WHEN EVER YOU COME UP IN THE HOUSE I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE WHAT BEING A ,,,, “TRUE SOLIDER IS ALL ABOUT ,,,,, WHEN I READ YOUR REPLY ON TWITTER I FELT SO GOOD BECAUSE YOU EVEN MADE ME FEEL GOOD , AND THATS THE WAY YOU DO IT WITHOUT A FIGHT BUT STATING THE FACTS/TRUTHS WHEN THEY (HATER) START THEIR LIES AND TRYING TO TEAR RI DOWN ,,,,, :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)
Comment by bodacious — March 20, 2010 @ 8:18 am
for standing strong aganist the many enemies and their lies and stating the facts and truths that will shut down a hate camp any day of the week ,,,,,, :-) http://rihannadaily.com/request
Comment by bodacious — March 20, 2010 @ 8:21 am
1. LADY ANTEBELLUM – Need You Now = 120.926 (+ 0.083)
2. YOUNG MONEY – Bedrock f/Lloyd = 99.238 (- 6.080)
3. RIHANNA – Rude Boy: 91.130 (- 2.783) ▲
4. BLACK EYED PEAS – Imma Be = 89.519 (- 2.849) ▲
5. TREY SONGZ – Say Aah = 88.920 (- 5.117) ▼
6. KESHA – Tik Tok = 88.602 (- 5.311) ▼
7. LADY GAGA – Telephone f/Beyonce = 83.233 (- 1.085) ▲
8. B.O.B – Nothin’ On You f/Bruno Mars: 82.338 (- 3.626) ▼
9. LADY GAGA – Bad Romance = 80.041 (- 3.107)
10. ORIANTHI – According To You = 67.145 (- 3.047) ▲
11. LUDACRIS – How Low = 65.780 (- 4.905) ▼
12. TRAIN – Hey, Soul Sister: 65.438 (+ 1.091) ▲
13. TIMBALAND – Say Something f/Drake: 64.265 (- 3.752) ▼
14. JASON DERULO – In My Head : 60.992 (- 1.551)
15. TIMBALAND – Carry Out f/Justin Timberlake = 58.021 (- 1.767)
16. KRIS ALLEN – Live Like We’re Dying = 52.985 (- 3.023)
17. EASTON CORBIN – Little More Country Than That: 50.095 (- 1.415) ▲
18. BLAKE SHELTON – Hillbilly Bone w/Trace Adkins: 49.827 (- 1.968) ▼
19. CARRIE UNDERWOOD – Temporary Home = 48.252 (- 1.260) ▲
20. DAVID GUETTA – Sexy Chick f/Akon = 48.126 (- 2.348) ▼
Comment by RUMORED — March 20, 2010 @ 8:32 am
HORRIBLE HORRIBLE
Comment by RUMORED — March 20, 2010 @ 8:33 am
Ahhhh I love it! So beautiful! *sighs* I wish I was taller lol.. THOSE LEGS!
Comment by Sellmecandy09 — March 20, 2010 @ 8:39 am
HOLY SHIT…RIRI IS LOOKING HOT. THIS IS THE SEXIEST I’VE EVER SEEN HER LOOK BEFORE. ME LIKES!!!!!!!!
Comment by selfishgirl — March 20, 2010 @ 8:51 am
She looks hot! The arrticle was good minus the part about the ex, which I completely skipped over. I can’t wait until he and the incident are no longer mentioned in articles about her. Loved Rih’s thoughts on why Rated R needed to be made.
Comment by TakeABow2 — March 20, 2010 @ 8:57 am
Rihanna Is Always Sexy . I Don’t Love Her . I’m Crazy About Her ♥
Comment by Dark Fenty — March 20, 2010 @ 9:10 am
OMG!!! These photos are HAWT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gosh I love you Rihanna!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Annie — March 20, 2010 @ 9:11 am
wowowo riri ich liebe sieses HQ foto sie sind so hot
Comment by genta — March 20, 2010 @ 9:20 am
hot hot hot ririri woowwoowow
Comment by genta — March 20, 2010 @ 9:21 am
everyone..
what the hell happened?
3. RIHANNA – Rude Boy: 91.130 (- 2.783)
Comment by rogars — March 20, 2010 @ 9:22 am
uhhh her legs got photoshoped
what dont people get she has THE hottest legs in the world why photoshop them..there perfect heres a video of the shoot. you can see her legs a little and they look better than these pictures
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/sunday-magazine/sexy-tough-rihanna-reveals-her-fragility/story-e6frf039-1225842359029
Comment by Ratedr — March 20, 2010 @ 9:25 am
@Ratedr, uhhh… I don’t see that her legs got photoshopped; the video looks just like the pix! but thanks for the video!!!!
Comment by Annie — March 20, 2010 @ 9:31 am
H-O-T!!!!!!!!! RIHANNA HAS THE FINEST BODY EVER!!!!!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Qui — March 20, 2010 @ 9:32 am
Yea Barbados is like a paradise matter of fact the entire Caribbean especailly my country Dominica which they call “The Nature Island of the Caribbean”. I am on my way to the beach right now which is 10 min from my house :-D . You guys should take a trip down here sometime. Great pics, nice legs RiRi. Anyone has the airplay or pop bars??
Comment by RiRiDominica — March 20, 2010 @ 10:13 am
RIRI I LOVE U…..
SEXY DIVA
Comment by Rocky — March 20, 2010 @ 10:14 am
REQUEST & BUY RUDE BOY GUYS!!!
IF U BROKE, UR FINGERS AINT, GET TO REQUESTING!!!
RIHQUEST
RIHQUEST
RIHQUEST!!!!
Comment by Annie — March 20, 2010 @ 10:18 am
OMG SHE IS SO HOT
She have the sexist body EVER !!!!!
Comment by Silent — March 20, 2010 @ 10:21 am
Rihanna is wicked hot
im a straight guy 17
and i cant get over rihanna ive loved her for years
theres no one like her shes amazing
madhot
Comment by Ratedr — March 20, 2010 @ 10:21 am
Rihanna is hot as usual. I dont get why the photos are so blurry though… very bad quality.
Comment by Wintz — March 20, 2010 @ 10:23 am
what was the increase today??
Comment by Ratedr — March 20, 2010 @ 10:24 am
Guys let’s con’t to request don’t get relaxed. The bloggers are killing her. Once again let’s silence these fuckers.
Comment by Die Hard Rihanna Fan — March 20, 2010 @ 10:26 am
Sorry guys but I’m so pissed off. Let’s request like last week as if we not @ no# 1 yet. We need to silence then once again.
Comment by Die Hard Rihanna Fan — March 20, 2010 @ 10:33 am
This gurl never lets me down, BEAUTIFUL!!!!! :D ;-)
Comment by BAM. — March 20, 2010 @ 10:34 am
im so pissed at my state..massachusetts
rude boy is number one right now on the billboard but they barely play rude boy at all.
i request constantly
everyone in mass is gaga crazy and its so damb annoying
rude boy is #26 and #27 on the states biggest radio stations both are pop and rnb stations i dont get ittt
what was the increase today??
Comment by Ratedr — March 20, 2010 @ 10:44 am
guyz what the matter with today airplay??? a decrase??
Comment by rihannito — March 20, 2010 @ 10:47 am
Riri looking very hot. I love her interviews, especially
about her looking like a bond girl *fingers crossed*
Keep Buying and Requesting
Comment by maison martin margiela — March 20, 2010 @ 10:58 am
its today airplay..
TOP 10
1. LADY ANTEBELLUM – Need You Now = 120.926 (+ 0.083)
2. YOUNG MONEY – Bedrock f/Lloyd = 99.238 (- 6.080)
3. RIHANNA – Rude Boy: 91.130 (- 2.783)
4. BLACK EYED PEAS – Imma Be = 89.519 (- 2.849)
5. TREY SONGZ – Say Aah = 88.920 (- 5.117)
6. KESHA – Tik Tok = 88.602 (- 5.311)
7. LADY GAGA – Telephone f/Beyonce = 83.233 (- 1.085)
8. B.O.B – Nothin’ On You f/Bruno Mars: 82.338 (- 3.626)
9. LADY GAGA – Bad Romance = 80.041 (- 3.107)
10. ORIANTHI – According To You = 67.145 (- 3.047)
Comment by rogars — March 20, 2010 @ 11:01 am
Airplay today
TOP 10
1. LADY ANTEBELLUM – Need You Now = 120.926 (+ 0.083)
2. YOUNG MONEY – Bedrock f/Lloyd = 99.238 (- 6.080)
3. RIHANNA – Rude Boy: 91.130 (- 2.783)
4. BLACK EYED PEAS – Imma Be = 89.519 (- 2.849)
5. TREY SONGZ – Say Aah = 88.920 (- 5.117)
6. KESHA – Tik Tok = 88.602 (- 5.311)
7. LADY GAGA – Telephone f/Beyonce = 83.233 (- 1.085)
8. B.O.B – Nothin’ On You f/Bruno Mars: 82.338 (- 3.626)
9. LADY GAGA – Bad Romance = 80.041 (- 3.107)
10. ORIANTHI – According To You = 67.145 (- 3.047)
Almost everybody was slashed!!! Time to step it up!!!
Request http://www.rihannadaily.com/request
Comment by maison martin margiela — March 20, 2010 @ 11:08 am
guyz rude boy clean version is up to #82 yay!!
Comment by rihannito — March 20, 2010 @ 11:16 am
she is sooo beautiful :) ♥
Comment by emii — March 20, 2010 @ 11:26 am
Guys what happened why is rude boy decreasing today we gotta request like mad to get the airplay back up !!
Comment by Lindy — March 20, 2010 @ 11:29 am
On the Hot 100 :
1 point = 55,000 streams
http://video.aol.ca/video-detail/rihanna-rude-boy/1260792703/?icid=VIDURV01
http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/rihanna/rude-boy–218642113
Watch and spread the word!
Comment by Thiago — March 20, 2010 @ 11:39 am
did rude boy really decrease today?
Comment by Ratedr — March 20, 2010 @ 11:40 am
Yes Rude Boy decreased today, along with most of the
top 10.We gotta step it up!!!!!!!Wake up RD!!!!!!
http://www.rihannadaily.com/request
Comment by maison martin margiela — March 20, 2010 @ 11:53 am
what was the decrease
Comment by Ratedr — March 20, 2010 @ 11:56 am
what other songs had a decrease
Comment by Ratedr — March 20, 2010 @ 11:59 am
Wow!! the Queen look wow! wow! woW! georgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Bodacious
wassup soilder… lol you taking about twitter? lol the comment to that ga ga fan?
Also Rude boy and every other song decreased.. its only cuz something changed on billboard.. it will be back to normal with every song soon..
Request!!
Comment by sunshineRD — March 20, 2010 @ 12:23 pm
yayyy!!! teleflop falls to #5 on itunnes!!! replaced by her soul sister goood the threat is far aaway noow,u have to keeep downloaadiiiiiiiinnnnnnngggg and requestinnng
Comment by rihannito — March 20, 2010 @ 1:09 pm
teleflop is down to 5 yaaaayy!!!!
we have to keeep downloaading and requestiiiiiiing our asses offff
And BTw the clean version is up to #81 grreaaaat
Comment by rihannito — March 20, 2010 @ 1:10 pm
stuning!
Comment by tal — March 20, 2010 @ 1:18 pm
Love it. She looks stunning. I especially love the cover photo. It draws you in and captivates you.
Comment by NickeyRockstar — March 20, 2010 @ 1:31 pm
this is why fisty is still so damn bitter, these pics are smokin hot rihanna is the baddest bitch on the planet…period!
Comment by Snow Black — March 20, 2010 @ 1:33 pm
Wow. She looks amazing.
Seeing photos like this reminds me that Rihanna has arrived.
She’s definitely turned into a star. Only a major star can pull off this kind off look.
Wow.
Comment by cocoliza — March 20, 2010 @ 4:24 pm
Absolutely GORGEOUS!!!!
Comment by Lu — March 20, 2010 @ 4:57 pm
I HATE WHEN THE INTERVIEWERS WRITE UP BITCHY STORIES TRASHING THE ARTIST WHEN THEY KNOW THAT ON THE PHOTOSHOOT SET THEY WERE KISS THE CELEBRITYS ASS
Comment by eefeef — March 20, 2010 @ 7:56 pm
why all the photoshop/chop
Comment by not a stan — March 20, 2010 @ 9:19 pm
i like your remixes
Comment by larry cudney — March 25, 2010 @ 11:54 am