How Rihanna manifested her success: from fashion and beauty to music and motherhood

A tweet that has resurfaced from a 2008 interview suggests the star's global domination was exactly what she has always set out to do

Rihanna's Fenty Beauty cosmetics brand has helped to redefine inclusivity in the make-up world. The singer, who was born Robyn Fenty, is now worth $1.7 billion, according to Forbes.

Rihanna at the opening of a Fenty Pop Up shop in Paris, France. The bulk of her fortune comes from the value of the Fenty Beauty brand, of which she owns half.

Rihanna's Fenty by Puma sportswear collection. The singer became creative director of Puma's women’s collections in 2014.

A sports top from the Fenty by Puma collection. Rihanna spent three years as Puma's creative director.

A Fenty Beauty eye palette in spicy tones that is retailing for Dh260. The cosmetics brand is a 50-50 joint venture with French luxury goods conglomerate LVMH.

Rihanna promotes her Fenty Beauty collection. Rihanna is now the wealthiest female musician in the world and the richest female entertainer.

A Fenty by Puma polo top. The brand's clothing line was first launched in 2016.

Rihanna and LVMH revealed the Fenty brand in 2019 but the singer's brief foray into fashion came to a halt when the clothing line was shut down this year.

A top from the Fenty by Puma collection. The brand’s first offering was the Creeper, a platform-soled variation of Puma’s suede trainer.

Rihanna's face is projected on to the side of the Burj Khalifa to celebrate the launch of Fenty Skin in the GCC early this year.

Rihanna attends a Sephora loves Fenty Beauty launch event in Milan, Italy.

Rihanna, Delphine Arnault, Bernard Arnault and Alexandre Arnault attend a Fenty launch party in Paris, France.

Rihanna has come a long way since she first emerged on to the music scene in 2005, aged merely 17. Fast-forward 17 years, and she’s conquered much more than the music industry.

With several fashion partnerships and a beauty empire under her belt, earning her billionaire status last year, as well as eight studio albums, the star has been busy cementing her global superstardom for the best part of two decades.

And now, she is about to embark on a new journey – motherhood. Rihanna and boyfriend, rapper ASAP Rocky, announced they are expecting their first child in a typically stylish way, debuting her bare bump, decorated with jewelled body chains, from beneath a vintage pink Chanel coat during a stroll around Harlem, New York on Monday.

As it turns out, Rihanna has seemingly manifested her dream life. In a 2008 magazine interview that has resurfaced on social media, the star was asked where she saw herself in 10 years’ time.

“That’s a cool question,” she replied. “In 10 years, I want to have already started my family and have some businesses of my own. A fashion line, a makeup line, and I still want to be doing what I am doing at a much bigger capacity – by the grace of God!”

Following her pregnancy announcement, the star’s tweet has gone viral, with many pointing out how she has achieved everything she set out to, and then some.

Here’s a closer look at exactly how she did it:

Music

With a beauty empire, billionaire status and eight studio albums, Rihanna has been busy cementing her global superstardom for the best part of two decades. EPA

Rihanna was discovered by American record producer Evan Rogers, who invited her to the US from her native Barbados to record demo tapes. The trip led to her being signed with Def Jam in 2005, and quickly releasing her first two albums, Music of the Sun in 2005, and A Girl Like Me in 2006, both of which gained critical acclaim.

However, her status as a pop super-force was really cemented in 2007, with the release of single Umbrella, which topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, the US, and the UK, where it remained at No 1 for 10 consecutive weeks. It also earned the singer her first Grammy award. She has been nominated 33 times, winning nine gongs overall.

During her career, Rihanna has collaborated with the likes of Drake, Eminem, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Adam Levine, Paul McCartney, Ne-Yo and Shakira, to name a few.

It’s been five years since the star has released new music, much to her fans' disappointment. And it looks like they will have to wait a little longer now for a ninth studio album.

Beauty

Rihanna's Fenty Beauty has helped redefine inclusivity in the make-up world. Getty Images

Just as she shook up the music industry back in 2005, Rihanna took her disruptive vision into the world of beauty in 2017, when she launched Fenty Beauty. The brand was a game-changer in the world of cosmetics, offering one of the first truly inclusive make-up lines at affordable prices.

Initially launched with foundations, highlighters, bronzers, blush compacts, lip glosses and blotting sheets in a diverse range for all skin colours, the brand has gone from strength-to-strength, and now includes a skincare arm.

Dubbed the “Fenty effect”, the brand forced other mainstream make-up companies to assess the lack of diversity in make-up shades, with many quickly expanding ranges to be more inclusive.

The company is estimated to be worth $2.8 billion, making Rihanna’s 50 per cent stake in the company worth $1.4 billion, according to Forbes, which last year officially named the star in its list of new billionaires.

Fashion

Rihanna has also ventured into the world of fashion and lingerie. In 2018, she launched her Savage X Fenty underwear brand, which again, was designed to be inclusive for all body shapes and sizes. The brand debuted at New York Fashion Week in 2018, and has held annual star-studded fashion shows in the years since, often featuring supermodels and A-list celebrities, with the likes of Gigi and Bella Hadid, Lizzo, Travis Scott and Normani featuring.

Rihanna and LVMH teamed up for the Fenty fashion line. Reuters

In 2019, she also announced the launch of her high-end fashion label Fenty, released under LVMH, the luxury powerhouse that owns the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Fendi. It was the first new luxury label launched by the company since 1987.

The brand launched with a pop-up in Paris, however, owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the brand was put on hold so she could focus on her Savage x Fenty collection.

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See Rihanna's style evolution in 62 photos:

Rihanna, in a sequinned vest and cropped jeans, poses backstage during a MTV Networks Tempo Channel launch event on October 22, 2005, in Barbados. Getty Images

Rhianna, in a gold top and embellished jeans, poses in the press room at the T4 Poll Winners' Party on November 20, 2005 in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in an embroidered blouse and shorts, at a party to celebrate the release of her new album 'A Girl Like Me' on April 22, 2006 in her hometown of St. Michael, Barbados. Getty Images

Rihanna, in a floral mini dress, arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Yoyogi National Athletic Stadium on May 27, 2006 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images

Rihanna, in a classic LBD, arrives at the Mobo Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall on September 20, 2006, in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in a sequinned mini, arrives at the 13th annual MTV Europe Music Awards on November 2, 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Getty Images

Rihanna, in a patterned midi dress, attends a press conference for the Nobel Peace Prize Concert on December 11, 2006 in Oslo, Norway. Getty Images

Kumi Kouda and Rihanna, in a black playsuit, on July 7, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images

Rihanna, in an emerald gown, arrives at the World Music Awards held at the Sporting Club on November 4, 2007 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Getty Images

Rihanna, in leopard print, attends the annual Bambi Awards on November 29, 2007 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Getty Images

Rihanna, in metallic Dolce & Gabbana, arrives at the Brit Awards at Earls Court on February 20, 2008 in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Givenchy, at the Givenchy show during Paris Fashion Week on October 4, 2009 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Chanel, arrives at the Chanel show during Paris Fashion Week on October 6, 2009 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Jean Paul Gaultier, attends the NRJ Music Awards at Palais des Festivals on January 23, 2010 in Cannes, France. Getty Images

Singer Rihanna, in a blazer and tulle skirt, attends at press conference on February 11, 2010 in Seoul, South Korea. Getty Images

Rihanna, in patterned separates, on February 14, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Alexandre Vauthier, arrives at the Echo Awards at Messe Berlin on March 4, 2010 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Miu Miu, attends the Miu Miu show during Paris Fashion Week on October 6, 2010 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in a Zambesi top, turns on the Westfield Shopping Centre Christmas lights on November 4, 2010 in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in voluminous Marchesa, attends the MTV Europe Awards at the La Caja Magica on November 7, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Stella McCartney, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 2, 2011. EPA

Rihanna, in Dolce & Gabbana, attends a Nivea event on May 6, 2011 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Stella McCartney, arrives for the Stella McCartney show during London Fashion Week on February 18, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Givenchy, attends The Brit Awards at the O2 Arena on February 21, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Pucci, attends the 'Battleship' premiere on April 3, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Raf Simons, switches on the Christmas Lights at Westfield Stratford City on November 19, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Alaia, arrives for the 55th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on February 10, 2013. EPA

Rihanna, in a sleek LBD, at the Oxford Street River Island store on March 4, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Chanel, attends the Chanel show as part of Paris Fashion Week on July 2, 2013 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Lanvin, attends the Lanvin show as part of Paris Fashion Week on February 27, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Givenchy, attends the Givenchy show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 2, 2014 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Miu Miu, attends the Miu Miu show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 5, 2014 in Paris, France.Getty Images

Rihanna, in Stella McCartney, arrives for the Met Gala in New York on May 5, 2014. EPA

Rihanna, in Stella McCartney, attends the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on December 1, 2014 in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Zac Posen, arrives for the first annual Diamond Ball in California on December 11, 2014. EPA

Rihanna, in Guo Pei, arrives for the Met Gala in New York on May 4, 2015. EPA

Rihanna, in Dior, arrives at the Christian Dior show on June 16, 2015 in Tokyo, Japan. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Dior, attends the Vogue 95th Anniversary Party on October 3, 2015 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Armani, attends the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena on February 24, 2016 in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in her own designs, at the Fenty x Puma by Rihanna show on September 28, 2016 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Dior, attends the Christian Dior show at Paris Fashion Week on September 30, 2016 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Armani, arrives for the 59th annual Grammy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, California, on February 12, 2017. EPA

Rihanna, in Dior, attends the Christian Dior show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 3, 2017 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Comme des Garcons, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 1, 2017. EPA

Rihanna, in Ralph & Russo, attends the Chopard dinner in honour of the Rihanna X Chopard Collection during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2017 in Cannes, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Dior, attends the 'Okja' screening during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2017 in Cannes, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Giambattista Valli, attends the 'Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets' premiere on July 24, 2017 in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Molly Goddard, attends the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna launch at Harvey Nichols on September 19, 2017 in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Marianna Senchina, attends the Fenty Beauty launch on September 23, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Versace, attends a Fenty Beauty launch on April 5, 2018 in Milan, Italy. Getty Images

Rihanna, in John Galliano for Margiela, arrives at the Met Gala in New York on May 7, 2018. EPA

Rihanna, in Poiret, attends the 'Ocean's 8' premiere on June 13, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Louis Vuitton, attends the Louis Vuitton show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 21, 2018 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Burberry, poses during her Fenty Beauty talk in collaboration with Sephora on September 29, 2018 in Dubai, UAE. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Versace, attends the Fenty Beauty by Rihanna anniversary event on October 3, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

Rihanna, in a denim shirtdress, at the opening of the Fenty pop-up store on May 24, 2019 in Paris, France. Getty Images

Rihanna, in Givenchy, at the 5th Annual Diamond Ball in New York on September 12, 2019. EPA

Rihanna, in John Galliano, at the premiere of 'Queen & Slim' in Hollywood, California, on November 14, 2019. EPA

Rihanna, in Fenty, arrives for The Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London, UK, on December 2, 2019. EPA

Rihanna, in custom Demna Gvasalia, poses on the red carpet for the 2021 Met Gala on September 13, 2021. EPA

Rihanna, in a short white Maximilian blazer and dress, attends Barbados's National Honours ceremony and Independence Day Parade in Bridgetown, Barbados, on November 30, 2021. AFP