Early Life
Robyn Rihanna Fenty grew up in Bridgetown, Barbados, and formed a musical trio at school. After an audition arranged through the American producer Evan Rogers, she signed with Def Jam Recordings as a teenager.
Career
Her debut album, Music of the Sun, arrived in 2005, and “Umbrella” (2007) became her breakthrough international hit. She has scored more than a dozen number-one singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and released Anti in 2016. She launched Fenty Beauty in 2017, a makeup line noted for its wide range of foundation shades, and the lingerie brand Savage X Fenty in 2018. She headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in 2023.
Legacy
Rihanna is among the best-selling music artists of all time. Forbes reported in 2021 that she had become a billionaire, largely through Fenty Beauty. That same year Barbados named her a National Hero.
Sources and further reading
Last updated: 2026-09-24