If you’re a fan like me, you’ve been down with Rihanna since she was wearing a traditional sew-in (when lacefronts could never), rockin’ cropped hoodies with boyfriend jeans, and asking Mr. DJ to “turn the music up.” Much of her music is part of the soundtrack of my life, from “Umbrella” and “Live Your Life” (both representing the moment that sparked my 5-days-a-week-in-the-club years), to "Take A Bow" (the breakup song I had on repeat for two years straight after my first real grown-ass-woman breakup), to "Man Down" (my F-you song for the abusive boyfriend I stayed with one minute too long that year).
Rihanna has a catalog going back almost two decades, has won multiple Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, and BET award honors, and has experienced the glow-up of three lifetimes in expanding her reach beyond music into fashion and beauty, to the tune of $1.4 billion.
In anticipation of her Super Bowl LVII performance—and as we all reminisce on why Rihanna is the queen of reinvention and authenticity—let’s take a look at a brief snapshot of her career’s most bossed-up and bankable moments:
2005-2016: Music Career
As a teen, Rihanna earned the chance of a lifetime after she went solo (she was in a group, y’all) and was signed by Jay-Z to a multi-album deal with Def Jam when he was president. Her first album, Music of the Sun, was certified gold just a year later and she’d go on to record more albums with Def Jam before her official departure to join Roc Nation in 2014.
In total, she has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide, along with 215 million digital tracks as a music artist.
She has also earned millions on tours, with few notable ones being 2010’s Last Girl On Earth Tour (which promoted her fourth studio album "Rated R”) grossing $40 million, the Loud Tour in 2011, where she reportedly earned an estimated $90 million, and the Diamonds World Tour in 2013, which grossed more than $140 million in sales worldwide and sold out 84 out of the 87 stops on the tour.
2009: Fragrance Launches
She was one of the forerunners in the celebrity fragrance line craze of the early 2000s when she signed a licensing deal with Parlux Fragrances Inc. to get paid in royalties, profit-sharing and Parlux stocks instead of cash. It turned out to be a smart move because by the time her fragrance Reb’l Fleur was launched in 2011, it was projected to rake in $80 million. Two other perfumes, Rebelle and Nude, were launched in 2012, and Rogue, was released the next year. Several of them are still on the market today, proving she had that winning touch in the beauty industry even back then.
2011-2017: Big Steps Into Fashion
In one of her first major breaks in the industry, Rihanna teamed up with Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans to create a capsule collection and was the face of fall 2011 ad campaigns for the lines. In 2013, she signed a deal with British fashion retailer River Island, debuting at London Fashion Week.
In 2014, Puma tapped her to serve as creative director, brand ambassador, and campaign star. She also released her first shoe, the Puma Creeper, which reportedly sold out in three hours.
Reports at the time indicated that her work with the brand helped boost its sales 17.1 percent, with its 2015 earnings hitting almost $975 million.
She went on to design four ready-to-wear collections for the brand, including Fenty Puma by Rihanna, making its debut at New York Fashion Week for fall 2016, and, for her second and third collections, she took on Paris Fashion Week. Her last collection with the brand was launched in New York for spring 2018.
2017: Fenty Beauty Is Born
Fenty Beauty was launched in 1600 stores in 17 countries, and the brand’s products reportedly sold out “almost immediately” both online and in Sephora stores. “Makeup is there for you to have fun with. It should never feel like pressure,” she says via parent company LVMH’s website. “It should never feel like a uniform. Feel free to take chances, and take risks, and dare to do something new or different.”
Rihanna has a 50% stake in the brand (valued at $1.4 billion), which earned her billionaire status on the Forbes list. She also became the youngest self-made billionaire with the success of the brand, her earnings from music and performances, and other investments.
The brand, which includes makeup, skincare, and fragrances, is loved for its inclusivity and embracing of all lovers of cosmetics, was named one of Time magazine’s “Best Inventions of 2017,” and generated $550 million by the end of the first year of operation.
2018: Savage x Fenty
In 2018, Rihanna introduced her line of lingerie to the world with an immersive experience during New York Fashion Week. Continuing the message of inclusivity, power, and fluidity, the show and line became a viral sensation on social and in the media. Her stake in this brand is now worth an estimated $270 million.
2022: Retail Stores & Going Public
After the brand saw major success with online sales, the first brick-and-mortar Savage x Fenty location was opened in Las Vegas in January 2022. This year, the company has reportedly raised $125 million in a recent funding round. There are reports that the company is edging toward going public, which could bring the company’s value to at least $3 billion.
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Kayla Nicole says she wore a dress that was once worn by Braxton herself for the Halloween costume. “It’s not a secret Toni is more on the petite side. I’m obsessed with all 5’2” of her,” she tells xoNecole via email. “But I’m 5’10'' and not missing any meals, honey, so to my surprise, when I got the dress and it actually fit, I knew it was destiny.”
The episode was the perfect way for the multihyphenate to take control of her own narrative. By addressing the viral moment on her own platform, she was able to stir the conversation and keep the focus on her adoration for Braxton, an artist she says she grew up listening to and who still makes her most-played playlist every year. Elsewhere, she likely would’ve received questions about whether or not the costume was a subliminal aimed at her ex-boyfriend and his pop star fiancée. “I think that people will try to project their own narratives, right?” she said, hinting at this in the episode. “But, for me personally – I think it’s very important to say this in this moment – I’m not in the business of tearing other women down. I’m in the business of celebrating them.”
Kayla Nicole is among xoNecole’s It Girl 100 Class of 2025, powered by SheaMoisture, recognized in the Viral Voices category for her work in media and the trends she sets on our timelines, all while prioritizing her own mental and physical health. As she puts it: “Yes, I’m curating conversations on my podcast The Pre-Game, and cultivating community with my wellness brand Tribe Therepē.”
Despite being the frequent topic of conversation online, Kayla Nicole says she’s learning to take advantage of her growing social media platform without becoming consumed by it. “I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out,” she says.
On The Pre-Game, which launched earlier this year, she has positioned herself as listeners “homegirl.” “There’s definitely a delicate dance between being genuine and oversharing, and I’ve had to learn that the hard way. Now I share from a place of reflection, not reaction,” she says. “If it can help someone feel seen or less alone, I’ll talk about it within reason. But I’ve certainly learned to protect parts of my life that I cherish most. I share what serves connection but doesn’t cost me peace.
"I refuse to let the internet consume me. It’s supposed to be a resource and tool for connection, so if it becomes anything beyond that I will log out."
Credit: Malcolm Roberson
Throughout each episode, she sips a cocktail and addresses trending topics (even when they involve herself). It’s a platform the Pepperdine University alumnus has been preparing to have since she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism, with a concentration in political science.
“I just knew I was going to end up on a local news network at the head anchor table, breaking high speed chases, and tossing it to the weather girl,” she says. Instead, she ended up working as an assistant at TMZ before covering sports as a freelance reporter. (She’s said she didn’t work for ESPN, despite previous reports saying otherwise.) The Pre-Game combines her love for pop culture and sports in a way that once felt inaccessible to her in traditional media.
She’s not just a podcaster, though. When she’s not behind the mic, taking acting classes or making her New York Fashion Week debut, Kayla Nicole is also busy elevating her wellness brand Tribe Therepē, where she shares her workouts and the workout equipment that helps her look chic while staying fit. She says the brand will add apparel to its line up in early 2026.
“Tribe Therepē has evolved into exactly what I have always envisioned. A community of women who care about being fit not just for the aesthetic, but for their mental and emotional well-being too. It’s grounded. It’s feminine. It’s strong,” she says. “And honestly, it's a reflection of where I am in my life right now. I feel so damn good - mentally, emotionally, and physically. And I am grateful to be in a space where I can pour that love and light back into the community that continues to pour into me.”
Tap into the full It Girl 100 Class of 2025 and meet all the women changing game this year and beyond. See the full list here.
Featured image by Malcolm Roberson
Meanwhile, frankincense and myrrh originate from the Middle East and Africa (you know, like the Bible does — some folks need to be reminded of that—eh hem — Trumpers) and ginger? It too helps with indigestion (which can definitely creep up at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables); plus, it’s a key ingredient for ginger snaps and gingerbread houses. So, as you can see, holiday-themed scents have a rhyme and reason to them.
Tying this all in together — several years ago, I penned an article for the platform entitled, “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry ‘Christmas Sex’?” Well, in the spirit of revisiting some of that content, with a bit of a twist, I decided to broach some traditional holiday scents from the perspective of which ones will do your libido a ton of good from now through New Year’s Eve (check out “Make This Your Best NYE. For Sex. EVER.”).
Are you ready to check some of them out, so that, whether it’s via a candle, a diffuser, some essential oil, or some DIY body cream (check out “How To Incorporate All Five Senses To Have The Best Sex Ever”), you can bring some extra festive ambiance into your own boudoir? Excellent.
1. Vanilla
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When it comes to holiday desserts, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find recipes that don’t include vanilla — and that alone explains why it is considered to be a traditional holiday scent. As far as your libido goes, vanilla is absolutely considered to be an aphrodisiac — partly because its sweet scent is considered to be very sensual. Some studies even reveal that vanillin (the active ingredient in vanilla) is able to increase sexual arousal and improve erectile dysfunction in men. So, if you adore the smell, here is more incentive to use it.
2. Frankincense
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Although, typically, when people think about frankincense (and myrrh), it’s in the context of the gifts that the wise men brought Christ after he was born; it’s a part of the biblical Christmas story. However, frankincense goes much deeper than that. Sexually, since it has an earthy and spicy scent, some people like to use it to meditate (check out “What Exactly Is 'Orgasmic Meditation'?”). Also, since it has the ability to put you in a better mood, soothe and soften your skin and maintain your oral health — with the help of frankincense, every touch and kiss can be that much…sexier.
3. Cinnamon
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I already gave cinnamon a shout-out in the intro. Personally, I’ve been a fan of it, in the sex department, for a long time now (check out “12 ‘Sex Condiments’ That Can Make Coitus Even More...Delicious”). When it’s in oil form, it can be very sweet to the taste while sending a warm sensation throughout the body — which is why the giver and receiver of oral sex can benefit from its usage. Beyond that, cinnamon helps to increase blood flow to your genital region, elevate sexual desire and, some studies say that it can even help improve fertility. Beautiful.
4. Peppermint
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If there’s a signature candy for the holiday season, it’s probably a candy cane — which automatically puts peppermint in the running for being an official holiday scent. Pretty much, in any form, it’s got your sex life’s back because it’s hailed as being a sexual stimulant; in part, because its smell is so invigorating. Plus, it helps to (eh hem) ease headaches, it gives you more energy and it can definitely help to freshen your breath. Also, that minty sensation? The same thing that I said about cinnamon can apply to peppermint too (if you catch my drift).
5. Ginger
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Whether it’s in a meal or in your bedroom, ginger is going to produce results that are hella spicy. On the sex tip, science has praised ginger for being able to increase sexual arousal, improve blood circulation (which intensifies orgasms) and strengthen fertility for many years. Scent-wise, I find it to be one that both men and women enjoy because it is both woodsy and sweet. So, if you’ve got some massage oil in mind, adding some ginger is a way to please you both.
6. Pomegranate
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September through December is the time of year when pomegranates are considered to be in season. And, as someone who is a Rosh Hashanah observer, I have a personal adoration for them because I am aware of the various things that they symbolize in Hebrew culture including the fact that they are a fruit that represents love and fertility. So yeah, they would absolutely be an aphrodisiac — one that is perfect for this time of the year. While consuming it helps to boost testosterone levels in both men and women, the floral bittersweet smell that it produces can help to reduce stress while promoting relaxation (like most floral scents do) — and the more relaxed you are, the easier it is to climax.
7. Nutmeg
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Another signature seasoning during the holiday season is nutmeg. It’s perfect in Thanksgiving sweet potato (or pumpkin) pie and Christmas morning French toast. And yes, it can also make your sex life better. If you consume it, it can intensify your libido and, overall, its warm-meets-spicy-meets-sweet smell is so inviting that it is considered to be a pretty seductive scent.
8. Cloves
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I ain’t got not one lie to tell you — if you’ve got a toothache, put some clove oil on that bad boy and send me a Christmas present for putting you on game. Aside from that, as I round all of this out, cloves are another holiday scent that can do wonders for your sex life. For men, it has the ability to significantly increase sexual arousal and improve stamina and endurance. For men and women alike, it also has a reputation for strengthening sexual desire. And for women solely? Well, if you want an all-natural way to increase natural lubrication down below — the scent and and feel (in DILUTED oil form) can make that happen. It can make the holidays especially special…if you know what I mean.
Ah yes — the atmosphere of the holidays and what it can do.
Take it all in! Scent ‘n whatever stimulating that comes with it! #wink
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