Rihanna Continues To Break Records As A Self-Made Woman
Coming in at lucky number 33, Rihanna made the Forbes' "America's Richest Self-Made Women List" this year with $600 million. If nothing else in 2020, Rihanna will continue to smash through glass ceilings.
It's no surprise that the bulk of her wealth came not from her music but from her feverishly successful cosmetics line, Fenty Beauty, which she co-owns with luxury goods group LVMH. Since its launch in the fall of 2017, the brand has grown into an unstoppable force that continues to push boundaries, both creatively and within the industry, it resides. Fenty Beauty elevated the standards for luxury beauty and challenged "inclusive" brands by producing 40 foundation shades across all hues - now up to 50 - far more than that of their peers at the time and since.
"We have this amazing emotional connection with customers who've never been able to find their shade of foundation before – women crying at the [makeup] counter – it's crazy to even think about."
From the beginning, the vision for Fenty Beauty was to inspire. The cosmetics line generated over $600 million in sales last year and no indication that'll slow down. Rihanna has been one of few celebrities that have maintained a relatable yet profitable profile during the pandemic and amidst the upcoming presidential elections. Time and time again, Rihanna uses her platforms to give a voice to the voiceless, and image to the unseen.
"The first woman I saw put makeup on her face was a Black woman – my mom – and when I think of my customers, I want everyone to feel like they can find their color that they are represented as part of this new generation."
That's barely Rihanna's only sizable revenue stream, though. Savage x Fenty, a lingerie line that Rihanna co-owns with online fashion firm TechStyle Fashion Group, raised over $50 million for investors last year. The brand is known for innovative designs, sickening silhouettes, and curve-enhancing seams.
Rooted in community, Savage x Fenty quickly established an emotional and lasting relationship with consumers. Rihanna uses this platform to highlight young, emerging talent and pay homage to overlooked industry veterans, while seamlessly weaving in social and political statements. Just last month, The Vol. 2 premiered, proving even more that Savage x Fenty has reinvented so much by pushing boundaries and challenging the standard of beauty we so desperately need to abolish.
Forbes also titled Rihanna as one of the most public charitable celebrities, having donated upwards of $8 million towards coronavirus relief. According to Forbes, Rihanna donated $1 million to New York's needy and $2.1 million to abuse victims in LA. She donated another $5 million to other charities through her Clara Lionel Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in honor of her grandparents.
In fact, for the latest Savage campaign, the brand found three "survivors and thrivers" to model their capsule collection, of which proceeds will directly benefit the Clara Lionel Foundation.
It's difficult to grasp that we're just on the cusp of Rihanna's reign, but we are. There's something that resonates with everything Rihanna does. A spirit, a mood, a genuine love for the craft she's producing; the energy is magnetic. The work that she puts into every one of her ventures to make sure it's inclusive, well-thought-out, and for everyone is unmatched.
While she's a newcomer to the list in 2020, one has the feeling that she'll get comfortable quickly.
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Courtney is a contributing writer, based in Puerto Rico by way of Tennessee. Interested in the intersection of fashion and culture, she has an affinity for fashion, empowerment, and really good tacos. Keep up with her on Instagram (@hautecourtxo).
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Stress Awareness Month: Sneaky Workplace Triggers Affecting Black Women, And How To Cope
We all know about the major stress triggers of everyday life, from relationship woes to monthly bills to unexpected emergencies, but there are small, subtle triggers that impact Black women in a big way, especially when it comes to work. It’s good to be aware of these sneaky stressors in order to maximize your day and find ways to incorporate solutions into your self-care routines.
Since it’s Stress Awareness Month, we caught up with Keanne Owens, LCSW, founder of Journey To Harmony Therapy Center, to talk about these triggers and what Black women can do to manage and cope.
Owens is an experienced South Florida-based counselor and social worker who offers her services via Grow Therapy, a therapy and medication management platform. She has worked with Black women professionals to unpack issues related to workplace stressors. “One is the pressure to perform–having to meet deadlines and deliverables. And a lot of times, these subtle stressors from performance are put upon ourselves as Black women. We want to make sure we’re doing our best. We don’t want to be critiqued in certain ways.”
Excessive micromanagement leading to fear of overly critical bosses is another subtle trigger that can negatively impact Black women in the workplace.
“Whenever something is done wrong, or we experience some type of injustice and have to report it, it’s the fear of retaliation–[fear that] we won’t be taken seriously or [our words] will be taken out of context because of being deemed as the ‘angry Black woman,’” she said.
Black Women And Workplace Stress Triggers
Her sentiments are backed by research. A recent report by Coqual found that 28% of Black women (compared to 17% of White men) say their supervisor uses “excessive control or attention to detail” when managing them. There’s more: A survey by the National Employment Law Project found that Black workers were “more likely to have concerns (80 percent) and twice as likely as white workers (18 percent) to have unresolved concerns at work, with 39 percent reporting they were “not satisfied with the employer’s response or did not raise concerns for fear of retaliation.”
The survey also found that 14 percent of Black respondents said they “avoided raising concerns to their employer for fear of retaliation—more than twice the average rate of 6 percent for all survey respondents.”
Owens pointed to the fact that these subtle stress triggers can negatively impact our physical health and our career advancement. “A lot of time it’ll affect our productivity,” Owens added. “We start to have negative thoughts of ourselves. The stressors can also cause fatigue. We’re no longer meeting or working up to our desired potential.” Other challenges as a result include insomnia and increased insolation, withdrawal, and lack of motivation to apply for jobs or promotions even when qualified.
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How To Manage Subtle Stress Triggers
While there are systemic issues at play for Black women at work that has less to do with us and more to do with major overhauls that must be addressed by the powers that be, there are steps we can take for the betterment of ourselves and our mental health. Owens offered the following tips:
Tap into a support system, whether it’s a coworker you trust, a family member, an organization, or an outlet like a hobby.
Create a good work-life balance before burnout even starts. “Having certain boundaries [is the goal] such as, for example, if you get off at 5, you get off at 5. If your job description is this, you don’t go above and beyond because that brings you to a lot of burnout,” Owens said.
Prioritize self-care, whatever that means for you. “If you don’t have a routine, create one. Practice mindfulness and even some meditation,” she added.
Create structure in your life outside of work. “Even if you have a family, applying some structure in your routine helps relieve stress,” she said.
Get into grounding techniques. “Do a real quick square breathing exercise, that’s literally 30 seconds, or you can do a grounding technique that’s less than two minutes, right there where you are. You don’t need any other materials. That’s something you can do with just yourself and your body.”
Ask for help. “As Black women, we don’t ask for help enough,” she said. “Find where you need to ask for help. A lot of times, people think that’s indicative of weakness, but we need to rewrite that narrative. It’s okay to ask for help where you see fit. [If] you’re a mom, [it could be] every Wednesday from 5 to 6, your children are with the dad. You have to carve out that time.”
For more information on Grow Therapy, visit their website. You can also find out more about Keanne Owens, LCSW, via BeginYourJourneyToHarmony.com.
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