The World According To Rihanna: 8 Things We Didn’t Know About Our Favorite Bad Girl
There are a few things we absolutely know about Rihanna: She's recently been named the world's richest female musician by Forbes; she's the mastermind behind Fenty, the makeup line that literally revolutionized the beauty industry; she is the first woman of color to helm her own luxury fashion brand under LVMH, and oh right, and she's also a multi-talented Grammy award-winning singer and artist.
But, just when we thought we knew all there was to know about our favorite Bajan babe, Interview Magazine dropped a feature between Queen Rih and the uber-talented Sarah Paulson where she dished on all things mental health, life, faith and more. Here were some key takeaways that taught us something new about Rihanna:
1.She’s learned from her mistakes.
Rihanna's the first to admit that she learned from past mistakes of working TOO much. Now, she makes time for herself.
"I've made little things a big deal, like going for a walk or going to the grocery store. I got into a new relationship, and it matters to me. It was like, 'I need to make time for this.' Just like I nurture my businesses, I need to nurture this as well. I'll shut things down for two days, three days at a time. On my calendar we now have the infamous 'P,' which means personal days. This is a new thing."
2.Sleep doesn’t exist for Rihanna...sort of.
The Bajan princess admits that sleep isn't as black-and-white as she'd like, which goes back to why she makes time for herself.
"I don't leave things hanging. I will work all day in a meeting, leave that meeting at 1 or 2am, and then come home with a tiny group of staff and work until 5, 7am... I don't have a sleep pattern. I have sleep pockets. I fit it in when I can. That's why I take those personal days so seriously. Because it's like, 'You had all of me. I gave you the answers.'"
3.Rihanna is not rushing the album (sorry, guys).
Yep, an album is on the way, but she's not focused on pushing it out just for the sake of her fans. Completion matters more to her than any timeline.
"It really does suck that it can't just come out, because I'm working on a really fun one right now. I'm really happy with a lot of the material we have so far, but I am not going to put it out until it's complete. It makes no sense to rush it, but I want it out."
4.She never dreamt of being famous, let alone building an empire.
Rih admits to always wanting her music to be heard, but fame? Not so much.
"I had one dream and that was for my music to be heard all over the world. I didn't even think about the fame part, and then that came, and I was like, 'Oh, shoot. Do I really want to do this?' But the thing that keeps me alive and passionate is being creative. With every business outlet, I'm making something from a vision to a reality, and that's the thing I really enjoy."
5.Unsurprisingly, Rihanna’s always been Rihanna.
The Barbadian singer admits she's always been a tough cookie, even when she was younger.
"I have to say, I've always had pretty tough skin—even as a little girl, which was completely due to my parents. They never sheltered me in any way. They would tease me, and I would tease them right back. By the time I got to school, I always had this feeling like the kids were stupid. Maybe that was god's way of preparing me for what my life was going to be like."
6.Yet somehow, Rihanna is actually one shy girl.
Despite her confident demeanor and her heralded IDGAF attitude, Rih is actually shy...and doesn't even want you to know.
"People don't know that I'm shy[...] I still get nervous going to award shows."
7.Rihanna can’t wait to be a mother.
Yes, we've seen her with kids (most notably Majesty), but she actually wants to be someone's mom. Are you listening, Hassan?
"[I want to be a mother] more than anything in life."
8.And most importantly, she’s always been a woman of faith.
Rihanna mentioned that prayer is the first thing she does in the mornings, and that devotional time is important to her.
"I've always been [a woman of faith]. My first time praying and fasting was when I was 7-years-old. I did that on my own, because I wanted to go to New York, and I knew that this was a sacrifice I had to make in order for God to make sure I could get there."
Read the entire interview over at Interview Magazine and share your favorite takeaways!
Featured image by Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com
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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How A Stay At Switzerland's Luxurious 7132 Hotel Reminded Me To Live The Life I Deserve
Sometimes, as women—especially as single Black women—we simply need to be reminded that we are deserving of living a life we dream of. Even if that means creating it for ourselves. I recently set out on a weeklong trip to Switzerland, a trip I’ve been wanting to take for years, and near the end of my visit, I had an epiphany.
“DeAnna, this is the life you deserve,” I thought to myself as I took in the gorgeous bathroom in my suite at the famous 7132 Hotel and Thermal Spa. It was one of the most luxurious hotels (and bathrooms) I had ever stayed in—and that’s saying a lot for someone who often travels for work.
To help you better understand why this was such a mental awakening for me, I first need to give a bit of my backstory. I’m in my late thirties. I’m an attorney and a journalist. I own a home and have traveled the world extensively. Essentially, I’ve done everything in life I set out to do. However, when it comes to dating, I struggle. Not because there is anything wrong with me per se, but because my career and “lifestyle” often create problems in my romantic relationships.
View from my hotel room
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I’ve been told everything from, ‘I can’t continue to date you because you seem to choose your career over wanting to settle down and have kids’ by a man after only the second date to ‘Maybe if you just sat down somewhere for a while, I’d actually wife you’ by someone who has honestly never proven themselves to be the settle down type. And these are only a handful of the things I’ve been told over the years.
It’s been frustrating, to say the least, and there have even been seasons where I purposely dimmed my light in hopes that my career wouldn’t push away potential suitors. I know what you’re thinking, “Girl, why would you even consider that? If they’re for you, it won’t matter what you do.” Hey, don’t judge me, but also, I one hundred percent agree.
My hotel bathroom
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That’s why this recent moment in Switzerland was right on time. When I first walked into the hotel to check in, I was blown away by the surrounding beauty. It was a five-star property with one of the world’s most famous thermal bathhouses. Yet, it was something about seeing that 90% of the hotel’s guests were couples, that forced me to sit back for a bit of introspection—while soaking in the thermal spa, of course.
As I went through the mental conversation, there was a battle of sorts. On one hand, I knew that being able to partake in experiences like the one I was having at that moment was important to me. I knew that, at times I actually love being able to dabble in the finer things—after all, I’ve worked hard to be able to afford them. On the other hand, and sadly, I knew that sometimes being a single Black woman that publicly showcases her “luxurious” habits can intimidate men and even scare them off from pursuing you under the guise of them feeling like they “can’t do anything for you, because you have everything.”
My hotel room
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So, what is a girl to do?
Do I minimize/hide the life and experiences that I have? Do I play down the hard work I’ve put in to get where I am professionally? Or, do I risk being single in exchange for being able to have said life, without backlash?
Luckily, the joy that I felt while being at this property won. There was something about taking a full day to simply pamper myself at the bathhouse and in my in-room steam shower and soaker tub, indulging in cuisine from a 2-star Michelin restaurant and doing all of this while surrounded by an amazing group of Black women that reminded me—this is certainly the life I was meant to live and that I deserve. Even if it means that right now, I’ll just have to provide it for myself until the right partner comes along. And honestly, I’m okay with that.
Restaurant at 7132 hotel
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