This September, slay is an understatement for the melanated magicians that graced various media publications with their Black girl magic. Tracee Ellis Ross snatched all edges in her cover issue of ELLE Canada, Beyonce hired the first black photographer to shoot her cover for Vogue, and Tiffany Haddish walked in her truth in this month's issue of Glamour. But there's one star who shook up the game in a major way by becoming the first black woman to appear on British Vogue's September Issue in the magazine's 102-year history.
The same woman who brought inclusivity to the mainstream makeup world and created a new genre in the music industry is now breaking down barriers in the fashion world, and you better have her money. Rihanna has been in the entertainment industry for more than 15 years, and this British Vogueissue has us hoping that she gives us 15 more. Snippets of the interview reveal she was asked why she thinks she's so popular among her audience, to which she replied:
"You're asking the wrong person… I don't know, maybe it's because I'm 'thicc' now."
"I'm about to get back into the gym and stuff, and I hope I don't lose my butt or my hips or all of my thighs. I'll lose some but not all. And I think of my boobs, like, 'Imma lose everything, everything goes!'"
"[Having a butt] comes with a price. You want to have a butt, then you have a gut."
Rihanna has been transparent about her fluctuating body type, stretch marks, and all of the other things that hide under a woman's bed at night. Yet and still, her beauty and down-to-earth demeanor make her one of the fiercest celebrities the industry has ever seen, as well as one of the most eccentric. The singer told her interviewer:
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"It's just my mood. I get bored and I feel like, why not try something else? As an artist in this day and age, everything is driven by some kind of visual aspect. You want to push it and not have it be predictable. The only thing I can stick to is probably a pair of jeans."
Rih wears her natural confidence and IDGAF demeanor in her latest collaboration. The current Editor-In-Chief at British Vogue said that with September being the magazine's biggest issue, and Rihanna being one of the world's biggest stars, this collaboration was only logical.
During the interview, they discuss finding balance, the future of Fenty, and the highest points in their careers. For Rihanna, success at one point meant her first Grammy, but as she grew older, her perception changed.
"The awards become less and less significant as you really start to understand the industry. The people who care are your fans. As long you're happy, they're happy. That should really be it."
"Finding a balance becomes a priority, even if you don't get it down, that's always the goal, you know. Not necessarily to neglect work, it will never be that, but to find a way you feel fulfilled."
Like many of us, Rihanna admitted to suffering from a fear of failure. Rih continued:
"But I get so afraid of disappointment. I don't like that feeling. I never want to get too excited about something or even relish a moment because I don't know what's going to happen."
Despite her fear, she persisted and it paid off in a major way.
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Although Rih maintains that she doesn't have all the answers, she does have her share of experience with giving advice. She's been known to help her fans out from time-to-time via DM with tweet-worthy wisdom, especially when it comes to romance. She told Edward:
"I get a lot of boy-advice questions. I think a lot of people meet people and then they're dating the idea of what the person can become, and that person never shows up and they're just mad disappointed. A person can always get better they can always get worse but you've got to be fine with what you met them as."
Rihanna is the friend in all of our minds who gives dope advice and doesn't care what you think about her eyebrows, and that's what makes her one of the biggest icons of our generation. We can all learn a thing or two from Rih about the power of persistence and staying true to yourself. It might just earn you a Vogue cover.
Check out more information about her Vogue cover here.
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One thing that has stood out is the way they choose to mother while also honoring themselves in every way. For one, motherhood doesn’t mean trading in your style, confidence, or ambition. There are powerhouse Black women who effortlessly balance being moms while keeping their hot-girl energy intact. From rocking stages to slaying red carpets, we decided to round up some celebs who redefine what it means to have it all.
These women are living proof that you don’t have to trade in your hot girl card when you become a mom. They’ve shown the world that you can be a caregiver and still exude the confidence, ambition, and style that makes you, you. Who says you can’t have it all?
Beyoncé
(L-R) Beyoncé and Blue Ivy Carter
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When you’re Queen Bey, there’s no dimming your light—ever. As a mom to Blue Ivy and twins Rumi and Sir, Beyoncé continues to dominate the music industry, embodying grace, power, and unmatched work ethic. From headlining Coachella to dropping jaw-dropping visuals for Renaissance, she proves motherhood only enhances the glow. In 2013, Beyonce told Vogue, that becoming a mother helped her to really understand the power of her body:
“I just feel my body means something completely different. I feel a lot more confident about it. Even being heavier, thinner, whatever. I feel a lot more like a woman. More feminine, more sensual. And no shame.”
Victoria Monét
Victoria Monét is the epitome of "cool mom energy." With her adorable daughter Hazel as her muse, she’s kept us grooving with tracks like "On My Mama." Balancing new motherhood and a skyrocketing career, she’s proof that you can have it all—and look flawless doing it.
During an interview with Self, Victoria shared, "After I had Hazel, I went into a full depression. I was very hard on myself, and just judging so much and worrying about what I used to look like and what I used to have. It’s just all living in the past, which is the setup [for feeling like a failure]," she says. "[But] you have to think forward. It’s been a battle to be okay with whatever size I am at the time. So if I go to Disneyland with Hazel, I’m not going to be worrying about the churro, because we’re only at Disney one day."
Jhené Aiko
Jhené Aiko keeps her ethereal energy strong as a mom to two kids, Namiko Love and Noah Hasani. From creating soulful, healing music to co-parenting like a pro, Jhené’s free-spirited essence shows you can nurture both your kids and your inner goddess.
This year, The Purple Agency honored a select group of prominent mothers for their inaugural Mom Honors and the "Stay Ready" singer was among the honorees. Aiko delivered a moving keynote address to conclude the event, sharing her lifelong aspiration of being a mom:
“I always knew I wanted to be a mom more than anything. That was my dream. This is great and I love to do this, but this is not my dream […] It’s fun, but nothing fulfills me more than being a mom."
Ciara
Ciara is serving hot girl mom with no signs of slowing down. From slaying the red carpet with Russell Wilson to inspiring moms everywhere with her fitness and dance routines, Ciara makes sure motherhood doesn’t put a pause on her glow-up. It’s clear that motherhood drives this Atlanta girly. CiCi told Yahoo Music:
“For me, I can speak for myself: Being a mom gave me a bit more of sexy confidence. And it's not about what I'm wearing, it's just more of an internal feeling. I feel there's something very cool about being able to deliver a child, and being able to work hard to get yourself back to that place before you had that child. It's a rewarding feeling… If anything, I think the sexy gets turned up even more!”
Serena Williams
Serena might have retired from professional tennis, but her "hot girl mom" era is still thriving. As a mom to Olympia and a new baby girl, Adira River, Serena continues to serve Black excellence, whether she’s owning the boardroom or slaying on social media. Speaking about how she became to be such a fearless woman toAllure, Serena said:
"I think my mom instilled in us to be confident women, to really believe in ourselves, be proud of our heritage, our hair, and our bodies. That was something that was really important for her to teach us. I’m definitely teaching it to my daughter.”
Rihanna
The billionaire beauty mogul, music icon, and now mother of two, Rihanna is redefining motherhood with unapologetic confidence. From rocking her baby bump at the Super Bowl to running her Fenty empire, Rih proves being a mom only amplifies the bad gal energy.
When asked about how motherhood initially felt for her, she told British Vogue, “Oh, my God, it’s legendary.” Rihanna also affirmed, "Women just need a little bit of validation," she said to The Associated Press. Adding, "You are beautiful. Your body's beautiful. Your body is sexy and you deserve to feel that way."
Cardi B
Cardi’s personality remains larger than life—even as a mom of two. Between her jaw-dropping fashion moments and hilarious, unfiltered parenting takes, she proves motherhood doesn’t stop you from being the life of the party. The Bronx native has had no problems sharing that she has so much compassion—and love and appreciation— for all mothers in the world.
“There is no excuse, we have to do it. I have compassion for good mothers who get up and hustle and work, or even not work—having kids is work. Raising a kid is work.”
And what a feat to work and werk at the same time!
Teyana Taylor
Teyana Taylor is the queen of doing it all. As a mom of two daughters, Iman Jr. and Rue, she balances a multifaceted career as a singer, director, and actress, all while keeping her edgy, hot-girl aesthetic on lock. Teyana Taylor's exceptionally toned physique, showcased in Kanye West's "Fade" music video just eight months after giving birth, ignited widespread admiration and inspired many women to prioritize their fitness goals.
“I love that I can inspire women to feel that way,” she told The FADER. “This video was to do just that. To inspire women and to let them know that we are super women, each and every one of us.”
Kelly Rowland
As a mom to Titan and Noah, Kelly Rowland stays killing the game with her elegance and star power. From her music to her dedication to fitness and fashion, she’s proof you can slay in both the boardroom and the playroom. When it comes to finding the balance of doing it all, she told Scary Mommy:
“I think [that’s] the hardest thing about being a mom. How can I be the best mom, wife, friend, and version of myself all at once? It can be overwhelming at times, but I’ve learned to become more patient with both others and myself, and remind myself it’s okay not to be everything for everyone all of the time.”
Flo Milli
Flo Milli
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While the “Never Lose Me” singer just announced her pregnancy on Nov. 25, we just know she’s gonna give hot mom vibes. The rapper took to social media sharing, “Flo mommy s— i can’t even see my coochie nomore that’s crazy.” She proudly displayed her baby bump in a series of photos, wearing a white crop top and orange shorts, reminding us that Flo Milli will always remain true to herself.
In an interview with Elle, Flo Milli shared she was raised in a nurturing environment with strong female role models, and she was inspired by neo-soul artists who emphasized self-love and empowerment. These influences instilled in her a strong sense of self-worth, which she actively promotes, particularly for dark-skinned Black women who often face challenges in the music industry. Flo Milli believes that self-perception is paramount, regardless of external opinions.
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