An interview with Rihanna: Glamour Woman of the Year

What a year it’s been for the superstar. (“I went to sleep as Rihanna and woke up as Britney Spears,” she says.) Here, we salute her for, yes, her style and songs—but also for her message to young women, which she talks about in this Glamour exclusive. “Domestic violence is a big secret,” she says. “I want to give as much insight as I can to young women…to help speak for them.”

Visually magnetic, her music is everywhere, and the world is in love with her.  Robyn Rihanna Fenty is only  21 and she is on top of the world: Thanks to Jay-Z signing her to Def Jam in 2005, Rihanna has had four number one hits and has sold more than 12 million albums, and a new album is coming to a radio near you very soon. As best put by Glamour Magazine Rihanna has a  “self-invented style—a mash-up of Paris couture and street punk, and possibly the best-known haircut on the planet”.

Not only is she a mega sensation she is also humanitarian. In 2006 Rihanna started the Believe Foundation, a fund that provides educational and medical supplies to needy children, and she has personally helped two leukemia sufferers find the bone marrow matches they needed to live. In the upcoming issue of Glamour she sits down and opens up in a very upclose and personal interview. (see below)

Glamour: Let’s first talk about life before you made it: You are one of the few pop stars in recent years to come from the islands.

Rihanna: I would have never dreamed that my career would be this successful. I grew up in an average home in Barbados, and we didn’t live in the best neighborhood. But I was never aware that we were poor; my mom never made us feel that way. She loved me unconditionally. She made us feel anything was possible and instilled in me such confidence.

Glamour: Did you sing a lot as a kid?

Rihanna: Always—in the shower, to pillows and stuffed animals, my cousins. But I knew I wanted my music to be heard worldwide. That was my dream. I was able to make demos whenever I had vacation time, but my mom always said, “You are not stopping school until you get signed.” And even when I got signed, she still made me go to school.

Glamour: You auditioned for Jay-Z at Def Jam. What was that like?

Rihanna: I was nervous as hell. The night before, I couldn’t sleep. I was trying on a million different outfits and makeup. I remember seeing Jay-Z and starting to shake. I thought he would be in a suit, sitting behind a desk with a cigar. But he was totally chill, wearing sneakers and a T-shirt. Then I went into audition mode. I knew it was all or nothing. Right away, the Def Jam people said, “You can’t leave the building.” They closed the door, and the lawyers stayed until 1:00 or 2:00 A.M. to do the deal.