Rihanna - The African Mirror

Sep

2021

MET Gala 2021 presents: the dazzling and the bland

MPHO RANTAO AFTER a year break due to the covid-19 pandemic, the MET Gala, society’s most anticipated social fashion event of the year, returned to New York’s Metropolitan Museum with one of their most ambiguous themes yet - ‘In America: A Lexicon of Fashion Part 1’. The 2021 edition of the gala evening was met with a mixture of haute dressed-to-the-nines; social-cultural movement themes; old Hollywood glamour. There were reimaginings of iconic American imagery, old Hollywood glamour and reimaginings of iconic American imagery like the Wild West. There were also risque barely-there looks; underwhelming and absent faces with whom fans…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

Nigerian-born Tunji Balogun named Def Jam CEO & chairman

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER MUSIC Executive Tunji Balogun has a new title under his name. Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced that the media executive will be moving to the top role at Def Jam Recordings, the massively successful US recording label known for being the home to Jay-Z, Rihanna, Justin Bieber and many more. "I grew up on Def Jam's music – collecting, listening to and studying their albums and singles – those early moments as a young fan have had a lasting influence on who I am today," Balogun said. Balogun is currently the Executive Vice President of A&R…

Jun

2021

By The African Mirror

‘Rihanna by Rihanna ‘ – on Vogue’s cover

BEAUTY AND FASHION

MPHO RANTAO RIHANNA has graced yet another one of Vogue’s sought after covers, and got captured in the best way - through her own eyes. Rihanna posed as the cover star for Vogue Italia’s June issue, rocking an edgy, minimalist aesthetic in a photoshoot that was directed and styled by the singer herself, for the issue titled “The Do-It-Yourself issue”. "Rihanna By Rihanna!" Vogue Italia explained on social media. "When for our Do It Yourself issue Rihanna Did It Herself photographing and styling her own cover." Rihanna for Vogue Italia. Picture: Instagram/badgalriri "On set Rihanna played simultaneously the artist and…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Victoria’s Secret is returning to our screens

BEAUTY AND FASHION

MPHO RANTAO THE full story of Victoria’s Secret is coming to our screens. American streaming site Hulu announced that they had signed on to produce and release the three-part documentary, The Rise And Fall Of Victoria’s Secret, on their streaming site in 2022. According to the Hollywood Reporter, journalist and filmmaker Matt Tyrnauer will be going behind the scenes and “using first-hand accounts and deep investigative research to reveal the inner workings of Victoria’s Secret, the brand and the cultural institution.” Tyrnauer will be directing all three episodes, as well as producing alongside Corey Reeser. It is no secret that…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Rihanna faces backlash over Hindu goddess disrespect

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER RIHANNA has been called out by the Hindu community online over an image that the singer posted on Instagram, which shows her culturally appropriating a sacred Hindu god. Rihanna posted a topless image of herself wearing silk shorts from her Savage x Fenty lingerie line and jewellery which included a beaded necklace that falls between her bust, showing the small sculpture of the elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings, Lord Ganesha (also called Ganesh). View this post on Instagram A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) As a caption, she wrote: "when @popcaanmusic said 'me nuh wan ya wear…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Rihanna’s‌ ‌tweet‌ ‌prompts‌ ‌divisive‌ ‌backlash‌ ‌in‌ ‌India‌

NEWS

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER ONE tweet by Barbados-native singer Rihanna supporting the massive farmer protests occurring in India has angered supporters of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government. Thousands of farmers have been protesting in India’s capital of New Delhi against new agricultural laws that the farmers say would leave them poorer and at the mercy of large corporations. The protests are challenging Modi’s billed laws that the Prime Minister saw as a measure to modernise farming across the nation. The protests started out peaceful until they turned violent on January 26, when a section of farmers riding…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty partners with Black breast cancer survivors for awareness month

BEAUTY AND FASHION

MPHO RANTAO POPULAR lingerie brand Savage X Fenty has made headlines after announcing their breast cancer awareness campaign, featuring black breast cancer survivors. The brand made the announcement of their campaign through their social media pages, on which stories of the breast cancer survivors, with images of them wearing a capsule collection that will benefit a charity founded by the Clara Lionel foundation - an organisation that Rihanna founded in 2012. According to a press statement, Savage X Fenty will donate up to $250 000 to help fund research and support Black people diagnosed with breast cancer. “The Savage X…

Oct

2020

By The African Mirror

Rihanna and Savage x Fenty under fire for using Islamic Hadith

BEAUTY AND FASHION

MPHO RANTAO RIHANNA and her lingerie brand have come under fire on social media by Muslims for her use of a sacred Islamic text in music which was featured in her recent Savage x Fenty fashion show. The Bajan singer recently held the show on October 2 with the new release of her Savage x Fenty collection, which was hailed for continuing to be inclusive with their featured plus size, racially diverse and LGBT+ representation. However, while many were celebrating and hailing the singer’s brand, others - mainly Muslim fans and social media users - called out the singer for…