Rihanna: ‘I’m not built like a Victoria’s Secret girl, and I still feel very beautiful’

2016 Time 100 Gala

Rihanna covers the June issue of Vogue. They put this issue out earlier than usual because Rihanna is one of the co-chairs for Monday night’s Met Gala, which I really hope will be LIT AF. We need some fun and some fashion. But Rihanna didn’t just get the cover of Vogue to promote the Met Gala – no, she’s also talking about Ocean’s Eight, Fenty Beauty, turning 30 and her new lingerie line, Savage. Honestly, this cover interview was amazing. Rihanna is so quotable and interesting and funny. I love her. You can read the full piece here. Some highlights:

She’s in a relationship with Hassan Jameel: “I used to feel guilty about taking personal time, but I also think I never met someone who was worth it before…”

Her worries at the age of 30: “OK, so now that I’m 30, are there things I’m supposed to do? Should I be worried? Should I be freezing my eggs? What do you do at 30?!”

Doing a Fenty Beauty line for all skin colors: “As a black woman, I could not live with myself if I didn’t do that. But what I didn’t anticipate was the way people would get emotional about finding their complexion on the shelf, that this would be a groundbreaking moment.”

She’s not here to be fat-shamed or concern-trolled about her weight: “You’ve just got to laugh at yourself, honestly. I mean, I know when I’m having a fat day and when I’ve lost weight. I accept all of the bodies. I’m not built like a Victoria’s Secret girl, and I still feel very beautiful and confident in my lingerie.”

The idea of being a role model: “That title was put on me when I was just finding my way, making mistakes in front of the world. I didn’t think it was fair. Now I understand the concept, but at that time I was the same age as the girls who were looking up to me. And that’s a really hard place to be in as a teenager.”

Her lingerie line, Savage: “Savage is really about taking complete ownership of how you feel and the choices you make. Basically making sure everybody knows the ball is in your court. As women, we’re looked at as the needy ones, the naggy ones, the ones who are going to be heartbroken in a relationship. Savage is just the reverse. And you know, guys don’t like getting the cards flipped on them—ever.”

How Drake made her MTV VMA Video Vanguard all about him: “The VMAs is such a fan-focused awards show, so having that energy around me, and knowing the people who had received the award in the past, made it feel like a big deal… Waiting through that speech was probably the most uncomfortable part. I don’t like too many compliments; I don’t like to be put on blast.” When I ask about the current state of their friendship, her attitude is sanguine. “We don’t have a friendship now, but we’re not enemies either. It is what it is.”

Her biggest girl crush: “Tell me who is a badder bitch than Lisa Vanderpump! She’s goals AF! She’s chic but still funny. She likes to be at home with her husband and then goes and handles her business. Maybe there’s a couple of thousand Birkins in her closet, but she’s still focused. I love that about her.”

[From Vogue]

If Rihanna can sit there and talk about “not being built like a Victoria’s Secret girl,” what hope is there for the rest of us? Rihanna’s weight fluctuates like most women, but her body is still CRAZY. Like, most women in the world would kill to look Rihanna or have her figure. But I guess the point is that everybody has insecurities, even the badass punk princesses. What else? Love the shade for Drake, love what she says about flipping the narratives on men, love what she says about role modeling. She’s great.

Also, this Vogue video is adorable.

Cover courtesy of Mert & Marcus for Vogue Magazine.

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76 Responses to “Rihanna: ‘I’m not built like a Victoria’s Secret girl, and I still feel very beautiful’”

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  1. Kitty says:

    I felt embarrassed for her when drake made that little speech…seemed uncomfortable

  2. A Croatian says:

    I’m turning 30 in 10 days and this just made my day!!! LOVE HER

    • CrazyCro says:

      Sretan ti rodendan 🙂

    • Jordan says:

      I turn 29 in ten days too! Mother’s Day babies! Least when I was born I fell on that day, did you?? Always joke with the mom that we’re the greatest Mother’s Day gift, always. Happy early birthday!!!

    • Wren says:

      Happy birthday! I thought turning 30 would feel like a bigger deal than it actually did. All that happened was that after that year I’d forget how old I was. Sometimes I have to do quick mental math to remember. After 30, knowing my exact age fell way down to the bottom of the “remember this shit” priority list for my brain.

      • Blaire Carter says:

        Happy birthday Tauruses! I just turned 30 yesterday and it wasn’t that bad ; )

    • Croatian says:

      Thank you, everyone!! 🙂 I didn’t expect the warm wishes <3

    • crogirl says:

      SRETAN ROCKAS!!🎉😀

    • ichsi says:

      It’s happening for me next month 😫😭😫

  3. Betsy says:

    Her color and size inclusivity are so wonderful, and I hope that her businesses continue to be runaway successes and that inspires more businesses to do the same.

    • NameChange says:

      I’m in awe of Rihanna. She took little talent (no shade, just facts) and turned it into an enterprise. If she had relied just on her singing, her career might be over by now. But through force of will and an incredible work ethic, she turned into a powerhouse. Kuddos to her (this goes for JLo as well).

      And she’s right, my eyes watered a little when I found the right shade of foundation right on the shelf. LOL. (I have Lupita Nyongo’s coloring.)

      • Betsy says:

        I can’t blame you for your eyes watering! Melanin-rich women had (well, have, but tiny inroads are being made) so much trouble finding colors. I can’t even imagine what a PITA that has to be and I’m glad it’s getting a little better. Everyone should be able to see themselves at the makeup counter. I’m off the other end of the spectrum – I can’t always find foundations my color – but as Jackie Aina says, I can find bronzer, blush, lipstick.

        Yeah her singing talents weren’t immense, but what she’s doing here? Go RiRi!

      • Cee says:

        I’m super pale and I often can’t purchase anything because it’s too dark so when I saw her line I just… I felt so happy. There are even shades that would be a bit too light for me, but there are neutral, warm and cool undertones for Caspers like me! Talk about taking those of us at both ends of the spectrum into account!

      • Asiyah says:

        She’s beautiful and I can’t wait to get over my dislike of makeup and buy one of her Fenty foundations. I’m not rich in melanin but I’m not white either, so it was always hard for me to find the right base. Put me off makeup (that, and my laziness). I hope to get over myself really soon because we could all use a little more pop in our skin and a little less pale!

      • lucy2 says:

        I was so-so on her for a while, but I’ve come to really like her and respect what she’s been doing.

      • Mle428 says:

        You all have inspired me to check out her foundation. I often have to mix colors, because I’m pretty fair but am Swedish and Native American, so my coloring is different than most fair-skinned people. Then, if I get a little sun, even the makeup artists at MAC can’t seem to get the right color.

        When I was super fit and in my 20’s, someone told me I had a body like Rhianna. It was the best comment, because it was a female coworker who was asking me about my workout routine.

    • Rumi says:

      I agree she’s not that talented as a singet. But as a business woman a she is a powerhouse. Shes beautiful and love her vibe. Fenty foundation range was a game changer. I hardly wore foundation because I had to mix several colors to just get it the right shade and tone. So I’d wear a BB cream. For the first time I found the right shade and tone for my skin and it looks flawless.

  4. CairinaCat says:

    That is a lot of war paint: foundation, contour, setting powder, bronze, blush … concealer

    When she applied the foundation I thought it was too yellowy. but the contour stuff did beat down that yellow a bit but in contrast to her neck it is still the wrong colour.

    • lautie says:

      +1

    • mk says:

      Yeah – that’s a major trend on youtube/instagram….. painting on a ton of full coverage foundation on your face that’s way too warm toned when you already have great skin. I’m not sure why it’s become such a thing.

    • Trashaddict says:

      That was 10 minutes of make-up work (and she’s got it down), even if you don’t include all the speedups. So, what, 30″ for the whole deal? Why I’m not really a make-up person.
      But for people who are, I really like what she’s doing with her make-up line.

  5. Virtual Not Actual Me says:

    @A Croatian: Happy Birthday. Hope your twenties were everything you wanted them to be.

  6. Nev says:

    Go Riri.

  7. Ratsy Pomona says:

    Sigh, I love her. I wasn’t her biggest fan in her early career, but she’s grown on me so much!

  8. Toot says:

    I like Rihanna. Her personality is just cool.

  9. Lala says:

    Dear Rhi Rhi…for women with a fuller cup…and I mean…A MUCH FULLER CUP (we’re talking G/H/I)…we would LOVE to buy your bras…alas..as with most places…WE CAN NOT!!!! Please fix that!!!!

    • OriginalLala says:

      hear hear! I’m a 36G and finding good bras is not fun 🙁 I’ve been really thinking about getting them reduced, as I get older they are causing me more shoulder pain

      • Peeking in says:

        I was a 36HH, they were way too big for my frame. I had a reduction 2 years ago, best decision I ever made. My back, shoulders and neck thank me daily. I’m still large compared to most, but I feel wonderful. I still get my bras made (lovely shop in my neighbourhood customizes) at a hefty price, though.

      • Scotchy says:

        I recently had a reduction and OMG it is the best best best decision I could have possibly made. The sheer relief my neck and shoulders feel is amazing…

      • Pamela says:

        Another happy reduction recipient here. Life changing.

        Also– they are super pricey, but pre-reduction I was ordering from Panache. Good quality. They also do swimsuits.

      • OriginalLala says:

        you gals are easing my fears about reduction surgery! Reductions are covered in Quebec but I need a referral and in my area finding a family doctor can take up to 2 years 🙁

      • Arpeggi says:

        @originallala, you don’t need to go see your family doctor for this though, just take an appointment with a GP in a clinic nearby (yeah, I know, this isn’t always easy either) and ask for a referal. Breast reductions are covered by the RAMQ as they’re seen as a real health issue.

    • Jussie says:

      Past a DD cup everything has to change basically. You need a separate design, different manufacturing processes, a separate production line and so on. It’s not like making larger sizes of other apparel items, with bras you have to pretty much start over once you hit E.

      It sucks I know (I’m an J cup), but there is a reason larger cup sizes are only made by large brands (or brands under a large umbrella company) or else brands that only make large cup sizes. Making ‘regular’ sizes and larger sizes means making two different versions of every style, which adds a lot of cost and complexity to manufacturing.

      The brand Rihanna partnered with is new to lingerie. They’re not yet set up to deal with that cost and complexity. If the brand takes off like Fenty Beauty did, then they’ll get there eventually, but trying to do it now would be foolish.

      • Lala says:

        Glamourise saves MY SOUL regarding bras…and believe you me…I know the intricacies of making a large size…having worked PT retail for clothes for fuller figures for years…that was ALWAYS my issue with LB…who to me for the longest time…and…in a lot of instances STILL to this day…seem to just take VS bras and add more fabric to them…ignoring the infrastructure of the bra…which is why I STILL can’t wear their larger cup sizes…Fenty doesn’t have to mimic the whole line…just come out with designs specifically for larger cups now…and take advantage of the HUGE initial promotional roll-out which is based on inclusion….to me…THAT wouldn’t be foolish at all…

      • Trashaddict says:

        If men wore bras (well OK, some do-if ALL men wore bras) this would not be a problem! Why am I having to buy those little bra extenders. If so many people need them, then make bras that fit!

    • idontknowyouyoudontknowme says:

      It would also be great if she would carry sub band 32 bras.. with both small and larger cups(like 30FF-30G, etc). I hoped the lingerie line would be as inclusive as the make-up line, but seems its not meant to be.

  10. Virtual Not Actual Me says:

    I always saw her as another banal pop singer until they used her song We Found Love to great effect in American Honey. That changed my view of the song and her.

  11. Paperclip468 says:

    Omg, Kaiser. Thank you for sharing this. I’m a 50 year old who could never pull that look off, but she is delightful and I loved watching the video. She’s a damn PRO with makeup. I picked up a few tips and just adored the way she presented the tutorial. I’ve been Rihannafied.

    • Lala says:

      I’m 50 too…and I’m just getting into makeup like a pro…basically because there are finally COLORS AND TONES and TEXTURES that make me want to put it on my skin…and it’s fun! I see why my Mama didn’t PLAY with her makeup back in the day! She is a GENIUS at it…still…and she’s dark skinned…so she was mixing and matching like a chemist for DECADES! She’s STILL not used to the fact that she can now go out and by a shade that matches her color and tone PERFECTLY!

  12. Lucy says:

    Perfect cover AND interview. Love you, Rob.

  13. LuckyZeGrand says:

    She is way too much for Drake.She wears her heart on her sleeve,is unapologetic about her mistakes,faults,shortcomings and is wicked smart.On top of being breathtakingly beautiful.He wouldn’t know what to do with her.

    • Peonies says:

      True. She is way, way out of Drake’s league. She’s so charming and funny on top of being drop-dead gorgeous. I love her.

  14. prissa says:

    I simply love Rihanna! She is so unapologetically real and down to earth. You go girl!

  15. Babs says:

    Ah, Rih, she is otherwordly beautiful. She is so stunning it hurts. I wasn’t really paying attention to her music-wise before Anti, now I very much want to hear a reggae album from her.

    • Killjoy says:

      In the “OMG IS RIHANNA DOING COKE” video that came out a couple years ago, the thing that stood out to me is that Rihanna jams to dancehall, and it was a game-changer for me. I loved Anti, and it would be amazing if she released a reggae album.

      And yeah, she’s stunning.

  16. Diana says:

    Rihanna is my spirit animal. Love her to the ends of the earth! She and Cardi B are my forever girl crushes!! I’d be in gossip heaven if I ever heard those two we’re planning to collaborate or be friends or whatever. Love them both and we need more people who are willing to lay it all out — real, empowered, strong, human, imperfect, who own who they are.

  17. Jordan says:

    I love this woman

  18. MellyMel says:

    Forever girl crush! Love her!

  19. Plaidsheets says:

    Great tutorial for Fenty. She had so much fun with it and it looked like a breeze to apply.

    I’ve been holding out because I need more make-up like I need a whole in the head. However, I will pick up a few pieces today. That shark brush looked awesome, though. It may have to be a future trip.

  20. Annabelle says:

    I’m not into Rhianna but after she did that Trophy Wife / Fenty Beauty and these remarks about how she loves herself and her own body, I’m starting to warm to her. It feels real. I read that she started contouring because she had “fat” days and she didn’t want to feel bad about herself. Good for her.

  21. Tiffany says:

    My God, that woman is stunning. I can just stare at her face for hours on end.

  22. Bailie says:

    She seems lovely, down to earth and fun.

    It’s not easy to be a human, being a woman is even harder.

    I love to see women happy and succeeding, achieving their dreams and living on their own terms.

    I’m really not into make up, I only use a tiny bit of Bare Minerals powder to add a little bit of color to my face and a very natural looking lip gloss for fun.

    I got lucky with nearly perfect skin, very big green eyes, thick, long black lashes, good eyebrows and a lot of dark hair, maybe too much.

    I prefer to spend my time and money on excellent organic skin care over make up.

  23. Lis says:

    I love her so, so much. I would say yes freeze those eggs, babe.

  24. Happy21 says:

    Not a huge fan of her music but I can’t help but love her as a person. She’s extremely likeable without trying to be.

  25. Asiyah says:

    I LOVE HER! MY HUSBAND LOVES HER! WE LOVE HER! AND I LOVE LISA VANDERPUMP! OMG I’M A FAN GIRL I’M DOING ALL CAPS IT’S VERY EXCITING FOR ME

    Ok. I calmed down.

    I’m a lot like her in that I don’t like too many compliments or being put on blast. That’s why I hate my birthday and I didn’t have a wedding reception (and am still refusing). The attention is too much for me to handle. Gives me anxiety and makes me paranoid.

    Does anyone else get the vibe that Drake is emotionally manipulative? I hated his speech. I felt it put Rihanna in a tight spot and he knew it. I don’t blame her for not being friends with him anymore.

    • Pandy says:

      I love LVP as well so I loved that she said this. Drake us such a tool …. He just didn’t want anyone to think he wouldn’t still have a chance with her. He’s so GREAT look! Even his exes love him.

  26. Christina S. says:

    I love fenty! I bought the foundation which like most, melts into my skin. I’m light, but not ivory. I’m an inbetween shade and it’s hard to find the right color. I usually end up with a slightly darker face because the lightest was too light and that was as close as I could get, but fenty got it right! I’m 110 💁🏻‍♀️

    I also love how she celebrates all women and all body types. I follow her on Instagram and she is always posting pictures on her fenty line and Savage also. She posted a beautiful plus sized woman who I believe was modeling savage, but not 100%. It just meant a lot to me because I’m a plus sized woman, so seeing a woman like Rihanna calling a plus sized woman beautiful, made my day.

    There might be a lot of Beyonce fans out there, but I’m not. I love Rihanna. She got my vote for the cool table.

    • eto says:

      you can be a fan of both! or try not to pit black female singers against each other…

    • Baebae says:

      What if I told you you could like more than one black artist at a time… why does it have to be Beyoncé OR Rihanna? You can like one without diminishing the other.

    • Snowflake says:

      I am too. I’m not light but I’m not medium. I’ve been thinking about checking out her makeup line.

  27. Lama Bean says:

    She’s grown so much. I like who she is becoming. I’m a big fan.

  28. j says:

    one teensy thing…the foundation she applied in that tut gave me a nervous breakdown. it was SO YELLOW looking! not sure if it was the camera picking it up weird but i was like damn girl you have an internationally renowned inclusive makeup line…don’t you have a proper shade match??!!

    • Jussie says:

      She does her makeup for flash photography. Redness shows up far, far more obviously than a poor foundation match, so she wears a yellow undertone to combat that.

  29. No Doubtful says:

    Drake did embarrass the hell out of himself and out of her at the VMAs. I’m not really sure why she gave him the time of day in the first place as he doesn’t seem like her type.

    I don’t understand the Victoria Secret comment…Ri has an incredible body at any weight.

    • Gigi LaMoore says:

      @No Doubtful VS girls are skinny insects with big boobs. That’s not Rihanna. Thank God!

  30. Virtual Not Actual Me says:

    She has one thing in common with Victoria Seceret Models.

    https://goo.gl/images/myhsWh

    • Snowflake says:

      Haha, I knew that would be Leo! I’ve never found him attractive but I’ve heard he has a big d*ck.

  31. Gigi LaMoore says:

    I love Ri and I love LVP.

  32. Silent Star says:

    She just has this deep coolness without even trying. She just can’t help it.

  33. WendyNerd says:

    With a face like hers, she could be morbidly obese and still be stunning.

  34. Hildog says:

    Queen 👑

  35. Ginger says:

    Riri!! You are so gorgeous, but you need to blend your foundation down into your neck.