Singer and actor Rihanna – who stars in Ocean’s 8, out next month – on her favourite collaborations and what home means to her
The hardest thing I’ve had to do [in terms of my career] was leave Barbados. I loved it there. I still love it there, but I knew if I wanted to further my career, I had to leave.
Barbados is home and always will be. I was very fortunate to grow up there – it’s a beautiful place, and I’m very lucky that no matter where I am in the world, I am only ever just a plane journey away from home. Whenever I land in Barbados, all feels right with the world again.
I don’t think I really have one style – I like to mix things up. What I love about accessories is that they can totally change an outfit. You might have what you think is a plain outfit – but accessorise it with a chunky chain and all of a sudden it comes to life.
People should wear what they want, but women shouldn’t be afraid to dress for comfort when they travel as you want to be comfortable [on] a long flight. There is nothing wrong at all with bumming down for comfort. When I am travelling, I love to catch up on my favourite TV shows. I can do an entire Netflix series [on] a long-haul flight.
Women should encourage each other to feel comfortable with who we are, and all women need to be confident and happy with themselves. Women thrive when they are who they are supposed to be – that’s what we need to be promoting.
I enjoy new challenges and I love what I do. [But] when I’m away from work, I just want to spend as much time [as possible] with the people I care most about.
I always wanted to get into acting – I didn’t know if I would like it or hate it – and it turned out I loved it. Working on a film set is far more routine than music. You get [to] set the same time every day and get weekends off, so it was very different to what I was used to.
"I am still relatively new to this industry...I just want to learn [from] the best"
It was amazing to work with some of the greatest actors of the generation [on Ocean’s 8]. We had a lot of fun. I am still relatively new to this industry so I am like a sponge and I just want to learn [from] the best. There are so many actors that I respect, but Meryl Streep is a legend and has been at the top of the game for so long.
It really would be impossible [for me] to pick my favourite collaboration. I am not saying that to be diplomatic; it’s true. When you have worked with Jay-Z, Kanye [West], Paul McCartney and Eminem, it’s impossible to pick one – I am just blessed to have worked with such talented people.
Travel educates – there is no doubt about that. Sometimes the education is obvious and sometimes I think [it is subtler]. I was so inspired by the children of Malawi [when I travelled there as part of my humanitarian work]. Their academic levels were incredibly high – it was just so sad [that] some of them had to drop out [of school]. It is a country that is close to my heart, and one that I want to partner with for many years to come.
This article was originally published in the May 2018 issue of SilverKris magazine.
