She’s one of the celebrity, music and social media world’s most controversial stars… and today she’s turning the big two five.
Happy Birthday RiRi… as a gift to you, we’ve gathered our top 25 Rihanna moments-the men she’s been with, her top tunes, her biggest fashion moments, her most controversial photos and the five celebrities who could prove inspirational for her downward spiral.
Hip, hip, hooray…!
Rihanna And The Lads
Let’s be honest, Ri-Ri is a woman who has a serious amount of dating history behind her. Over the past few years she’s been linked to a host of other famous faces, from Hollywood superstars to fellow chart-toppers.
1. Chris Brown
Chris is one of Rihanna’s most infamous men. The pair were a confirmed item for over a year when Chris physically assaulted her in a car after a pre-Grammy party in 2009.
Despite their past, the couple remained in contact and often sent each other tweets. They officially reunited last month with Rihanna admitting to Rolling Stone: “He made a mistake, and he’s paid his dues… I decided it was more important for me to be happy. Even if it’s a mistake, it’s my mistake.”
2. Drake
Rumours started flying when Drake appeared in Ri-Ri’s video for What’s My Name? Rihanna later admitted that she fancied the rapper but said she didn’t want to take it any further. However, last year Drake was involved in an ‘altercation’ in a nightclub with Chris Brown. A major fight broke out between the two after Drake allegedly sent Chris a bottle of champagne accompanied by a note that said: “I f**ked the love of your life.”
3. Rob Kardashian
According to reports, Rob invited Ri-Ri to his sister Kim’s wedding in an attempt to woo her. However, he didn’t get any further than a couple of flirty messages on Twitter. Morto for you Rob!
4. Colin Farrell
Rihanna was linked to our very own Colin Farrell in 2011 after sparks flew between them when they appeared on The Graham Norton Show in December 2010. In an interview with Rolling Stone Ri-Ri admitted that the actor was “smoking” but they hadn’t hooked up. “I’m not dating. I’m not sexing. I’m not even sexting. It’s on complete nil,” she said.
5. Ashton Kutcher
After Ashton split from Demi Moore, Ri-Ri was spotted leaving his for-sale home in the early hours of the morning. No one knows what went down exactly as neither Ri-Ri or Ashton has mentioned the late night housecall since…
RiRi And Her Choons
She might be known for having a scandalous love life and a barely-there wardrobe but at the heart of it all Rihanna is a very talented singer. So while it can be hard to see beyond all of the hype that surrounds her these days, the fact is she is famous for her unique voice and catchy songs.
6. S.O.S
It wasn’t her first single but this tune, which samples Soft Cell’s classic Tainted Love, was the one that put her on the top of the pop pile.
7. We Found Love
This song, featuring Calvin Harris, from Rihanna’s sixth studio album is her biggest single so far (although we have no doubt she’ll surpass it one day).
8. Umbrella
She may have had the help of her mentor Jay-Z but this track was all about the pop star and cemented her place as a music force to be reckoned with.
9. Disturbia
Written by her on/off beau Chris Brown, Disturbia was a huge summer hit for the Barbadian beauty back in 2008.
10. Love The Way You Lie
So it’s technically Eminem’s song but we have to admit that as good as he is Rihanna’s chorus steals the show.
Rihanna, You Need Some Inspiration Love
The singer’s decisions have been questionable from time to time and her public image hasn’t exactly been clean cut. However, we think these five celebrities would be great inspiration for the good girl gone bad. They could give her a right talking to as well…
11. Debbie Harry
An icon of the rock world and an inspiration for many women, Harry faced her fair share of demons over the years, mainly in the form of drugs and alcohol. The singer when asked once about Amy Winehouse commented that she wasn’t really in a position to talk about the troubled star as she “barely got out by the skin of my teeth.” Harry also loves the crazy so she could kick Rihanna into line without losing too much of her personality. Perhaps most inspirational, the 65 year-old rock veteran still takes the stage today. Not a bad role model really…
12. Drew Barrymore
Being a child star definitely brings its difficulties. Barrymore has often claimed she had her first drink by 9 years of age and was already taking drugs by 13. Barrymore was slightly off the rails in her teens, already engaged at 16, the young starlet had two stints in rehab. But look at her now! Drew is certainly a member of the Hollywood rom-com elite, she’s even godmother to Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love and if she can steer that one right, she can definitely take Rihanna under her wing.
13. Cheryl Cole
When you look at Cheryl Cole now, it’s hard to believe that barely ten years ago, the darling of the UK media was in court for assault on a bathroom attendant. Cole denied the racial suggestions implicated in the attack and was eventually given 120 hours of community service and was asked to pay a fine. However, Cole immediately turned her life around and reached a career high of judging the X-Factor. Cole is well equipped on giving the “How To Turn Your Career Around” lecture. In fact, she could probably run a course…
14. Johnny Cash
The original wildboy of country music, Cash had severe problems with drugs and alcohol following many years on the road. Often, gigs were cancelled due to his condition and his wife separated for him at the height of his addiction. However, June Carter, the love of his life, helped the troubled country star get clean and the pair married a couple of years later. We reckon good oul JR would have a few choice words for Rihanna and her career.
15. Robert Downey Jr
Poor old Robert Downey Jr. The lovable rogue now jokes about the times he ended up in dumpsters or in random kids beds but there was a time when the star could not hold down a job due to his addiction. Unless you have been living under a stone for the last few years, you will be aware of his career renaissance, amazing turns in Iron Man and the Avengers and the most sought after star for presenting award shows. Downey Jr. has often thanked his agent for turning his life and career around but if there was anyone better equipped at changing public perception than Downey Jr., we haven’t found them yet. Rihanna, we have booked you in for a six week intensive course with Robert “How To Get The World To Love You.”
RiRi And The Fash Pack
It’s hard to pinpoint just one way to describe Rihanna’s eclectic attitude to fashion but if we had to pick one word, unpredictable springs to mind.
From her love of tattoos to her magpie like penchant for gaudy gold jewellery, Rihanna’s unique style is all her own and love it or loathe it, it’s not surprisingly that her legion of fans and admirers try their best to copy it.
Here we pick her top five from the last year that are arguably some of her best ever to boot.
16. Grammy Awards 2013
Looking surprisingly elegant in this scarlet number, Rihanna just about complied with this year’s strict dress code and showed that sometimes showing less skin is just as sexy.
17. Unapologetic Album Launch In New York
What do you do when everyone expects you to show up in something sexy? Wear baggy menswear of course. By donning this androgynous leather two-piece, the singer showed the world who was boss and that she’s in control.
18. On Stage In London During Her 777 Tour
Ri-Ri loves to go all out on stage and chose to combine her love for leopard with this unusual pyjama inspired ensemble for her show in London.
19. GQ Man Of The Year Awards In LA
Sometimes less is more and Rihanna let her natural beauty (and lots of skin) shine in this minimalistic Calvin Klein slip dress.
20. On Stage At The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show
It’s pretty much impossible to upstage a Victoria’s Secret model as they cascade down a catwalk, practically in the nip but Rihanna managed to just about steal the limelight during her performance back in November.
RiRi And Her Love Of Uploading Photos
Using social media to upload photos documenting every part of her life, RiRi’s private life is on show to the world 24/7. We take a look at the now-25-year-old’s top five controversial photos she has ever shared with the world.
21. The Party Girl IV Drip
Rihanna controversially tweets a photo of her arm after a drinking binge. The photo created controversy on social media and people argued she was normalising a hangover cure as extreme as this. Somebody get the girl a packet of Salt and Vinegar Taytos and we’ll show her a real hangover cure.
22. No Knickers?
It used to be all about topless, but then bottomless trend started taking over. And if there’s a trend going, Rihanna won’t just follow it, she’ll make it, complete with tribal headwear and glass of red wine. Classy.
23. Reunion
The photo that let the world know she was back with Brown. Nobody could mistake that tattooed arm…
24. Sparking Up
Ahhh, the first of many “We’re smoking the doobies” photos. The first one shocked us, the second one had us talking, the third, fourth and the rest of them just got a bit old. We get it Ri… you enjoy the wacky tobaccy…
25. Pressure Of Being The Bestie
She does look good, we’ll give her that… but all this photo did was draw attention to the fact that her poor best friend Melissa Forde has to follow her around, camera in hand trying to get as controversial a photo as possible… Pressure’s on Forde.
