BET Experience

Rihanna

Born on the island of Barbados, Robin Rihanna Fenty traveled to the U.S. at age 16 with dreams of stardom. In 2004 the singer auditioned in the office of then Def Jam President Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, and he was so impressed that he wouldn’t let her leave until she’d signed a contract. Since then Rihanna's career has been a straight climb to the top. Her first reggae-flavored hit, “Pon De Replay,” paved the way for a string of #1 singles—from “S.O.S.” to “Umbrella” featuring Jay-Z to “What’s My Name” featuring Drake in 2011. Rihanna has sold more than 150 million albums worldwide. She has also modeled for Gucci and launched her own fragrances, Reb’l Fleur and Nude. The winner of six Grammy Awards, Rihanna is an honorary cultural ambassador of Barbados. The platinum-selling singer released her seventh album, Unapologetic, in November 2012 and made her acting debut in 2012’s Battleship. Rihanna also founded the Believe Foundation to help terminally ill children.