former boyfriend to Sugar magazine: ‘A few years ago I had a very insecure boyfriend. He kept breaking up with me for no reason, I’d cry all night and he’d just assume we would get back together the next day. Then I said “I’m not going through this anymore” and stopped returning his calls. Ittook ages to get over him, but that’s when you need friends around you.’
Rihanna also had some advice for girls when it comes to dating: ‘When guys move too fast, it’s a sign they don’t see you as special. Guys have tried to get frisky with me when we don’t even know each other. Just get out of there!’
2008: RIHANNA, THE AMBASSADOR
I n February 2008, Rihanna was appointed the Youth and Cultural Ambassador for Barbados. This was an amazing honour and privilege; the only person to have previously been given the title was the sprinter and Olympic medallist Obadele Thompson, after the 2000 Olympics.
During the presentation ceremony, the proclamation was read by Steve Blackett, the Minister of Culture: ‘Whereas the Government and the people of Barbados truly acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable achievements of Robyn Rihanna Fenty; and whereas such an accomplishment has brought significant honour and deserving recognition not only to Rihanna but also to her beloved country and has elevated Barbados to the forefront of the entertainment world; and whereas this phenomenal success has come at so tender an age evoking invaluableinspiration and motivation to youth everywhere; and whereas all Barbados stands proud in the face of this honour and gives full support to Rihanna on her continuing path; be it now proclaimed in Bridgetown, Barbados that the Government of Barbados designates Robyn Rihanna Fenty an honorary Youth and Cultural Ambassador of this country.’
As well as the title, Rihanna also received a plot of land in June of the same year, so that she would always see Barbados as her home. The land was in the Apes Hill Golf Resort area, St James, and was worth $1.2 million (approx £727,000). In giving Rihanna such a valuable piece of land, the Minister of Housing and Lands, Michael Lashley, felt the government was showing how committed they were to people who promote Barbados in the wider world. There was one condition to the gift, though: if Rihanna decided to sell the land within 15 years, she would have to pay the government $100,000, as that was what they themselves had paid for the land. Some politicians disagreed with the attached condition and felt that the gift should have none: if Rihanna decided to sell it, then so be it.
Since becoming Youth and Cultural Ambassador for Barbados, Rihanna has helped to bring many thousands of tourists to visit the country who wouldn’t necessarily have considered holidaying there, and she has considerably boosted the international profile of her home country by thanking the people of Barbados in various awards speeches and interviews.
Some Bajans (people who are native to Barbados) are jealous of her, though, and write negative things about the singer in blogs and on websites. They don’t approve of some of the things Rihanna does, and want her to stop wearing such revealing clothes in her videos. Rihanna tries to avoid looking at these negative blogs, because reading hurtful comments upsets her too much. As far as she is concerned, she is comfortable with what she wears and that’s all that matters. After all, she’s not hurting anyone. If her mum had a problem with the way she dressed, most probably she would cover herself up, but Monica is fully supportive and proud that she is her daughter.
CURTAINâS FINALLY CLOSING
W hen Ne-Yo first wrote âTake A Bowâ, Rihanna was overwhelmed, and she knew she had to be the one to record it. She wanted to create an anthem for women, and liked the idea of having a song which had the man as the cheater and the woman staying strong. Rihanna was able to draw on her own experiences, too: when she was a
Rihanna also had some advice for girls when it comes to dating: ‘When guys move too fast, it’s a sign they don’t see you as special. Guys have tried to get frisky with me when we don’t even know each other. Just get out of there!’
2008: RIHANNA, THE AMBASSADOR
I n February 2008, Rihanna was appointed the Youth and Cultural Ambassador for Barbados. This was an amazing honour and privilege; the only person to have previously been given the title was the sprinter and Olympic medallist Obadele Thompson, after the 2000 Olympics.
During the presentation ceremony, the proclamation was read by Steve Blackett, the Minister of Culture: ‘Whereas the Government and the people of Barbados truly acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable achievements of Robyn Rihanna Fenty; and whereas such an accomplishment has brought significant honour and deserving recognition not only to Rihanna but also to her beloved country and has elevated Barbados to the forefront of the entertainment world; and whereas this phenomenal success has come at so tender an age evoking invaluableinspiration and motivation to youth everywhere; and whereas all Barbados stands proud in the face of this honour and gives full support to Rihanna on her continuing path; be it now proclaimed in Bridgetown, Barbados that the Government of Barbados designates Robyn Rihanna Fenty an honorary Youth and Cultural Ambassador of this country.’
As well as the title, Rihanna also received a plot of land in June of the same year, so that she would always see Barbados as her home. The land was in the Apes Hill Golf Resort area, St James, and was worth $1.2 million (approx £727,000). In giving Rihanna such a valuable piece of land, the Minister of Housing and Lands, Michael Lashley, felt the government was showing how committed they were to people who promote Barbados in the wider world. There was one condition to the gift, though: if Rihanna decided to sell the land within 15 years, she would have to pay the government $100,000, as that was what they themselves had paid for the land. Some politicians disagreed with the attached condition and felt that the gift should have none: if Rihanna decided to sell it, then so be it.
Since becoming Youth and Cultural Ambassador for Barbados, Rihanna has helped to bring many thousands of tourists to visit the country who wouldn’t necessarily have considered holidaying there, and she has considerably boosted the international profile of her home country by thanking the people of Barbados in various awards speeches and interviews.
Some Bajans (people who are native to Barbados) are jealous of her, though, and write negative things about the singer in blogs and on websites. They don’t approve of some of the things Rihanna does, and want her to stop wearing such revealing clothes in her videos. Rihanna tries to avoid looking at these negative blogs, because reading hurtful comments upsets her too much. As far as she is concerned, she is comfortable with what she wears and that’s all that matters. After all, she’s not hurting anyone. If her mum had a problem with the way she dressed, most probably she would cover herself up, but Monica is fully supportive and proud that she is her daughter.
CURTAINâS FINALLY CLOSING
W hen Ne-Yo first wrote âTake A Bowâ, Rihanna was overwhelmed, and she knew she had to be the one to record it. She wanted to create an anthem for women, and liked the idea of having a song which had the man as the cheater and the woman staying strong. Rihanna was able to draw on her own experiences, too: when she was a
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