Sometimes we forget celebrities aren’t perfect. Most of the time we forget that money doesn’t make a person, it merely enhances what was already there. But when someone comes along and embraces what the masses forget, either consciously to fit in or subconsciously because that’s just who they are, we are drawn to them; and that is why we love Rihanna.
It is well known that Rihanna is universally labeled as “good girl gone bad, but in reality it’s more like “bad girl that was forced in a good girls’ box”. In an old article, Rihanna divulged that during the beginning of her career Def Jam wouldn’t allow her to cut or dye her hair nor wear red lipstick; two of her very consistent trendsetting trademarks. We all remember honey-brown, sun-kissed “A Girl Like Me” Rihanna, but that was definitely who she was told to be, not who she wanted to be.
The Rihanna we know is how Westerners picture “island girls” to be: glittery, golden and carefree goddess’s that eat mangoes and seafood on the daily. However, if you want to make it in America, you have to sleuth in as an angel and break out as a devil. As moral as the Land of the Free claims to be, to make it in this particular lifestyle, you have to put your morals to the side or pretend you don’t have any, and I believe Rihanna does the latter, like most femme fatales of musical Hollywood.
But as interesting as Rihanna is, why would people adore, almost covet someone who chose the life of never-ending attention, yet tries to pull herself above being a role-model to the people that fund her life as well as accountability? Simple, she is the epitome of love.
And I use the term love strictly in regards towards the Self. We love her because she loves herself so much. Every woman that has been in her spot has always tried to convince mothers that they were able to raise children that were not theirs. Rihanna has made it very clear she is nobody’s momma and she is not here to be anyone’s role model, and even though we condemn her for her selfishness, she doesn’t budge, and rightfully so.
Why should a 24-year-old who came into the fast life at 16, came from an abusive household and is still figuring herself out live her life for somebody else? If anything, we should be pleased she knows herself since our voyeuristic ways makes us feel our opinion on her personal life means something to her. For example, people couldn’t wrap their head around the fact she went back to Chris Brown after “the incident”, but isn’t that what most women do in an abusive relationship? Don’t most of us learn until the last second?
Rihanna’s turbulent relationship was on display and she didn’t let anyone dictate what she felt she needed to experience, regardless if millions were watching and a million voices were advising. She dresses herself in which ever mood is telling her to love herself in, she shares blessings with her family and best friend just as we would if we were in her financial situation, she has a sharp tongue for banter and for those who insult her and a sweet gratitude towards her Rihanna Navy, but most of all her image is hers.
Personally, the only time I choose to listen to Rihanna is to convince myself I can continue to run during my spontaneous bouts of exercise and a lil’ bump and grind on the dance floor. As a music enthusiast, Rihanna is not a musician to me. For as many albums she has released, there’s only a handful of songs she’s written, and that’s only co-written. Rihanna is an entertainer; her team makes her a musician. Nevertheless, Rihanna never stops grinding, and for that she deserves respect, even if she isn’t the traditional definition of a musician.
In the midst of people spinning Rihanna’s web for her, her image is hers. They can choreograph/write however they want for her career, but it will always be tailored to who Rihanna is. That is why we love her, because she is herself through good and bad and no one is going to tell her no, and even if they do, she is still gon’ do it. Ain’t ya Rih?
Related posts:
- ADTV Editorial – ‘I’ll make him wait 3 months so I know it’s real’ by @mollysoulchild
- New Music: Rihanna ft. Eminem – Love The Way You Lie Pt. 2
- Rihanna Wanted To Have Sex With ‘We Found Love’ Male Lead On Set
- The Reappearing Man: “Why Men Almost Always Come Back” Editorial
- Editorial: “Being themselves – and getting paid” By Karolyn Judge (Amaru Don TV)
You have truly describe who she is and what we see, astounding!