By: Lauren Balster
The majority of the world most likely knows the name Rihanna for all of her hit songs on the radio such as “Work”, “Umbrella” or “Diamonds.” Rihanna fell into fame in 2005 for her single “Pon de Replay,” at the young age of 17. Her success has since expanded beyond just musical talent.
In Sept. 2017, Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty, after her last name Fenty. When she created this line of beauty products, she noticed that there was still a void in the industry for makeup that matched all tones and types of skin. She made it her mission to create products that would match the skin of those that are underrepresented and traditionally hard to match with leading brands.
For Rihanna it was simple, "she wanted all women to walk up to a makeup counter and find the products they needed,” Firstpost reported.
Rihanna didn’t stop there. In 2018, she launched a lingerie company Savage x Fenty. She formed this brand with further hopes of body inclusivity for all shapes, sizes and colors. In comparison to Victoria’s Secret, the previous leader in the lingerie industry, Rihanna’s product offerings had much more diversity and inclusion in its sizing and advertising.
The women who modeled in Savage x Fenty’s show displayed a wide range of ethnicities and body types. Instead of the unrealistic ideals that most other companies present, Rihanna made sure to capture a wide range of women; including those of color and those with curves. She created a precedent in the lingerie industry that women of all shapes and sizes can feel sexy and beautiful.
According to Forbes, this year in 2021, Savage x Fenty surpassed over $1 billion in equity, hitting a major milestone. In the future, Rihanna plans to continue expanding her empire into activewear that will also capture a diverse and inclusive audience, similar to her other lines.
Rihanna is a force to be reckoned with and is an inspiration to females everywhere. There is no stopping the route that she is on to provide inclusive options for women in the fashion and beauty industries all across the world.
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