Rihanna pictured as a 14-year-old girl modeling and designing costumes in her home of Barbados
Years before becoming a singing sensation and fashion designer, Rihanna was just a 14-year-old girl showcasing her flair for creativity in her home country of Barbados.
Photos of the future superstar capture Rihanna modelling and designing costumes.
Barbadian designer Anwar Muhammad, 72, said Rihanna used to help him create styles for a street festival back she was 'just Robyn.'
Even at a young age, Muhammad said Rihanna was 'destined' to be 'number one.
Muhammad said that Rihanna and her friends would visit his studio in Roberts Road, Haggatt Hall, St Michael to help him create costumes for Crop Over.
'To be honest, I would not say I played a major role in her career, but I am still proud of her; I think her designs are out of this world, and I am simply happy I got to see glimpses of that potential all those years ago,' Anwar recalled.
He shared photos of Rihanna working on the designs with her friends from a scrapbook he kept throughout the years.
Anwar met Rihanna 19 years ago while taking photos for her school's sports day at her alma mater, The Combermere School.
'Back then, I was a photographer taking pictures of Combermere's sports day. I looked back in the stands and saw this one girl and asked to take her picture.
'There was just something about her; she stood out in the crowd. Even then, she was destined to number one,' he recalled.
Back then: Anwar also told the story of how he first met Rihanna 19 years ago at her alma mater, The Combermere School
He shared photos of Rihanna working on the designs with her friends from a scrapbook he kept throughout the years.
popular Soca band Krosfyah. He asked the group if they wanted to assist him, a request to which they readily agreed
Anwar explained that he was making costumes for a tribute to the popular Soca band Krosfyah. He asked the group if they wanted to assist him, a request to which they readily agreed.
Muhammed said that the children came over to his studio almost every day but Rihanna's focus and dedication to the project set her apart.
'Her mother used to drop her off on the mornings. She wasn't Rihanna then, just Robyn,' he reminisced 'That year we were paying special tribute to the music band Krosfyah so we designed costumes as such.'
He continued, 'She was always focused, more so than her friends who would play around, I really enjoyed working with her.'
Muhammed said that the children came over to his studio almost every day but Rihanna's focus and dedication to the project set her apart
Before fame: Anwar said 'Her mother used to drop her off on mornings. She wasn't Rihanna then, just Robyn'
Reminiscing: One of the memories Anwar also shared was of Rihanna's love for the cherries he plucked for her from his fruit tree
The Barbadian cherries, known as Bajan cherries, would become a significant ingredient in her Fenty skincare line.
Zoe said that Rihanna shared childhood memories of stealing the cherries from her neighbour's trees during a digital launch event for Fenty Skin in July 2020.
'The Bajan cherry is something I grew up stealing from neighbours' trees and climbing trees,' she said.
'My mom's cousin had a cherry tree in her backyard. We used to have to run past the dogs to get to them. I thought I was eating a good little cherry.'
Inspiration: The Barbadian cherries, known as Bajan cherries, would later become a significant ingredient in her Fenty skincare line. Seen in 2018
Rihanna went on to describe how she later discovered the health benefits of the fruit.
She continued, 'Then when I started to find out the benefits, I'd go home. When I have a cold, the first thing you do when you have a cold drink a Bajan cherry juice because it has so much vitamin C, even more than an orange.
'You get better in less than 24 hours, it feels like! I wanted to implement that into skincare since I know vitamin C is a key part of good skin.'
Born in St. Michael and raised in the capital city of Bridgetown, the songstress lived in Barbados until she was 16 when American record producer Evan Rogers discovered her.
Rogers invited her to travel to the United States to record demo tapes sent to Def Jam Recordings CEO Jay-Z. Upon hearing her demos, Jay-Z invited Rihanna to audition for the record label.
Discovering a star: The songstress lived in Barbados until she was 16, when American record producer Evan Rogers found her. Pictured in 2013
Jay-Z was so impressed with her audition that he offered the teenager a six-figure record deal on the spot, which she accepted.
Though Rihanna skyrocketed to global fame after her debut album Music of the Sun, she has always stayed close to her Barbadian roots.
The superstar, who recently became a billionaire, often references her home country in her songs and music videos.
In September 2018, the government of Barbados appointed her as an ambassador for the Caribbean island country.
After being named 'Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary,' Rihanna issued a statement. She said: 'I couldn't be more proud to take on such a prestigious title in my home country.
'Every Barbadian is going to have to play their role in this current effort, and I'm ready and excited to take on the responsibility.'
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