Celebrity Interview - Rihanna
Call to Stardom
Rihanna Call to Stardom
DUBBED “THE NEW BEYONCE”, RIHANNA TALKS ABOUT HER BOYFRIENDS AND THE PRESSURES OF FAME FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF HER THIRD ALBUM, GOOD GIRL GONE BAD, AND ITS FIRST SINGLE, UMBRELLA – FEATURING JAY-Z
INTERVIEW BY TIM JAEGAR/FAMOUS
How do you feel when you see yourself in magazines? Is it weird or are you getting used to it?
No, I’m not getting used to it yet. It’s very weird. Weird but it’s a great feeling. It’s special and it means a lot to me when I see my picture in a magazine.
Some people are saying you’re the new Beyonce... Really?
That’s such a good feeling.
Do you ever worry about ex-boyfriends selling their stories about you?
Uh uh, never.
You seem to be very driven. Earlier in your career you released two albums in a very short space of time. What is the reason for doing it this way?
Well, I thought like I’d grown so much that I really just wanted to show people how much I’ve progressed and the next level that we’re at. We just took everything to the next level with the videos, the music; the entire album is crazy. I just really wanted to show people. ‘Cos they’d be stuck on the first album not really knowing how much I’ve grown and I really wanted to show them. For me, it’s all about getting better and getting to the next level.
So what more is there to come from you?
You’re also doing movies right? Well, not really. I just did a small cameo in the sequel to Bring It On. I had to judge a cheer-leading competition. I play myself and the winning team got to perform with me at the end. It was a lot of fun.
Would you like to do more acting?
Only to a certain extent because I love what I do right now and this will always be the bigger picture. Maybe I’ll do movies on the side, in addition to this, but I will always put my music first.
Your dress is very sexy. Do you feel comfortable teasing the boys?
(Laughs) It’s not on purpose! I dress to suit the occasion. Like the pink thing I wore in my video I wouldn’t wear that on the street. I wouldn’t wear that to a football game. It suits the occasion.
Do you love shopping?
I like to shop but I wouldn’t say I’m addicted to it.
So what is your addiction?
Erm, using the phone.
So how much time do you spend on the phone?
Well, I don’t get much time to spend on the phone but any break I get I will be on the phone. You know, because I’m in this world all the time it’s my only way of getting out. I like to communicate with other people, like people in Barbados, my family, my friends. It’s my way to escape.
How do your friends and family react to your fame?
Oh, they’re unbelievably supportive. They’re very proud. And they miss me and I miss them. I miss them more than they miss me, I think.
Do you get much spare time?
I haven’t had a day off in four months!
You’re very popular in Europe. Do you see any differences between your fans in Europe and America?
European fans are just really crazy and fun – they’re a lot more open to different stuff.
What’s the strangest experience you’ve had with a fan so far?
A fan stole my manager’s phone and started calling me at, like, ridiculous hours in the morning.
How do you feel about that?
Well, I think it’s wrong to steal someone’s phone but at the same time I know they’re just eager to speak to me, which makes me feel good. But I still feel bad about what they did in order to speak to me, if you know what I mean.
Do you feel like a role model?
Absolutely. I do feel like a role model. Because I always used to look up to people and I have role models myself. But knowing I’m, like, a role model puts a lot of extra pressure on me knowing that I’ve got to keep my eyes open, be on my guard, make sure I’m always setting the right examples. Because knowing that girls are looking at me as a role model means a lot to me.
Who are your role models?
Beyonce. I love Beyonce.
So when people call you the new Beyonce...
It means so much to me, like, you don’t even know. I have so much respect for her that for someone to compare me to her… it means so much.
Have you ever met her?
Yeah, I’ve met her a couple of times. She is so sweet and very beautiful inside and out.
You should duet with her...
Oh my gosh. That would be incredible.
Does it bother you when stuff is written about you on the internet, etc., that’s not true?
I kind of expect that to happen probably. But it’s okay to me. People just probably hear the wrong thing and put the wrong information out.
What are you loving right now?
Music, friends, food, partying and shopping.
What kind of food do you love?
I love Italian and West Indian.
Do you miss a lot of West Indian cooking?
I sure do.
Is it difficult to get food like form home around the world?
It’s difficult to get West Indian food. The UK has the best so far.
What are you hating at the moment?
Dishonesty and vegetables.
Really? I like carrots and corn. I can get away with that but greens?
No.
Anything else you hate?
Pimples and blemishes. I hate school too.
How do you get noticed at a party?
Wear something sexy but classy.
What’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?
It’s probably a pair of shoes.
How many do you own?
A lot!
Who’s the hottest celeb in town right now?
Chris Brown is an amazing artist. He’s so talented.
Who’s it right now?
Beyonce is always it. She’s talented too.
Do you have any habits?
I suck my thumb.
When’s the last time you told a white lie?
I tell my tour manager that I’m going shopping for 20 minutes, but it’s normally an hour or two. I love shopping!
Do you do your own laundry?
Sometimes. When I’m home, it’s normally for half a day. So I leave my laundry there and it gets done.
What’s your bedroom like?
Tons of clothes all over the place. There’s lots of shoes, jewellery and toiletries there too. I’ve got some stuffed toys and my TV there too.
If you could listen to one album for the rest of your life what would it be?
Bob Marley, Legend.
Who was the last celeb you looked at and thought you’re way cool?
Beyonce really blew me away. We hung out and I love her.
Who’s the nicest smelling celeb? You know what?
Usher smells good. He blew me away too. He’s such a cool and talented person.
How much fruit and veg do you eat a day?
I love fruit. I can eat fruit all day long. No to vegetables.
Tell me a secret...
I love tattoos.
Do you have any?
Not yet but I want one. I’m scared though. I’m getting one in a few weeks.
If you weren’t a celeb what would you be?
A psychologist.
A STAR IS BORN The real Rihanna
Born Robyn Rihanna Fenty on 20 February 1988, in St. Michael county in Barbados.
She has two younger brothers named Rorrey and Rajad.
She signed to Jay-Z’s record company, Def Jam Records, at 16 after meeting Evan Rodgers, a music producer, while he was holidaying in Barbados.
Rihanna's debut album, Music of the Sun, was released on 30 August 2005 and the single Umbrella reaching number one spot in nine countries.
Rihanna made her acting debut in a cameo role in Bring It On: All or Nothing; she also appeared in an episode of American soap opera All My Children and the drama Las Vegas.
She was ranked number eight on Maxim magazine’s Hot 100 of 2007 list.
She has insured her legs for $1 million.
She is involved with a charity called Believe, which assists children with life-threatening diseases and raises money for medical research and care.
