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“My money is not for me; it’s always the thought that I can help someone else.”

This is something Robyn Fenty, a person many know as Rihanna, said; she's a

philanthropist, innovator, business woman and world-renowned singer. Moving out of

Barbados at 16 to pursue her dreams, she has built an incredible career as a music artist,

but many don’t realize how she has created wealth and opportunities for so many

through her innovative approaches to being an influential entrepreneur.

Her biggest innovation outside of her music was Fenty Beauty, which is an

inclusive company for people of all skin tones/shades.The first month Fenty opened in

2017 the “beauty for all” makeup launched with 40 different shades and colors, fenty

made 100M (Robyn Rihanna Fenty,1). From then on every other makeup brand expanded

their shades/colors to the new norm of forty shades or more.She made Fenty with

people of color in mind, and - using different formulas for different skins, Fenty was top

25 innovations of 2017 (1). Without Fenty, the makeup industry would be what it is now.

A second reason people should know about Rihanna is that she has faced and

overcome many challenges. She is from Barbados, and had to deal with her dad

struggling with addiction and a troubled marriage as a child (1). Even with all these

challenges, she still succeeded as the youngest self-made billionaire in America.At the

young age of 16, she signed a major contract with a music label and moved out of

Barbados and into the United States (1). Rihanna's money doesn’t only come from her

music, it comes mostly from her fashion brands (Sauer,1).Fenty is worth an estimated

2.8 billion dollars(Ni'Kesia Pannell) and her business sense has a big part of it. Rihanna

is not only a makeup innovator, she has also changed the music industry for women in

the industry. She was the first woman in the UK to have number one singles for five
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consecutive years (Al-Khateeb). In addition, she made a trend of female vocalists pairing

up with DJ Calvin Harris the song “We Found Love” by Rihanna was the DJ’s first

number one Billboard hit, helping him be a common name in America all because of the

duet with Rihanna. This shows that she persevered through challenges faced and

prospered in the music industry. This is important because riannah is now a major

figure in the music industry despite the fact that she was born in this place. Inspiring

millions, showing that you can do anything and everything from anywhere in the world.

A third reason people should know about Rihanna is that she is a philanthropist

and social justice advocate.Rihanna has done a lot of philanthropy work over the years

she said “my money is not for me; it’s always the thought that I can help someone else”

(Robyn Rihanna Fenty). Some contributions she has made include that, In 2014, she

raised over 50 million in a year to help the fight against AIDS/HIV (3). The money

raised went to MAC AIDS FUND. #Smartsmall was an initiative to donate a combined

15 million to 18 different climate justice groups. The funds were for groups ``focused on

and led by women,youth, Black,Indigenous, people of color and LGBTQIA+

communities.(3). Rihanna paid for an oncology center in Barbados and, in 2012 in

memory of her grandparents, she made the CLF(Clara Lionel Foundation) to fund

emergencies around the world and preparedness for natural disasters around the world

(3). These contributions show that Rihanna cares and wants to help the less fortunet

.This is important because alot of famous people dont give away or help the world as

much as Rihanna does .

To conclude, it's not an exaggeration saying that Rihanna Fenty revolutionized

the beauty industry single handedly with her “beauty for all” innovation in addition to
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her breakthroughs in the music industry, faced and overcame struggles in her early

childhood, and has qualities and values that should be respected. Her philanthropy

work has changed the lives of millions in Barbados and around the world. Her music is

an inspiration to women in the music industry and entrepreneurs of color worldwide.

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Works Cited

Meggsauer, Magen Sauer. “Rihanna Is Now Worth $1.4 Billion–Making Her

America’s Youngest Self-Made Billionaire Woman.” CNBC, 6 July 2022,

www.cnbc.com/2022/07/04/rihanna-is-now-americas-youngest-self-made-

billionaire-woman.html. Accessed 17 May 2023.

Davis, Arianna. “Rihanna’s Already Changed the Music Industry & She’s Only

30.” Rihanna Power And Influence On Music, Fashion, Beauty, 19 Feb.

2018,

www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/02/190972/rihanna-birthday-music-fashio

n-influence-power.

“Robyn Rihanna Fenty > The Immigrant Learning Center.” The Immigrant

Learning Center, 17 July 2022,

www.ilctr.org/entrepreneur-hof/robyn-rihanna-fenty/.

Al-Khateeb, Zac. “Rihanna Net Worth: How Much Money Has Artist, Fenty

Co-Owner Made in Her Career?” Sporting News, 12 Feb. 2023,

www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/rihanna-net-worth-artist-fenty/mvilgcie

ltb8apydhtacel78#:~:text=Forbes%20in%202021%20conservatively%20e

stimated,percent%20stake%20in%20the%20line.