15 Fun and interesting facts about Rihanna

How much do you know about Rihanna?

The Barbadian singer rose to fame at the age of 16, after the release of her hit debut single; Pon de Replay in 2005. The Barbados beauty has been a household name in the entertainment industry since then, releasing hits like Diamonds, Umbrella, Stay, We found Love, Don't Stop the Music, Take a Bow, Only Girl, and many more. Learn 15 facts you probably never knew about this record-breaking pop sensation, style icon, actress, beauty expert and philanthropist.

1. 'Rihanna' is the artist's real name. It happens to be her middle name, which means 'sweet basil' in Arabic, and is pronounced 'Rih-Anna'. Her complete name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty.

2. Rihanna has two younger siblings, brothers Rajad and Rorrey Fenty. Their parents are Ronald Fenty and Monica Braithwaite. They were married but divorced in Rihanna's teenage years.

3. Rihanna has been in the Guinness World Book of Records six times.

4. Rihanna made her acting debut in a cameo role in Bring It On: All or Nothing, released in August 2006. She's featured in other movies, such as Battleship (2012), This is the End (2013), Ocean 8 (2018), and Guava Island (2019).

5. The 31-year old mogul is the wealthiest female musician in the world. Her $600 million fortune puts her ahead of the likes of Madonna ($570 million), Céline Dion ($450 million) and Beyoncé ($400 million). Rihanna's sources of income include her long line of endorsements with brands such as Chopard, Manolo Blahnik and Stance; her Savage x Fenty lingerie line; her prosperous Fenty Beauty cosmetics company; and her successful musical career.

6. Rihanna's birthplace, Barbados, officially celebrates 'Rihanna Day' as a national holiday on the eve of her birthday. Rihanna was born on February 20, 1988, at Saint Michael, Barbados. February 21 has been 'Rihanna Day' in Barbados since 2008.

7. As a pre-teen (aged 11), Rihanna served as a voluntary army cadet in a sub-military program in Barbados. Barbadian singer Shontelle was her drill sergeant. If they showed up late, they cadets were ordered to do push-ups.

8. Rihanna launched her charity, the Clara Lionel Foundation, in 2012, in honor of her grandparents. The charity's mission is making quality education and healthcare accessible to children worldwide. The Clara Lionel Foundation focuses its action on impoverished countries.

9. In 2007, Rihanna was named the official face of Barbados tourism, and was given the honorary title of "Ambassador for Culture and Youth".

10. Rihanna has had her legs insured for $1 million. Rihanna reportedly decided to insure her legs after receiving the Gillette's Venus Breeze Celebrity Legs of a Goddess award in 2007.

11. Rihanna is the second best-selling digital download artist of all time. According to workandmoney.com, she has sold 125 million certified units. In 2015, she became the first artist in history to have 100 million units of singles digitally streamed or downloaded.

12. In December 2016, Rihanna teamed up with Prince Harry to spread awareness about AIDS. They met at the Barbados for the celebration of the 50-year anniversary of Barbadian independence. They both took an HIV test, in a bid to destigmatize the disease and make it a major concern in global conversations.

13. Rihanna won her first Grammy at the age of 19, for her hit song Umbrella featuring Jay Z. As of now, she has won 9 Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, 13 American Music Awards (including the Icon Award), and 7 MTV Video Music Awards (including the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award).

14. Rihanna's biggest idol and influence is Madonna. She said that she wanted to be the "black Madonna", and praised Madonna for being able to constantly reinvent herself successfully throughout her career.

15. The street where Rihanna lived, in Barbados, has been renamed 'Rihanna Drive'.

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