Rihanna, A Barbadian National Hero

Rihanna, A Barbadian National Hero

Rihanna is a multi-platinum recording artist, beauty mogul, actor, fashion designer, entrepreneur, and newly-minted billionaire. She's already a celebrity, and now she's been given a new title: the Right Excellent Robyn Rihanna Fenty.

Rihanna was honored as a national hero in her home country of Barbados on November 30. She was born in the Barbadian parish of Saint Michael and received the country's highest accolade on the country's 55th Independence Day. Barbados' Prime Minister Mia Mottley called the singer and businesswoman the country's 11th national hero as the country celebrated becoming a republic for the first time in history in her birthplace of Bridgetown.

“Nothing compares to being recognized in the soil that you grew in," Rihanna said during her acceptance speech. “Barbadians are a proud people,” she said. “We are probably the proudest people I know. No matter where I go, in the world I take that pride with me.” Rihanna shared her pride for the youth of Barbados and thanked Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley for the honor. “I'm so proud to be a Bajan,” Rihanna continued. “I'm gonna be a Bajan till the day I die. This is still the only place I've ever called home.” In her announcement of the honor, Prime Minister Mottley thanked Rihanna for her discipline and her “extraordinary commitment to the land of her birth."

On Tuesday, the singer was honored in a separate ceremony where she received a large medal emblazoned with the outline of Barbados and blew a kiss to the cheering crowd.

“This is a day that I will never, ever forget. It’s also a day that I never saw coming,” she said in a brief speech in which she encouraged the youth to continue pushing Barbados forward. “I have traveled the world and received several awards and recognitions, but nothing, nothing compares to being recognized in the soil that you grew in.”, Rihanna said.

When bestowing this honor on her, Prime Minister Mottley told the crowd, “On behalf of a grateful nation, but an even prouder people, we therefore present to you the designee for national hero of Barbados, Ambassador Robyn Rihanna Fenty. May you continue to shine like a diamond and bring honor to your nation by your works, by your actions and to do credit wherever you shall go,” in reference to her 2012 hit song “Diamonds.” Rihanna was born in Barbados in 1988 as Robyn Rihanna Fenty. As a National Hero, she can now add “The Right Honourable” before her name. This honor has only been given to 11 other Barbadians, and Rihanna is the second woman to receive it. The Fenty founder has long been a devoted supporter of her beloved country. In 2008, she became commissioned as one of the country's cultural ambassadors, marketing the Barbados tourism ministry. "Ambassador Robyn Rihanna Fenty has given service to Barbados which has been exemplified by visionary and pioneering leadership," Prime Minister Mottley said during the Monday night ceremony.

Barbados has celebrated Rihanna before this ceremony. In 2008, former Barbadian prime minister David Thompson declared February 22 Rihanna Day. In 2017, the island celebrated its Independence Day by officially changing the name of her childhood street Westbury New Road to Rihanna Drive in her honor. And in 2018, Rihanna was appointed as an official ambassador of Barbados.

The singer attended the ceremony that honoured her in the presence of Prime Minister Mia Mottley. At the event, Rihanna was called up before the crowds to be congratulated by Mottley. The Prime Minister of New Republic Barbados introduced the singer as "May you continue to shine like a diamond and bring honour to your nation by your works, by your actions." Several leaders and dignitaries, including Prince Charles, attended the ceremony that began late Monday.

Rihanna's designation as the National Hero is unsurprising, considering her various accomplishments, including her recent position as the world's wealthiest female artist after attaining billionaire status. Rihanna was named one of the richest female entertainers in the world by Forbes this year, earning her the status of billionaire. Her net worth is estimated to be $1.7 billion, with the most of it coming from her cosmetics line Fenty Beauty.

Not only as a musician, but also as the founder of Fenty Beauty, the singer has built a name for herself. Following a presidential inauguration event in the country's capital, Bridgetown, Rihanna was presented with the medal. The country removed from office Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state, and Rihanna was proclaimed a national hero on the country's parliamentary republic's first day. Rihanna joins a list of other national heroes of Barbados who include public figures and politicians like Barbados' first prime minister Errol Barrowand slave revolt leader Bussa.

References

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