Thursday, August 4, 2011

The Young, Black, and Fabulous

The Young, Black, and Fabulous

Fashionista Tracee Ellis Ross Gets FAB For September Issue Of ESSENCE Magazine

Posted: 04 Aug 2011 08:32 AM PDT

The YBF chick who we still think of as one of our "Girlfriends"--and who has one of the baddest bodies in the game--is covering the September 2011 issue of ESSENCE magazine.  Tracee Ellis Ross is back on the scene with a new tv show, new self-outlook, and same fabulousness.

 

Check out her cover and deets inside...

“…On Girlfriends I had become a woman, but it wasn’t until three or four years later that I really began to embody who I had become.”–Tracee Ellis Ross, ESSENCE

Don't know about y'all but I've drooled over her wardrobe and sense of confidence for YEARS while "Girlfriends" was on the air.  And the new star of BET's "Reed Between The Lines," who turns 39 this October, has still been hitting up events and a few movies since the show ended 3 years ago. And did so looking fab as ever.

On the cover of ESSENCE's Fall Fashion issue, she's rocking her signature wild and curly hair we love with a printed black & white off the shoulder long-sleeved tunic trimmed in gold hardware.

Essence's press release states:

She’s back! Returning to television three years after the end of the much-beloved series Girlfriends, fan favorite and style maven TRACEE ELLIS ROSS continues to make us laugh, smile at our flaws—and want to go shopping! Here, she talks to writer Kierna Mayo about her new lead role on the upcoming BET sitcom, Reed Between the Lines, her personal transformation during Girlfriends, her love for all things fashion and lessons she learned from her superstar mom DIANA ROSS.

The issue hits stands August 12th.  Love seeing fresh(er) faces on ESSENCE covers.  WORK Ms. Ross.

Source: ESSENCEMag.com

Real Housewives Of Atlanta Cast Take Their "Talents" To South Africa For Episodes Of Season 4

Posted: 04 Aug 2011 07:55 AM PDT

Though the season hasn't started yet, details have leaked about Season 4 of Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" filming in South Africa.  Get the deets on the ladies trip inside...

 

As you know, reality stars are sworn to secrecy when it comes to discussing their story lines, however, we've learned that South Africa will be a part of the story line this season on "RHOA." 

The entire case was spotted filming in South Africa this week.  The ladies filmed in-and-around Cape Town as well as Port Elizabeth this past week.  Supposedly the trip will be part of the final few episodes.  And we hear the season may air this fall.

But don't expect to see Kim Zolciak.  She stayed home after giving birth recently.  But she did tweet the ladies saying,

“@IamSheree @PhaedraParks love you guys! Have fun!!! Xxooo."

Nene Leakes also kept silent about the trip but she did tweet,

Oh how I miss my tweetie pies! I'am far far far away from home but I haven't forgotten about u

We don't know what they were down there for, but we're sure they brought some drama with them.  Seems to be the thing to do these days for the "Housewives" franchise.  The New Jersey chicks traveled to Italy last year and will do Dominican Republic this year.  And the NY chicks went to Morocco this season which just ended.

 

EXTRAS:

1.  Breaking news from CNN reports there's a gunman currently on the campus of Virginia Tech. Story

BEACH CHICK: Rapper Diamond Shows Off Her Bikini Bod On Miami Beach

Posted: 04 Aug 2011 07:20 AM PDT

ATL Rapper chick Diamond, former Crime Mob chick, took a little vacay down in South Beach yesterday.  She and a friend were spotted chillin' in the ocean with Diamond showing off her cute bod in a black and red bikini.

 

Pics inside...

Diamond--real name Brittany Carpenter--called was spotted by the paps in South Beach yesterday.  I guess she's had a rough year of car repossessions and breakups (Lil Scrappy & Soulja Boy) so why not take a chill in the MIA.

Alrighty then.  She's part of the self proclaimed "Bad B*tch Clique" of ATL chicks--with Rasheeda, Tiny, Toya, and Kandi Burruss--who hit up parties and remix tracks. Fun times I'm sure.

Pics via Freddy O

HAPPY 50th Birthday Mr. President!

Posted: 04 Aug 2011 06:47 AM PDT

 

President Barack Obama turrns 50-years old today. Come inside and celebrate our great leader in our photo gallery.

After a rough week with Congress, President Obama greeted 2,400 supporters last night in Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom he celebrated his 50th birthday.  And can we agree that Mr. Obama continues to be a beacon of change for our nation (and still maintains the most swagger D.C. has ever seen), even as he faces a litany of problems he inherited?

Well that cake is interesting.

And he received a special song from Jennifer Hudson.

 

Also, his wax figure was revealed at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood, in honor of his 50th.

Watch Jenny sing the birthday song to President Obama here:

Photogs: Waisman/Boddi
 

Presidential Matter: Happy 50th Birthday President Barack Obama!

ON THE SET: LaLa & Terrence J. Kick It On "Think Like A Man" Set

Posted: 04 Aug 2011 06:03 AM PDT

LaLa Anthony was spotted on the L.A. set of the new movie Think Like A Man.  She kicked it with part of the ensemble cast--Terrence J--as they walked around in between takes.

 

Pics of the two on their work day inside...

 

Terrence looked camera ready with his (cutie) business manager Fred on hand as they chilled on set with LaLa yesterday.

The movie is an adaptation of Steve Harvey's Act Like A Woman, Think Like A Man best selling book.  The Tim Story directed movie is set to hit theaters in 2012.  La tweeted how thankful she is to be a part of the cast: Long but fun day on the set of @ThinkLikeAMan..so many laughs..I'm happy to be a part of this cast..sweet dreams..#sayurprayers..g'night!

And these pics with her castmates earlier this week:

Heeeey Mr. Ealy.

 

Jennifer Williams Talks About The Drink-In-The-Face Splash Heard Around The World

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 08:39 PM PDT

Before the episode even airs next week, "Basketball Wives" star Jennifer Williams gave up the goods on what really went down with next week's previews of the show revealing her now ex-husband, Eric Williams, threw a drink in her face.

 

She chatted with radio host TT Torrez about the jaw-dropping situation on Wednesday.  And we've got the deets inside...

According to Jen, Eric's appalling actions were just as shocking to her as they are to us.  And she admits their problems started before the show even kicked off.  But seeing that they've only been married for 4 years (and the show's been on for over a year), it makes you wonder if there were serious issues even before the wedding.

Jen called in to Power 92 in Richmond to dish to TT Torrez about the situation and the surrounding drama:

On her soon-to-be ex-husband Eric Williams throwing a drink in her face:

Jennifer admits she was completely shocked Eric did that to her. She said she would have never in a million years thought Eric would do something like this to her. She confirmed Eric never hit her or was physically abusive but she did endure his verbal abuse.

On “Basketball Wives” breaking up her and Eric’s marriage:

Jennifer admits that she and Eric had problems way before the show so it was a struggle for her in the beginning to sign on because she would have to be real about her failing marriage with Eric. She said the show had nothing to do with her divorce from Eric.

On Eric’s recent behavior:

Jennifer said she doesn’t even know who Eric is anymore and that he’s psycho! She said his reasoning behind throwing the drink in her face was because he was trying to cast a demon out of her. Jennifer than began quoting Eric’s tweets saying, “Jesus had to cast 7 demons out of that hoe Mary.” She said THOSE are the things that make her think he’s psycho.

On if she married Eric for money:

Jennifer said she did NOT marry for money and that was never her intention. She believes he’s saying that just trying to get under her skin. She said he will text her one day saying he stills loves her then the next day he’s calling her a hoe and a groupie.

On how Eric and Jennifer met:

Jennifer said they both are from New Jersey and they met in Jersey through a mutual friend when he was playing in Denver. She said they were friends for over a year before they got serious so she thought they would be able to go back to being friends but as we all know, didn’t happen.

On being comfortable with dating even though the official documents aren’t signed:

She said yes, she is ok with dating. But she knows there’s no way they are ever getting back together. She said she’s not waiting around for the divorce to go through either. *snaps*

On why she and Eric never had kids:

Jennifer admits that there were a lot of issues in their marriage and she didn’t want to bring a baby into the mix. She admits infidelity was a major issue in their marriage.

On the guy Al Reynolds hooked her up with and the blind date named “Eric” that Meeka hooked her up with:

She thought the guy Al hooked her up with was cute and that he is not the least bit gay. She said “Eric” was cool but there were no fireworks.

On her argument with Evelyn about Evelyn’s fiancé Chad Ochocinco:

She said she and Evelyn were friends BEFORE “Basketball Wives” so she felt that Evelyn should have come to her FIRST about it before telling Shanie & Tami. She said she didn’t think the interview she did was bad because that was her opinion and she even told Evelyn everything she said to her face. She felt like Evelyn overreacted.

On people saying she’s always in Evelyn’s shadow:

Jennifer said she’s very low-key so sometimes people think that she’s a follower because she’s quiet.

On her businesses:

Jennifer has her own lip gloss line called “Lucid."  She’s also a principal owner in a women’s fitness studio called Flirty Girl Fitness (where pole dancing and strip teases are exercises), a non-profit foundation called “Project Save The World,” and she’s writing a book, but they don’t show that type of stuff on the show. She said Shaunie has been fighting to get the producers to show other aspects of the girls’ lives other than them fighting all the time. {Um, isn't Shaunie an "executive producer" herself?  Does she not have as much clout as the title should hold?  What's really hood here?}

On Royce possibly being in Eric’s movie:

Jennifer said the whole situation with Eric and this movie is really odd to her. She said it’s odd to her that he reaches out to the two people on the show who he feels she’s not cool with. She called Royce immature.

On if she thinks Royce is going to film after Season 4:

Jennifer said she doesn’t know how relevant Royce is going to be being that none of the other ladies want to film with her.

On new castmate Meeka Claxton:

Jennifer said she felt Meeka was a little too anxious when she first came on the show and got herself caught up because she would say one thing then change up her story which snowballed. She believes if Meeka had just come on the show and not talked so much, she wouldn’t have gotten into all the drama that she did.

Goodness.  That's about all I got to say....

Malinda Williams Gets CATTY On Second Cover Of DENIM Mag

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 06:19 PM PDT

Fab chick Malinda Williams is rocking another cover of DENIM magazine's premiere issue.  You peeped her first cover shot, now here's the second.

 

The full fabness inside....

35-year-old actress Malinda Williams is helping out Denim magazine--a new virtual fashion guide to everyday living and launching August 5th--and their premiere launch issue by rocking two of their debut covers.

In this second shot, she was styled by J.Bolin wearing a bold cheetah/leopard/tiger print bustier with exaggerated shoulders and studded hardware.

Peep her other cover and spread HERE in case you missed it.

Photographer: Will Sterling/Designer: Bowie Twins/Make-Up artist: J.Struktuur

BIRTHDAY FAB: President Barack Obama Turns The Big 5-0 Campaign Style

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 04:56 PM PDT

President Barack Obama turns 50 tomorrow and is celebrating in his hometown of Chicago tonight while hosting two fundraising events.  Get the deets inside.......

 

In celebration of his 50th birthday tomorrow, President Barack Obama is hosting a fundraising concert and dinner.  And in keeping with the White House's mantra of being all inclusive, the evening ranges from an affordable $50 concert, to , a pricey $36,000 per person private dinner.   

The concert will feature Chicago natives Jennifer Hudson, Herbie Hancock and OK Go at Uptown's historic Aragon Ballroom.  But President Obama might not get to hear the "Spotlight" singer as he will also hold a live-stream video teleconference for the public and volunteers, who will be hosting grassroots meetings all over the country in honor of his birthday.

So what does Mrs. O think about the big milestone b-dy?  The Prez told NPR yesterday:

"I feel real good about 5-0.  I've got a little greyer since I took this job, but otherwise, I feel pretty good.  And Michelle still thinks I'm cute."

Awww!

 

Kelly Rowland Gets Pretty In Purple In The Hamptons With Sean John's New EMPRESS Fragrance

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 02:49 PM PDT

One of our fave YBF chicks of the moment spent this afternoon chillin' out in the Hamptons at Diddy's Ciroc Cabana.  The Sean John label was showing off its brand new women's fragrance called Empress.  So Kelly Rowland, who was recently named as "Empress" of the new fragrance, got pretty in purple to hit up the lavish diggs & event.

 

Pics inside....

In a gathered purple dress and silver sparkle slingbacks, Kelly Rowland rolled to The Hamptons for an afternoon of smell-good fun.  She was spotted at the Ciroc Cabana trying on the brand new Empress fragrance from the Sean Jean empire.  And just being her usual fab self:

She kicked off her shoes and chatted it up with the visitors there as well:

Sean John Fragrances is launching EMPRESS, an empowering new women's fragrance, exclusively in Macy's on August 5th.  Diddy revealed that he combined the fragrances of French berry and caramel to come up with a scent for the modern woman.

Photogs: Pete Monsanto/Jerritt Clark

BUSINESS MOVE: Jay-Z Partnering With Pharrell's Billionaire Boys Club Clothing Line

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 01:28 PM PDT

 

 

Rap icon Jay-Z has just struck a business deal with music producer Pharrell's Billionaire Boys Club line.  Mr. Carter also cleared up the reports that he "bought" the line.  Get the deets inside...

 

It has been announced that Jay-Z's fashion label Rocawear, will assist in the manufacturing and distribution of Pharrell's Billionaire Boys Club. The pair will work together using "Jay-Z's business prowess and Pharrell's creativity" to hype the brand.

For his part, Jay-Z tweeted:

"Partnering with @4real4rell on BBC" follow him.. (Not "buying" as GQ erroneously reported.)

The boys club is still in tact I see.  Not mad at all.  Nice move for the fellas.

TWITTERIFIC: Jill Scott Considers An Open Relationship, Chilli Responds "Hell Naw"

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 01:14 PM PDT

 

R&B singer Jill Scott set it off on Twitter today when she brought up the topic of open relationships and revealed that she would consider one.  Her followers all jumped on the topic sharing their thoughts.  Get the deets inside and find out what Chilli said....

 

 

Earlier today Jill Scott kicked off an interesting conversation about relationships when she said she was considering the subject of open relationships saying,

"What do u think about "open" relationships. Been considering.

Many friends are making it work. Not sure if I'm that girl but not sure if I'm not. Sometimes there's an understanding that nobody else gets

@djknowgud i'm really not saying I'm into it. Just curious and considering. I think it's cool 4 the guy but when it's the girls turn..pralum

 

Her girl Chilli of TLC chimed in saying,

@missjillscott i'm about to call u cuz u can't b in nobody's OPEN relationship!! talk about a horrible situation!!! so answer ur phone!!

Then she added,

@actorbrianwhite HELL NAW to open relationships!!!!

 

Well....we should all know how Chilli feels.  But what do you think?   Are you like Jill and willing to give it a thought or like Chilli and against that type of ish all together?

Queen Latifah Reveals What Makes A Woman Sexy: "You Don't Have To Show Yo' Titties & Yo' Booty!"

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 12:17 PM PDT

Queen Latifah did an in-depth interview with Sister 2 Sister's Jamie Foster Brown recently.  And Ms. Dana gave some insight into what makes a sexy woman.  And no, it's not the perfect T&A and skin baring bods. 

 

Check out her interesting comments inside....

Sister 2 Sister posted this excerpt from their recent interview with Queen Latifah in their September 2011 issue.  If you ever wanted to know what the creator of "Single Ladies" thinks makes a woman hot sh*t, check it:

Queen Latifah: …I just like ladies who have class. Period. And if it’s “T and A” you’re sellin’, that’s fine, as long as that’s what you’re selling. But you don’t have to show everything, you know? You can hold some back and just be yourself and let your personality shine and let your individuality show. To me, that’s sexier. A confident woman is a sexy woman, in my opinion. And I think guys find that to be the same way.

Jamie: Right.

Queen Latifah: You don’t have to show everything; you don’t have to put it all out there to attract a guy. Because what kind of guy are you gonna attract? What is he really looking for? If you wanna be a booty call, I guess you can throw it all out there. (laughs) But if you’re looking for a relationship with someone who respects you and respects things other than your body—your mind, your spirit, your personality, your smile—then you have to kind of exude that more so than just yo’ booty and yo’ titties.

Alrighty.  Now--S2S didn't post what their exact question to that first answer was or the context in which these comments were made.  So even though it may sound like Queen is talking about what type of women she finds sexy for her taste (and y'all know exactly what I'm talking about), it could have just been an innocent question as to generally what makes women sexy.

The full interview is in the new issue hitting stands soon.

Source: Sister2Sister

Usher & Sons Stroll Through Soho + Sean Kingston Talks About His Life Or Death Scare With MTV

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 12:00 PM PDT

Usher Raymod was spotted in NYC having some father/son time with his two boys.  See the pics inside and find out what Sean Kingston revealed about his jet ski accident and heart condition during a recent interview with MTV....

 

Usher Raymond was spotted pushing his sons, Usher Raymond V and Naviyd Raymond, in their double stroller through SoHo yesterday.  

Those lil' boys look just like their Daddy!  Good to see Usher is such an active dad.

 

 

Also in music news....

Sean Kingston recently sat for an interview with MTV News where he opened up for the first time about the specifics of his accident and his injuries.  He also reveals that while in the hospital, he found out he had a critical heart condition.

"A lot of people don't know it was a deeper situation. I had open heart surgery and I had two other surgeries; it was a life-or-death situation," adding that, “The surgery doctor told me 20 percent [of patients] make it. He said a guardian angel is with me. He couldn’t tell me why I lived.”

Now he has a new outlook on life saying,

"In life, you basically got to count your blessings, you got to be humble, and stay focused and know that anything can happen at any moment. You just gotta keep God first at all times.”

 

Watch the videos here:

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Photos via Three Kings/WENN.com

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Chante' Moore & Kenny Lattimore DIVORCED!

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 11:39 AM PDT

Chante' Moore aint got a man at home anymore!  The songstress and her R&B hubby Kenny Lattimore just announced their divorce after 9 years of marriage today.

 

Details inside...

No need for a publicist when you can take to your own Facebook page to give a statement about the end of your marriage.  Chante' Moore wrote this message today that Essence.com got a hold of:

"My ex-husband Kenny Lattimore and I are divorced," Chante wrote. "We both will continue to be devoted parents to our son. I would much rather my fans hear this sensitive information directly from me, than some random inaccurate media source,"

The couple wed New Year's Day 2002.  And seem to be a match made in R&B heaven as they even released a couple odf duet albums.  This is the second divorce for Chante' as she was formerly married to actor Kadeem Hardison.
 

MORE Of Rihanna's GLAMOUR Interview: Musical Competition With Lady GaGa And Beyonce, Sex & Her Young Fans, & More

Posted: 03 Aug 2011 10:14 AM PDT

We have more from 23-year-old Rihanna's recent GLAMOUR Magazine cover and story where she opens up about the impact of the Chris Brown situation, on why she wants to be a rockstar vs. a role model and what she really thinks about Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Katy Perry.  Get the deets inside....

 

We shared highlights from Rihanna's September 2011 GLAMOUR Magazine interview earlier, and now the full interview has surfaced.  We pulled the most compelling quotes from the very revealing 6 page article.  In it, and while sipping on a Corona after her GLAMOUR shoot, Rih addresses many things you all have been wondering about: Fashion mixing with her music, sex, taking control of her world, her realness, and much more..  She says,  

 “There’s freedom in honesty. If you just face it today, tomorrow you can move on to something else.” Here’s Rihanna, very honestly."

 

GLAMOUR: Your style has gotten more aggressive as your music has. Do you think of the two together in that way?

RIHANNA: Absolutely, and I don’t think of one without the other. My music definitely determines the direction we’re gonna move in. It’s like music, fashion, hair, makeup.

GLAMOUR: There are so many pop stars who blow up and then lose control. With you, from the moment you chopped your hair off, you were saying, “No, I’m in control of what I’m doing.”

RIHANNA: In the beginning of my career, it was really strict for me. I couldn’t wear pink or red lipstick; it was just bizarre. We had a young fan base, and they were trying to keep me fresh. But I just really wanted to be myself. I wanted to be sassy, the attitude, all these things that I am.

 

On moving past the Chris Brown incident


GLAMOUR: Your sound keeps evolving too, and your lyrics keep getting more complicated and raw.

RIHANNA: It was important for me to grow. Good Girl Gone Bad was the first time I really took the reins in my career creatively. Then Rated R came right after that, and that’s when I realized, OK, my fans love the music; now I need to get a little deep with them, get a little more vulnerable, open up.

GLAMOUR: That shift to more personal songs happened after everything with Chris Brown, and around the same time, you went on Twitter and developed a different connection with your fans.

RIHANNA: Definitely. That’s why I started Twitter. I was like, “Twitter is so dumb—why would I want anybody to know anything more about me?” But it was easy for my fans to believe everything else they were hearing about me—sites, blogs, rumors—because they weren’t really hearing much from me. Now they don’t believe rumors anymore, because they know me.

GLAMOUR: When you followed Chris Brown on Twitter, everyone freaked out and you jumped in with: “it’s…twitter, not the altar!” What was that about?

RIHANNA: That’s something people would love to make into more than it actually is, and I think that’s just something I’m gonna have to live with for the rest of my life, unfortunately.

 

On playing characters through her music & channeling rough times with her father

GLAMOUR: There’s a lyric from “Rated R” that I love: “While you’re getting your cry on, I’m getting my fly on.” That struck me as the ultimate retail-therapy lyric.

RIHANNA: You’re right. It’s retail therapy for sure, but it’s also a very mean line, very cocky, very arrogant. It’s a character I play.

GLAMOUR: It seems like when guys play characters—like Eminem in your controversial song together, “Love the Way You Lie,” about an abusive couple—nobody thinks that’s the real Eminem. But it does seem like when you do a song like that, everybody thinks that’s the real Rihanna.

RIHANNA: Absolutely, and I’m very careful about the lyrics that I sing now because of that. Rated R was the album that became really real, very honest. After that, it’s hard to go back to doing songs that are fiction. There was no coming back.

GLAMOUR: I’ve heard you say that the dramatic lyrics of “S&M,” your megahit, are both metaphorical and literal.

RIHANNA: Yeah! I had no idea how close “S&M” was to me until maybe five months ago. When I was singing it, it was a fun song, and I directed it at my love-hate relationship with the media, but it went so much further than that, and I didn’t even realize it. Then I started putting pieces of the puzzle together, seeing how it related to my childhood and how it can affect me in my adult life.

GLAMOUR: You’re talking of your father? [Ronald Fenty reportedly had substance-abuse problems and had left Rihanna’s home by the time she was a teenager.]

RIHANNA: For that song, definitely. I would say my relationship with my father has had a bigger impact on me than I knew. Even with the things that I love, the things that I am attracted to. A lot of it stems from the things that I’ve seen in my life as a child.

GLAMOUR: Does that mean you naturally look for trouble? You’re drawn to drama?

RIHANNA: Yes and no. I hate drama. But at the same time, nothing bothers me more than when life’s perfect. And that’s the sick part. I just love a challenge, whether it’s a relationship, my career, clothing…. Like, getting dressed, I want to pick the most bizarre pair of shorts so I can figure out how to make it look right, or work an outfit that will make people go, “What the hell is she wearing?” You know, whatever it is, a challenge is just thrilling for me.

On being a rock star vs. role model

GLAMOUR: One of those words is slut. That seems like something teenage girls can identify with—how if a woman has sex, and it gets gossiped about, she’s suddenly a slut.

RIHANNA: I wouldn’t want to promote teenage girls having sex. But the reality is, it’s happening, and they’re just a little too young to understand how careful they need to be. That’s a big battle with me, because I’m 23, and a lot of my fans are eight years younger than I am, so there’s a bit of a tug-of-war there. I want to set the right example and, at the same time, live my life. So I kind of let go of that and was just really honest. I feel like pop stars can’t be rock stars anymore because they have to be role models, and it takes the fun out of it for us, because we just want to have fun with art.

GLAMOUR: The head of XL Recordings, Richard Russell, who is also Adele’s boss, called music videos like “S&M” “faux porn.”

RIHANNA: [Laughs.] Faux porn? Has he ever seen porn? If he feels like that, thanks. I mean, s—t, I’ll take that as a compliment. It was just a smooch on the cheek, but if he got a boner? Then, you’re welcome.

GLAMOUR: Ha! Let’s break your song “S&M” down. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but whips and chains excite me.”

RIHANNA: I’m just making fun of blogs and rumors. It used to really bother me. Now it’s like, “They called me a whore on that site yesterday, and today they’re calling me an idiot—not so bad!” It’s not acceptable, but there’s nothing you can do about it.

 

On what she likes in bed

GLAMOUR: OK, that’s the metaphor. On the other level, you’re straight-up talking about sex. What’s the literal meaning? Do you like dominant guys?

RIHANNA: I absolutely do prefer a dominant guy. I play a very dominant role in my life, in every other aspect of it. And I like to feel like a lady still, at some point. I feel like that’s the time when a guy really gets to be a man, and I get to be a woman. And if I’m being a man in the bedroom too, there’s nothing really in it for me.

GLAMOUR: As a role model, is that hard to say?

RIHANNA: Yeah, it is, but here I am speaking as a 23-year-old, saying that I engage in adult behavior. I’m not talking to the five-year-old who listens to “What’s My Name?”

 

On her impact on fans

GLAMOUR: In your 2009 interview with Glamour, you said you didn’t realize how much your decisions might affect your fans.


RIHANNA: It was definitely a big wake-up call, to realize the impact I have on young women. It also made me feel a lot closer to them. We live different lives, but we have a lot of the same life experiences. They trust the things that I say because it’s coming from a peer, as opposed to a parent. And you have to put on your role model hat…. They know you’re just as rebellious as they are, so if you say something is wrong, it’s wrong for sure.

GLAMOUR: I was trying to understand the difference between Gaga’s Little Monsters and the Rihanna Navy—the names you gave your fan base. She calls herself the Mother Monster. I can’t ever see you saying you’re the mother figure.

RIHANNA: No, because I don’t look at them as followers under myself. We’re peers. They’re right here with me. I need them more than they need me. I need their feedback, I need their honesty, and I need their support. Without that, it’s pointless. I respect them very, very much.

GLAMOUR: I interviewed actor Taylor Kitsch, and he said you were so badass in Battleship [her film, set to open next spring], doing your own stunts, “annihilating everything in her way.”

RIHANNA: That does make me sound badass. Taylor is great. I didn’t know anything about acting; I was just going in there, fingers crossed. And [director] Peter Berg is awesome. He’s a psycho, which works for me. I get along well with psychos. I want to do more films, for sure.

 

On the female competition

GLAMOUR: Let’s talk about your competition. There’s a tight pack, right?

RIHANNA: There’s a pack. It’s me, Gaga, Katy Perry, Beyonce…who else? Ke$ha, for sure. Women are definitely dominating music right now, and that’s because we are competitive beings. I feel like music hasn’t been this exciting in a while.

GLAMOUR: You and Katy Perry are friends, right? You threw her bachelorette party when she married Russell Brand. And you’re competing. Are you “frenemies”?

RIHANNA: No. [Laughs. ] Katy is, like, the s—t. Honestly, I really love that girl. And when I met her, it was at a time when I wasn’t really talking to any females besides the women I work with and my best friend. I’ve always been like that, my whole teenage life, till now.

GLAMOUR: Your friends are mostly men?

RIHANNA: All my friends are guys, to be completely honest. But when I met her, it was such a breath of fresh air. I just couldn’t believe this chick had no edit button. She was everything I wanted to be at that time, because I was still at a point in my career where I had to edit myself and not be too open. My whole life changed a couple years ago. And that’s when I let my guard down completely…. But Katy and Lady Gaga came out of the gate exactly the way they think, the way they wanna dress, the way they wanna speak.


GLAMOUR: You’re competitive with them, but there’s respect in the game.

RIHANNA: Absolutely. I would only look at them as competition if I really admire them. These women are real competition.

Love that last line.  Pick up your copy on stands now.
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