Rihanna shined bright like a diamond this weekend, as the music superstar trekked it to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Friday, April 1, for the annual Black Girls Rock! event.
Set to air on Tuesday, April 5, on BET, the annual affair aims to promote the arts for young Black women as well as encourage dialogue and analysis of the ways women of color are portrayed in the media. Among those women looking to break down those barriers was the bad gal herself.
Closing out the show, activist and model Bethann Hardison awarded RiRi with the Rock Star Award. Naturally, she had some encouraging words to share with fans. “Thank you so much for celebrating us in a world that doesn’t celebrate us enough,” she told the packed audience. “The minute you learn to love yourself, you will not want to be anybody else.” She continued, “Role model is not the title they like to give me … but I think I can inspire a lot of young women to be themselves and that is half the battle. Hopefully one day I’ll be raising my own little black girl who rocks.”
According to Billboard, the audience was able to view a short video montage of Rihanna’s life, which highlighted a precious moment featuring the 28-year-old singer’s late grandma Gran Dolly. Some attendees noted the “Where Have You Been” recording artist was moved to tears, as she walked to the podium to deliver her acceptance speech.
Of course her recent accolade is well deserved. Rihanna is certainly having an epic year, thus far. In addition to touring across the country this summer, the singer continues to entrance fans with hit tracks including “Kiss It Better”, “Needed Me” and “Work.” Not to mention, she slayed New York Fashion Week where she presented her latest collaboration with Puma.
Rihanna was joined by a slew of awesome Black movers and shakers, including host Tracee Ellis Ross, Shonda Rhimes, and Gladys Knight all on-hand to help celebrate women of color and raise awareness about the non-profit. Watch it all go down for yourself when the event airs Tuesday, April 5, starting at 8 p.m. Will you be watching? In the meantime, show the Barbadian beauty some congratulatory love in the comment section below.
