Rihanna opens up about being a woman in business and what she loves most about it.
The “Work” hitmaker — who has her own fashion brand, Savage X Fenty — says entrepreneurship is considered to be such a “man’s world” that she loves the “challenge” of going head-to-head with them.
Speaking during a Q&A session at the Global Conference on Women and Entrepreneurship, she said: “Overcoming stereotypes as a woman in the entrepreneurship industry, it’s an industry that’s usually looked at as a man’s industry. It’s a man’s world, so you have to work twice as hard to prove yourself and to get half as much, but it doesn’t stop my fight. I love competing with men. I love that challenge, I enjoy it and I thrive on it. A lot of times people see it as a man’s world … But our strength as women, we have the power to overcome anything.”
Meanwhile, Rihanna previously revealed she wanted to “gain respect” as a designer before releasing her own Fenty luxury fashion line.
She told The New York Times T Magazine: “I’ve been slowly evolving throughout the fashion world. First wearing it, buying it, being recognized for my style and then collaborating with brands. I never just wanted to put my name on something and sell my license.
“I’m very hands-on, so I wanted to take it slowly and gain respect as a designer. I already had a relationship with them after the Versailles campaign and the makeup line, so they extended the offer to me and it was a no-brainer because LVMH is a machine. Bernard Arnault was so enthusiastic; he trusted me and my vision.”
