By Elizabeth Lancaster
From the small island of Barbados to the bright lights of auditioning for Def Jam head honcho Jay-Z, Rihanna has made big moves in the last five years. She has gone on to sell 12 million records, and become one of only two female artists (the other being Beyonce) to have had five Hot 100 number one singles. But the controversies between her and then boyfriend Chris Brown last winter has changed RiRi’s game a little bit. Between the big delay in her latest album, and its steady decline in sales and its lack of any big hit, it is not typical Rihanna style, and neither is her latest spread in GQ magazine.
Rihanna has become a fashion icon in the past few years, in a punk-chic fusion that has everyone taking notes. But there is not much fashion in her cover shot to even notice, since RiRi is wearing a simple pair of leather shorts … and nothing else. Other photos feature more clothes, but fashion was definitely not one of her priorities in this spread, the focus is instead in her highly sexualized expression and poses.
There have been some questions regarding the spread, concerns over the sacrificing of her previously significant morals and standards, and opting for something edgier, and more attention grabbing. As has always been the case, sex sells, and Ri will definitely get the attention she is looking for, whether or not its what she wants or needs right now is to be determined.
As far as being open about Chris and the rollercoaster that was 2009 for her, she tolf GQ that it's "very liberating," adding that, "it was built up for so long, and all these thoughts and emotions have been running through my mind for the past eight months. And now it's like I finally get to let go and move on."
What do you think of the GQ issue?
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