Rihanna is featured on the cover of ELLE's September issue, presenting a daring aesthetic that highlights her "ferocious sex appeal." In the cover image, the 38-year-old artist is depicted nude, draped in a red fur stole and adorned with a striking headpiece.
IMAGE1 Rihanna offers a direct gaze to the camera, appearing topless in the striking cover photograph, which also features a headpiece bearing the 'Dior' name. The accompanying profile, written by Roxane Gay, explores Rihanna's unapologetic embrace of her body and her confident demeanor.
Gay notes Rihanna's ability to inhabit her body with confidence and verve, particularly in a society that often punishes women for visible aging or curves. The profile also touches upon Rihanna's business ventures, including her lingerie brand Savage X Fenty, which Gay states reflects the star's distinctive style and "ferocious sex appeal."
IMAGE5 The photoshoot includes further images of Rihanna, such as one where she reclines on a sofa in a silk gown with her hands raised. Another unique shot features her pairing a strapless ball gown with ankle socks and patent loafers, creating an androgynous look.
IMAGE2 Gay recounts a personal encounter with Rihanna at a party, describing her charisma and ability to command attention even in a room full of notable individuals. "She was…absolutely entrancing," Gay wrote, reflecting on Rihanna's striking presence and beauty.
Roxane Gay's profile further elaborates on the power of Rihanna's confidence, stating that the singer "seems to live in her body unapologetically, and she does so with confidence and verve." Gay emphasizes that Rihanna's choices in dress are dictated by her personal taste rather than arbitrary societal standards for bodies.
IMAGE3 IMAGE4 The recent Elle feature follows Rihanna's social media activity, where she shared rare photos with her three children with partner A$AP Rocky. She posted images with her sons RZA and Riot, and daughter Rocki, during a visit to her childhood home in Barbados.
IMAGE8 IMAGE9 In Barbados, the street where Rihanna grew up was renamed "Rihanna Drive" in December 2017. Reflecting on the experience, Rihanna shared a caption expressing the profoundness of returning to her roots with her own children, attributing ultimate glory to "the Almighty Creator."
The new issue of ELLE is available on newsstands August 25 and online.