Rihanna

The singer was born as Robyn Rihanna Fenty in Saint Michael, Barbados in 1988. She began singing at around the age of seven. She formed a musical trio with two of her classmates when she was only fourteen years old. One year later, her demo was sent to various recording companies and finally Jay-Z signed her for Def Jam Records.

In 2005, Rihanna released her debut studio album, Music of the Sun, and her own song, "Pon de Replay" peaked #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Less than a year later, she released her second studio album, A Girl Like Me, which produced her first US number one hit single, "SOS", as well as Billboard Hot 100 top ten hits "Unfaithful" and "Break It Off".

Rihanna's third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad was the real breakthrough in 2007, with smash hits like "Take a Bow", "Disturbia", "Don't Stop the Music", "Hate That I Love You" —and the worldwide hit "Umbrella". She became one of the biggest female stars.

In 2009 she peaked again the top of the charts with her fourth studio album, Rated R, and its three singles, "Russian Roulette", "Hard" and "Rude Boy".

Last year, her "Only Girl (In the World)" hit was unremovable from the charts, which was followed by the "What's My Name?" single and her fifth studio album, Loud.

Altough she’s only 23 years-old, Rihanna has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. She has achieved nine number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 since first appearing on the chart on June 11, 2005, which is the most by any artist during that time span. She has received several accolades, including 15 Grammy Nominations; the World Music Awards, MTV as well as the American Music Awards.

Rihanna serves as Barbados's honorary cultural ambassador, and she also created her Believe Foundation in 2006 to help terminally ill children.