This story originally appeared in i-D’s ‘Rihannazine‘ Special Edition, no. 01, 2020. Order your copy here. For this one-off project, Rihanna put a series of questions to the women shaping culture today, and invited them to share their visions for 2020.
Can you introduce yourself?
Hi, my name is Leikeli47. I’m an artist, a creative, a producer. I make people feel – I make them aware. I like to make people have fun!
Where are you from? New York?
I’m from New York by way of Virginia. Best of both worlds.
Which one do you prefer?
You can’t go asking me which one I prefer! Now why would you do that? I love them both equally.
What do you think your biggest personal or professional success has been so far?
As far as personal success goes, I feel like I found it when I became completely free and uninhibited in who I am. The moment that I started to ignore other people’s opinions was the moment I found personal success. Professional success? I still have a lot of work to do. I’m just getting started.
What’s the best way to move past something that you consider to be a failure?
I feel like all of my failures are deeply rooted in my love for what I do. I also feel that I’m still a student – I’m not done failing. So although I have failed many times, and I had to fail over and over to even get here, I’ve stumbled and got back up! And I’m not done yet. I’ll never be done failing.
Do you take the time to look back at your successes and failures, and figure out how to take the next steps?
Sometimes you have to look back, because there’s wisdom to be gained from it, and that wisdom can push you forward. Then there are times when it’s only about forward movement. Wisdom is knowing when to look back, and how far to look back. You don’t want to repeat your mistakes.
As we’re heading into 2020, what are you taking with you into this year, and what are you leaving behind in 2019?
I am travelling into 2020 with gratitude, an open heart and an open bank account. I am going to leave behind my old waistline, girl. This is my personal journey, and what I’m leaving behind in 2019 is the waistline.
So if you could ask Rihanna one question, what would it be?
Oh, girl. Do we have time? Because I have a few questions. I’m not gonna ask the question because I don’t wanna get blocked – I love you too much! – but just know that it’s on all of our minds. But we’re gonna gloss over that! I do have a question: Where do you find God? I would love to know where Rihanna finds God.
Credits
Photography Mario Sorrenti
Styling Alastair McKimm
Hair Duffy at Streeters.
Make-up Kanako Takase at Streeters.
Nail technician Honey at Exposure NY using Tom Ford Beauty.
Set design Jack Flanagan at The Wall Group.
Colourist Lena Ott for Suite Caroline.
Lighting technician Lars Beaulieu.
Photography assistance Kotaro Kawashima, Javier Villegas and Jared Zagha.
Digital technician Johnny Vicari.
Styling assistance Madison Matusich and Milton Dixon.
Hair assistance Lukas Tralmer, Dale Delaporte and Allie J.
Make-up assistance Kuma, Tomoyo Shionome and Megumi Onishi.
Nail assistance Tera Darden.
Set design assistance Mike Williams, Akaylah Reed and Amy Sabel.
Production Katie Fash.
Production coordinator Layla Némejanski.
Production assistance Fujio Emura.
Casting director Samuel Ellis Scheinman for DMCASTING.
Casting assistance Cicek Brown for DMCASTING.
Lede image Leikeli47 wears hoodie WARDROBE.NYC. Face mask and jewellery model’s own.