Rihanna’s magazine covers aren’t official until they’ve been commemorated in the hilarious memes whipped up — probably in Microsoft Paint — by her loyal Navy. In due turn, the singer rih-posted a particularly stacked stick figure on Instagram this morning — one that mirrors an Annie Leibovitz portrait found in her new Vanity Fair cover profile. Although these fan rih-interpretations are common, this one is quite fitting when you consider the telling interview focuses on the construction and impact of Rihanna’s image. It’s surely the best, and possibly the only, context to connect the singer to someone else whose image has captivated national conversations this year: Rachel Dolezal. Someone Rihanna sees as “a bit of a hero.”
“She kind of flipped on society a little bit,” the 27-year-old superstar told editor Lisa Robinson of the controversial NAACP chapter leader in what Vanity Fair described as a “singularly celebratory opinion of Dolezal.” In July, the magazine traveled to Dolezal’s native Washington state, and published one of the most psychologically fascinating pieces of the year. “It’s not a costume,” Dolezal told VF of her tanned skin and traditionally African American hairstyles. “I don’t know spiritually and metaphysically how this goes, but I do know that from my earliest memories I have awareness and connection with the black experience, and that’s never left me. It’s not something that I can put on and take off anymore.”
“Is it such a horrible thing that she pretended to be black?” Rihanna questioned. “Black is a great thing, and I think she legit changed people’s perspective a bit and woke people up.” It’s the positive perspective no one was expecting, but perhaps her defense will inspire others to rethink Dolezal’s complicated embodiment, too.
Credits
Text Emily Manning
Photography Paolo Roversi
Fashion Director Alastair McKimm
Make-up Yadim at Art Partner using Maybelline New York.
Hair Yusef Williams.
Nail technician Jenny Longworth at CLM Hair & Make-up using Chanel spring/summer 15 and Body Excellence Hand Cream.
Set design Jean-Hughes de Chatillon.
Photography assistance Mélanie Rey, Constantin Schlachter, Felix Seiler-Fedi, Barbara Marangon.
Digital technician Matteo Miani.
Styling assistance Katelyn Gray, Lauren Davis, Louise Mast, Marine Boisset, Dalila Lahmer.
Hair assistance Belair.
Make-up assistance Kanako Takase, Mondo Leon.
Production Michaël Lacomblez and Wendy Huynh at PRODn. Marion Nobleaux.
Rihanna wears Jacket and jeans Craig Green. Cuff vintage Chanel at Lyn Bann. Bandana vintage at Southpaw Vintage NY. Shoes Christian Louboutin.
Special thanks to Ciarra Pardo and Jahleel Weaver.