Rihanna brings beauty, elegance and candor to the cover of Vogue‘s June 2018 issue. In Chioma Nnadi’s revealing cover story, which follows Rih Rih on a typically busy day in Paris, Ms. Fenty opens up about her current love life (she’s taken), her relationship with Drake (“We don’t have a friendship now, but we’re not enemies either”) and the mindless chatter surrounding her weight gain last year (“I’m not built like a Victoria’s Secret girl, and I still feel very beautiful and confident in my lingerie.”) The biggest scoop from the story, however, is that Rihanna is working on a new album — a reggae album.
Hit the jump for the highlights and read the full cover story here.
On her new reggae album:
With her next record—her ninth—Rihanna is moving the needle on her creative output all over again: She plans to make a reggae album. Though it’s too soon to name a full list of collaborators, one early influence may be Supa Dups, the Jamaican-born record producer who has worked with such dancehall greats as Beenie Man, Sean Paul, and Elephant Man.
On Drake:
Rihanna winces slightly at the mention of the rapper’s name before her eyes glaze over with cool indifference. “The VMAs is such a fan-focused awards show, so having that energy around me, and knowing the people who had received the award in the past, made it feel like a big deal,” she says. “Waiting through that speech was probably the most uncomfortable part. I don’t like too many compliments; I don’t like to be put on blast.” When I ask about the current state of their friendship, her attitude is sanguine. “We don’t have a friendship now, but we’re not enemies either. It is what it is.”
On her love life:
Right now, she’s in a relationship. “I used to feel guilty about taking personal time,” she says, “but I also think I never met someone who was worth it before.” Though she’s reluctant to talk about her partner by name, rumors have been swirling around her connection to Hassan Jameel, a young Saudi businessman, since paparazzi photos of her vacationing with a handsome stranger in Spain made the rounds last summer.
These recent romantic developments are, however, part of a much bigger sea change for Rihanna, who turned 30 this year. For the first time in her life, she’s fully committed to a healthy work-life balance. “Even mentally, just to be away from my phone, to be in the moment, that has been key for my growth,” she says. “Now, when I come to work, I’m all in. Because before you know it, the years will go by. I’m glad I’m taking the time. I’m happy.”
