Rihanna Crusades For Battered Women
By Melissa Castellanos
Pop singer Rihanna has had a lot of "Disturbia" going on under that "Umbrella" of hers this past year, but she tells Glamour magazine that she wants to turn things around and shed some light on the reality of domestic violence.
Named "Woman of the Year" by Glamour, the the 21-year-old Barbadian singer, who was overwhelmed by the media frenzy after being attacked by former boyfriend, R&B singer Chris Brown - is embracing change.
"I went to sleep as Rihanna and woke up as Britney Spears," she is quoted in Glamour's December issue. "That was the level of media chaos that happened the next day."
Photos: Rihanna
Notebook: Rihanna
Photos: Chris Brown
Rihanna, whose real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, also admitted to Glamour that she was humiliated when a photo of her swollen, bruised and bloodied face was leaked to the media. Despite her shame, she wants to use her experience to make young women aware of the "big secret" about abusive relationships.
"It was humiliating: that is not a photo you would show to anybody," she told Glamour. "I felt completely taken advantage of. I felt like people were making it into a fun topic on the Internet, and it's my life."
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Both Rihanna and Brown took the R&B world by storm with their talent, impressive dance moves and good looks.
But when Brown, 20, assaulted Rihanna before the Grammy Awards kicked off in Los Angeles, his career came to a sudden halt.
Sentenced to five years probation and community service in August, Brown has publicly apologized, in the hopes of redeeming himself to his fans.
Ironically his song, "Forever" became a YouTube sensation when a couple and their wedding party danced down the isle to Brown's song. The song and an interpretation of the dancing wedding was also recently featured on an episode of NBC's "The Office," as well.
Rihanna took home the award for the World's Best-Selling Pop Female Artist and Female Entertainer of the Year at the 2007 World Music Awards, as well as the award for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist at the 2008 American Music Awards.
The star, whose hits include "Umbrella," "Disturbia" and "Don't Stop the Music," has collaborated with Rapper Jay-Z, who recently performed at Game 1 of the World Series alongside singer Alicia Keys.
Rihanna is taking the good from the bad and is now speaking out on behalf of young women, who've experienced what she has.
"Teenage girls can't tell their parents that their boyfriend beats them up...It's one of the things we (women) hide because it's embarrassing," Rihanna said. "I want to give as much insight as I can to young women because I feel like I represent a voice that isn't really heard. Now I can help speak for those women."
Rihanna will release her new album, "Rated R" on Nov. 23. It will be her first CD since 2007's "Good Girl Gone Bad," which went multi-platinum.