In brief
Robyn Rihanna Fenty, born 20 February 1988 in Saint Michael, Barbados, is a singer, actress and businesswoman: 9 studio albums (2005-2016), 250+ million records sold, 9 Grammy Awards, 14 US number-one singles, founder of Fenty Beauty (2017) and Savage X Fenty. Her life-size wax figure stands at Wax of Legends in Colmar.
You often recognise her voice before recalling her name. "Umbrella", "Diamonds", "Work", "We Found Love"... For nearly twenty years, songs by Robyn Rihanna Fenty have played on radio stations around the world. Born in Barbados, she became one of the world's most-streamed artists before building her own beauty and fashion businesses alongside her music career.
In Colmar, you can stand right next to her life-size wax figure at Wax of Legends and pose for a photo. Before your visit, discover the key moments in her journey, from her roots to her latest projects.
Rihanna grew up in Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, in a modest family. As a teenager, she formed a small group with two classmates. Her break came in 2003, when American producer Evan Rogers heard her sing while holidaying on the island. She recorded a demo, moved to the United States, auditioned for Jay-Z and signed with Def Jam at just 16.
Her first album, Music of the Sun, came out in 2005 and featured the Caribbean hit "Pon de Replay". Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), featuring "Umbrella", propelled her to the top of the charts. The song and its "under my umbrella (ella, ella)" chorus earned her a first Grammy Award, which she won in 2008 at the age of 19.
Between 2005 and 2016, Rihanna released eight albums, almost one a year, maintaining a steady presence in the charts.
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 February 1988, Saint Michael, Barbados |
| Age when signed with Def Jam | 16 (2005) |
| Age at first Grammy | 19 (2008, for "Umbrella") |
| Studio albums | 9, released between 2005 and 2016 |
| Release pace 2005-2016 | 8 albums in 11 years, almost one a year |
| Records sold | more than 250 million worldwide |
| Grammy Awards won | 9 |
| No. 1 singles in the US (Billboard Hot 100) | 14 |
| Fenty Beauty | launched in 2017, 50 foundation shades at launch |
| Years since the last studio album (Anti, 2016) | about 10 years |
| Edison Achievement Award | 2026, for her career as a whole |
| Highest-charting single (Billboard Hot 100) | 14 songs reached No. 1 |
Her extensive discography includes several tracks that chart her musical development particularly well.
Released in 2016, Anti marked a turning point: a more personal album, less tailored to radio. Many consider it her most accomplished record. It remains her latest full studio album, with its follow-up awaited for nearly ten years.
Did you know?
The video for "Diamonds" was shot partly in the desert and on water, to illustrate the four elements. The track was recorded in a single vocal take, according to Rihanna herself.
Fans have been waiting for a new album since Anti in 2016. In the meantime, Rihanna has focused on her businesses and family life.
She has confirmed her return to the studio, and a new album is expected. Rumours also suggest a world tour, possibly including stadium concerts, although no French date has been officially announced. Rihanna has already returned to the stage: her appearance at Yankee Stadium alongside Jay-Z marked her first performance since 2023, following a break of nearly three years.
Note
No 2026 concert date or album release is confirmed for France to date. Tour and "world tour" information remains, for now, in the realm of rumour and should be checked against official sources. In France, any date, price or ticketing information would be announced through the usual channels (venues, ticketing platforms).
Rihanna also recently received the Edison Achievement Award 2026, recognising her career as a whole and her influence beyond music.
Rihanna's fortune does not come from her songs alone. In 2017, she launched Fenty Beauty, a cosmetics brand whose foundation range covered 40 shades at launch and later expanded to 50, catering to every skin tone. The launch was widely seen as a turning point for inclusivity in the beauty sector.
She followed it with Savage X Fenty, a lingerie line designed for every body shape and known for runway shows staged as full-scale productions. These ventures have established her reputation as a businesswoman and secured her place among the world's most successful self-made women.
Her work as an artist and entrepreneur now spans the recording studio and her various brands.
Rihanna's personal life attracts as much interest as her career. Some details are publicly established, while others remain speculative.
She was born and raised in Barbados, the small Caribbean island she represents as an ambassador. Her father is Barbadian and her mother is of Guyanese origin (Guyana). Broader African roots are sometimes attributed to her, but Rihanna herself mainly emphasises her Caribbean identity, deeply shaped by Barbadian culture.
In recent years, Rihanna has shared her life with rapper A$AP Rocky. The couple, keen to protect their privacy, are reported to have welcomed several children. She discusses her family sparingly in her rare interviews. Her motherhood is publicly confirmed and has played a central role in her life for several years, partly explaining her break from recording.
Chris Brown's name still appears in searches about Rihanna because of their former relationship, which ended long ago. She has since moved on, both personally and professionally.
Financial comparisons with stars such as Taylor Swift are also common. Rankings change from year to year and depend on the calculation method, while the published figures remain estimates. Rihanna consistently ranks among the highest-paid female artists, thanks as much to her businesses as to her music.
A little backstory
Rihanna was 16 when she signed with Def Jam and 19 at the time of "Umbrella"'s worldwide success. Her rise took less than three years from her arrival in the United States.
At Wax of Legends in Colmar, Rihanna's life-size wax figure stands alongside major names in popular music, including Michael Jackson, Katy Perry, Mozart and Céline Dion. The room brings together musical eras ranging from classical music to today's pop.
No red rope keeps you at a distance: you can step up to the wax figures and share the stage with them. In the recording studio, grab the microphone and perform "Diamonds" or "Work", moving from the audience to the spotlight for the length of a song.
Further along, a football star (Mbappé, Messi or Neymar) joins you for a penalty shootout. Brad Pitt and George Clooney welcome you to the roulette table, while a scene inspired by the celebrity press places Belmondo and Louis de Funès beneath the flashbulbs.
Visit info
60 statues, 30 listening points, 15 interactive experiences: plan on 1h to 1h30. Wax of Legends welcomes visitors every day from 10am to 6pm (public holidays included), last entry at 5pm, 6-language audioguide included.
Meeting Rihanna and the other stars can be the first stop of your day. There is no need to cross the city: all three museums are at 12 place de la Cathédrale, in Colmar's historic centre.
Next door, Choco-Story traces the history of chocolate for visitors of all ages, with tastings throughout the tour. Vino-Storia explores the wines of Alsace and ends with a tasting of three regional wines. An alcohol-free version featuring juices with the same aromatic notes allows children and non-drinkers to take part.
To combine visits at your own pace, choose the duo pass at −20% (two museums) or the trio pass at −33% (all three, one free). Each pass remains valid for one week after the first visit and can be bought online, allowing you to spread your visits across a weekend.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | 12 place de la Cathédrale, Colmar |
| Opening hours | every day, 10am-6pm, public holidays included |
| Last entry | 5pm |
| Recommended visit length | 1h to 1h30 |
| Statues | 60 |
| Listening points | 30 |
| Interactive experiences | 15 |
| Audioguide languages | 6 |
| Museums combinable at the same address | 3 (Wax of Legends, Choco-Story, Vino-Storia) |
| Duo pass | −20% on two museums |
| Trio pass | −33% on all three museums (one free) |
| Pass validity | 1 week after the first visit |
Robyn Rihanna Fenty, born on 20 February 1988 in Saint Michael (Barbados), is a singer, actress and businesswoman. She released nine studio albums between 2005 and 2016, has sold more than 250 million records and has won 9 Grammy Awards. She also founded Fenty Beauty in 2017 and the lingerie line Savage X Fenty. Her life-size wax figure is on display at Wax of Legends in Colmar.
Rihanna is a mother and has had children with rapper A$AP Rocky, her partner in recent years. The couple carefully protect their privacy and reveal little about their family life. Motherhood has publicly marked a turning point in Rihanna's life and coincides with the musical break she began after Anti in 2016.
Rihanna was born on 20 February 1988 in Saint Michael, Barbados, a Caribbean island to which she remains deeply attached. Her father is Barbadian and her mother is of Guyanese origin. Caribbean culture runs through parts of her music, from the dancehall of Anti to the sounds of her early work in 2005.
Rihanna is reported to have shared her life with American rapper A$AP Rocky for several years. The couple remain very discreet about their relationship. Rihanna is not married: references to a "husband" arise from confusion, as the artist speaks of family life without revealing its details.
Rihanna and Chris Brown were in a relationship long ago, and it is now definitively over. Rihanna has since built a new personal life and continued her career; there is no current relationship news involving them.
Rihanna has confirmed her return to the studio, and a new album is expected, although no date has been announced. Her last full studio album, Anti, dates from 2016, meaning a wait of nearly ten years. She has also recently returned to the stage, adding to hopes of a musical comeback. In France, any release or concert date would be announced through official channels.
Rankings change from year to year and depend on the methods used by business media, while the published figures remain estimates. Rihanna and Taylor Swift both consistently rank among the world's highest-paid female artists: Rihanna primarily through her businesses (Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty), and Taylor Swift through her music and tours.
Rihanna's wax figure is displayed at Wax of Legends in Colmar (12 place de la Cathédrale). You can stand beside her, pose for a photo and share the stage with other music legends. The museum is open every day from 10am to 6pm, public holidays included, with last entry at 5pm.
Robyn Rihanna Fenty has an instantly recognisable voice, successful beauty and fashion brands, and a long-awaited return to the studio. At Wax of Legends in Colmar, you can take your place beside her wax figure for a photo.
Information verified by the Wax of Legends team (July 2026).
Cover photo : © Serge NIED — Wax of Legends
