Profile Text
02/24/2016 – Rihanna – BRIT Awards 2016 – Arrivals – O2 Arena – London, UK – Photo Credit: Landmark / PR Photos
Birth Name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty
Place of Birth: Saint Michael, Barbados
Date of Birth: February 20, 1988
Ethnicity: * father – African-Barbadian and European-Barbadian [Scottish, English, Irish] * mother – African-Guyanese
Rihanna is a Barbadian singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, actress, and businessperson. Her songs include “Pon de Replay,” “SOS,” “Umbrella,” “Take a Bow,” “Disturbia,” “Live Your Life,” “Love the Way You Lie,” “The Monster,” “Rude Boy,” “Only Girl (In the World),” “What’s My Name?,” “S&M,” “We Found Love,” “Diamonds,” and “Work.” Her roles include the films Bring It On: All or Nothing , Battleship (2012), This Is the End , Annie (2014), Home (2015), Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets , Ocean’s 8 , Guava Island , and Smurfs (2025); and the series Bates Motel . She has presented competition show Styled to Rock . She has been Barbadian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, since 20 September, 2018.
Rihanna is the daughter of Monica (Brathwaite), an accountant, and Ronald Fenty, a warehouse supervisor. Her father is from Barbados. Her mother is from Guyana. She was raised in Bridgetown. Rihanna has three children with her partner, American rapper, songwriter, and record producer ASAP Rocky .
Rihanna’s paternal grandfather was African-Barbadian. Rihanna’s paternal grandmother, who was white, has Scottish, English, and Irish ancestry. Rihanna’s mother is of African-Guyanese descent. In an interview with Allure magazine, Rihanna stated that she was bullied in school and called “white” by the other kids while growing up in Barbados.
Rihanna’s paternal grandfather was named Reginald Leslie Forde (the son of Helen Forde). Helen was the daughter of Joseph Nathanael “Joe” Forde and Louisa Jane Bascom.
Rihanna’s paternal grandmother was Elizabeth “Betty” Fenty (the daughter of Stanley Fitzherbert Fenty and Hilda Olga Coppin). Elizabeth was white. Her parents were born in Barbados. The surname Fenty is usually Scottish. The surname Coppin is usually English. Rihanna’s grandmother was also cited as having Irish ancestry. Elizabeth was from a family of “Red Legs,” descendants of indentured servants and forced labourers from the British Isles who were sent to Barbados. Stanley likely was the grandson of John Fitzherbert Fenty and Mary Louisa Jane Fenty.
Rihanna’s maternal grandfather was named Lionel Brathwaite.
Rihanna’s maternal grandmother was named Clara “Dolly” Viola Venetta Johnson.
Rihanna in 2011
Sources: Genealogy of Rihanna – https://www.geni.com
Death record of Rihanna’s paternal great-grandparents, Stanley Fitzherbert Fenty and Hilda Olga Coppin – http://www.findagrave.com
Obituary of Rihanna’s maternal grandmother, Clara Viola Venetta (Johnson) Brathwaite – http://downesandwilson.com