Rihanna has announced herself as new face of Balmain over social media, according to various sources.
The French fashion house has been beloved by rock star royalty for years, and has selected a member of this esteemed group for its Spring/Summer 2014 campaign.
“Guess who’s the new BALMAIN Woman???!!!!!!!#BALMAIN#MommaImadeIt#CaribbeanGalRunTing,” the Bajan pop star posted to Instagram with a shot from the campaign.
The Diamonds crooner appears in the photos snapped by celebrity photography team Inez and Vinoodh in various bold looks featuring graphic prints and the strong, tailored elements that are synonymous with the Balmain image.
For the house creative director, Olivier Rousteing, Rihanna embodies the ethos of the decades-old luxury brand.
“In front of the camera, she makes you feel like she is the only girl in the world,” he told Women’s Wear Daily. “When the woman that inspires you wears your creations, your vision feels complete.”
Rousteing, who is a personal friend of Rihanna’s, also described the superstar as “fresh,” an “icon,” and “uncompromising.” She has also been known to frequently wear the brand.
“This marks the second music star to land a major spring 2014 fashion campaign, after Givenchy revealed that Erykah Badu would be fronting their new ads,” reports Julee Wilson of The Huffington Post. “Move over supermodels!”
Rihanna herself is making quite a name for herself in fashion apart from this endorsement. She is the executive producer of the fashion competition reality television show Styled to Rock, and helms her own line of clothing produced in partnership with retailer River Island.
For Rihanna, fashion is a thrill that she enjoys from many creative angles — this time as a model for Balmain.
“When I am putting looks together, I dare myself to make something work,” she said in a recent interview. “I always look for the most interesting silhouette or something that’s a little off, but I have to figure it out. I have to make it me. I think that’s the thrill in fashion.”
Follow Alexis Garrett Stodghill on Twitter @lexisb