Ask someone to list celebrities that smoke, and you're likely to get a male-dominated reply involving names like Arnold Schwarzenegger and historical figures like Sir Winston Churchill. But there's a different side to celebrities smoking cigars, and Rihanna is just one of a generation of famous cigar women.
The singer and actress has often been pictured enjoying a cigar. If you're surprised to see a female celeb savoring her favorite smoke, don't be. Girls smoking cigars is nothing new — women have smoked for just as long as men, and plenty of early tobacco advertising was aimed at a female audience. But Rihanna is among the most famous cigar women of the early 21st century.
With that in mind, let's dive into the star's life, career, and love of a good cigar. Read on for a complete profile of Rihanna and her role as a world-famous celebrity who smokes.
Who is Rihanna?
Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born in Saint Michael, Barbados on February 20th, 1988. She grew up in Bridgetown and suffered from severe headaches throughout her childhood. In her teenage years, her health improved, and Rihanna — also known as RiRi — formed a musical trio with two classmates in 2003.
American record producer Evan Rogers agreed to give the unnamed trio an audition but says that once Rihanna entered the room, "it was like the other two girls didn't exist." Demo tapes were recorded and sent out to several record labels, including Def Jam Recordings, where the rapper Jay-Z had recently been made president and CEO.
Rihanna traveled to New York City in early 2005 to audition for Def Jam. She landed a six-album deal after impressing Jay-Z with her performance of Pon de Replay, which would go on to be her debut single and a number two hit in the US and UK. Her third single, SOS, reached number one in the US, Canada, and Australia in 2006 and again reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.
What is Rihanna best known for?
Rihanna is known to most people for her music, but the successful businesswoman has many different strings to her bow. While Pon de Replay and SOS were both successful, her mainstream breakthrough came with the release of 2007s Umbrella. Some of her other biggest hits include 2010s Only Girl (In The World), 2011s We Found Love (featuring Calvin Harris), and 2012s Diamonds.
The star has several acting credits under her belt. In 2012, her first full theatrical release was Battleship (2012), based on the pegs-in-holes board game of the same name. Five years later, she featured in Luc Besson's ambitious Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017), followed in 2018 by a role in the all-female Ocean's 8 alongside Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, and Awkwafina.
In 2017, Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty, a partnership with the luxury goods brand LVMH. According to Forbes, in 2021, Rihanna owned 50% of the venture. A major feature of Fenty Beauty was a promise to cater to "every type of woman" with a choice of 40 different shades of foundation. The range proved a commercial success, and other makeup manufacturers introduced a wider variety of shades too, in a reaction that came to be known as the Fenty Effect.
All those interests have helped RiRi earn the wealth that most people would struggle to spend in a lifetime. In 2021, Forbes confirmed her as an "official" billionaire after estimating her worth at around $1.7 billion, second only to Oprah Winfrey, among the wealthiest female entertainers. Of that, $1.4 billion came from Fenty Beauty, highlighting the fact that although she is known as a recording artist, Rihanna's business acumen is what has taken her so far.
The cigar legacy of Rihanna
Rihanna is known for celebrating with a cigar, often alongside other famous smoking women. Perhaps the finest example of this is the video for Shakira's song Can't Remember to Forget You (2014), on which RiRi features. The pair are shown lounging on a bed, puffing on oversized cigars
In late 2014, the star hosted her inaugural Diamond Ball, appearing in a midnight blue Zac Posen gown. Soon after, she posted a thank you message to her team on her official Instagram account, accompanied by a photo of her and her entourage smoking cigars.
Over the years, Rihanna has been pictured smoking cigars and cigarettes several times. In particular, they seem to be a way to relax in a quiet moment, whether away to one side during a music video shoot or smoking cigars on vacation sitting on the side of a luxury yacht.
So what cigar brand is associated with Rihanna?
Cohiba Black Corona
The singer-turned-entrepreneur is said to be a fan of Cohiba Cigars. Cohiba Black Corona is an excellent starting point if you'd like to explore the brand. At 5.5 x 42, it's a little smaller than some of the fatties on the market, offering great value in singles and boxes of 25. Medium-full strength and a satisfyingly dark maduro-leaf wrapper make this Dominican Republic stick a must-try, whether you're a RiRi fan or not.
For more information about any of the cigars mentioned here, or to pick up a box of your favorite Rihanna-inspired cigars in person, visit your local Casa de Montecristo store and speak to a team member who will be happy to help.
