Rihanna, the reigning queen of Carnival, made a spectacular return on August 5th! Known for her hit “Diamonds,” the superstar dazzled at the Crop Over Festival in her native Barbados. At the Grand Kadooment parade in St. Michael, the 36-year-old wowed the crowd in a stunning custom costume adorned with gold and bronze accents. Her ensemble was completed with a glittering headpiece that perfectly matched her chestnut hair highlighted with blonde.
Rihanna’s look was further enhanced by vibrant, colorful feathers that extended from her shoulders to her legs, adding a dramatic flair to her Carnival ensemble. Just two weeks earlier, Chlöe Bailey had celebrated at St. Lucia’s Carnival, sporting a green and gold costume. She captioned a July 17th Instagram post, “St Lucia carnival matched my freak,” referencing Tinashe’s hit song “Nasty.” Nicki Minaj has also been a notable attendee at Trinidad’s Carnival.
Though Rihanna has regularly attended Crop Over, her last appearance was in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. That year, she opted for a hot pink mini dress paired with pink feathers, green eyeshadow, and bantu knots. Earlier, in 2017, she was spotted in blue hair and pink body jewels. Rihanna has shared fond memories of Crop Over on Instagram, including her 2015 outing in dark green, where she was seen with a young relative. In 2011, she wore a striking red two-piece with gold details and a matching headpiece.
Grand Kadooment Day wraps up the festival with masquerade bands parading down the Mighty Grynner Highway. They wear sequin costumes decked with feathers and jewels. The vibrant celebration features dancing to music from trucks and moving bars.