When Rihanna made her first public appearance while pregnant, one thing was clear: She was not going to hide her glorious bump. In early February, the Fenty Beauty founder announced she was expecting her first child with boyfriend A$AP Rocky. Since then the 34-year-old singer has delighted us with sartorial gems, from dramatic floor-length gowns to 2000s-style denim. And her cover of Vogue’s May 2022 issue, in which she wears a red lace Alaïa catsuit with matching gloves and heels, is no exception.
In the interview with Vogue, she opened up about embracing fashion as a mother-to-be. “When I found out I was pregnant, I thought to myself, There’s no way I’m going to go shopping in no maternity aisle,” Rihanna said. “I’m sorry—it’s too much fun to get dressed up. I’m not going to let that part disappear because my body is changing,” she continued.
Just as Rihanna shook up the cosmetic industry with her inclusive line of Fenty foundations in 2017 (which has expanded from 40 to 50 shades since its initial launch), she has also arguably shifted the scope of what maternity fashion can look like, largely due to her fierce and unapologetic attitude around her evolving body. “I’m hoping that we were able to redefine what’s considered ‘decent’ for pregnant women,” Rihanna said. “My body is doing incredible things right now, and I’m not going to be ashamed of that. This time should feel celebratory. Because why should you be hiding your pregnancy?”
She also explained that she doesn’t feel too nervous about giving birth because she has a close and supportive group of friends and family. But she did share some anxieties; the singer mentioned that she is “praying” she will be able to breastfeed her baby and that one of her biggest fears is experiencing postpartum depression. “Will I feel out of control emotionally? Those are the stories I hear from other women that scare me,” she said. According to the Cleveland Clinic, postpartum depression is a type of depression that as many as 1 in 7 people who give birth experience. It can involve heavy fatigue, intense mood swings, regular crying, irritability, feelings of guilt, or an inability to care for the baby. Symptoms may appear within days of childbirth or even up to one year afterward.