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Credit: Matthias Vriens-McGrath for GLAMOUR

Rihanna: "I Went to Sleep as Rihanna and Woke Up as Britney Spears"

Tuesday – November 03, 2009 – 9:13am

Glamour has named Rihanna one of its Women of the Year -- but 2009 has been anything but breezy for the R&B star.

She breaks her silence to the magazine about her brutal February beating at the hands of her then-boyfriend, singer Chris Brown.

See how Rihanna has evolved over the years

"It has taught me so much," Rihanna says of the assault and its aftermath. "I went to sleep as Rihanna and woke up as Britney Spears. That was the level of media chaos that happened the next day. It was like, What, there are helicopters circling my house? There are 100 people in my cul-de-sac? What do you mean, I can’t go back home?"

The 21 year-old (born Robyn Rihanna Fenty) points out that she was particularly humiliated by photos of her badly bruised face leaking onto the Internet.

Look back on Rihanna's craziest outfits

"That is not a photo you would show to anybody," she says. "I felt completely taken advantage of . . . like people were making it into a fun topic . . . and it's my life. I was disappointed, especially when I found out the photo was [supposedly leaked by] two women."

And although the musician (her new album Rated R debuts this month) praises the unwavering support of friends and family throughout the ordeal, she's also blunt about her state of mind in those dark days.

The way they were: see a slideshow of Rihanna and Chris Brown's relationship

"At some point," she admits, "you are there alone. It's a lonely place to be -- no one can understand."

One of her pillars of support? Her mom, who separated from her father when Rihanna was eight. "My mom gave us the tools to survive," she says. "I helped her raise my [youngest] brother, because my mom was working all the time. He's my favorite."

Check out today's latest star shots

Now considered a fashion icon, she wants to be another kind of hero: "Domestic violence is a big secret," she says. "My story was broadcast all over the world for people to see, and they have followed every step of my recovery. The positive thing that has come out of my situation is that people can learn from that."

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Comments

(93)

1 - 20 of 93 | Next »

  • November 10, 2009 - 2:06pm SuperStar Says:

    Rihanna is the hottest and her style is unique people need to stop taking up for Chris Brown because neither of them were right in the situation.

  • November 08, 2009 - 5:42am linda Says:

    i`m from kosovo and i love rihanna -rihanna the best 4 ever(L)(L)(K)(K)

  • November 06, 2009 - 7:32am cm Says:

    she is doing this to boost her sales

  • November 06, 2009 - 7:04am cm Says:

    she only came out to speak to help promote her album all that is

  • November 06, 2009 - 7:01am cm Says:

    she is a very jealous person she had no right to take his cell to read his text message and then slap him about the head she was wrong she would not have want him to read her text study it

  • November 06, 2009 - 6:58am cm Says:

    she only want to promote her crappy album she sounds like a cat in pain

  • November 06, 2009 - 6:58am cm Says:

    she only want to promote her crappy album she sounds like a cat in pain

  • November 05, 2009 - 8:53pm wishuknew Says:

    F*ck rhianna that b*tch started that $hit

  • November 04, 2009 - 7:18am Lost Respect Says:

    Realist - And she has waited until her album is being released to finally speak up - who has she helped? No one but her and her wallet. Sorry she got beat up but I lost respect after this.

  • November 04, 2009 - 7:18am alf Says:

    Wonderful representation of self Rihanna and excellent commitment to remain strong in the face of adversity.Despite public rumor and scandal you have held your head high and remained consistent in who you are as a person.I love your new songs and i cannot wait to see them performed.MAKE YOUR MILLIONS MY DEAR!!!

  • November 04, 2009 - 3:04am realist Says:

    WTF is wrong with you people? Why are you dogging her and picking on her after she was severely beaten, bitten and choked by her boyfriend. Your contempt is misplaced and hateful. Check yourselves because your f'd up.

  • November 04, 2009 - 2:09am Sylvia Says:

    I was in a domestic violence situation 1 year ago, it was excruciatingly embarrassing and threw me into a spiral of depression. Rihanna's incident occurred shortly after, and her story helped me heal. I thought, hey even celebrities go through this! I felt less like street trash. I feel awful for what she has gone through, especially with the media coverage. I can't imagine... I think those who are judging her need to realize that domestic violence can be very traumatizing and humiliating and it can take a long time to heal emotionally. I wish her all the best.

  • November 04, 2009 - 12:46am SM Says:

    It sucks she is using this to promote her album, how convenient. How low can you go? Perfect timing gal, shame on you. You are no longer an advocate for young women, we all see what you are doing.

  • November 03, 2009 - 8:52pm PHD Says:

    md, rihanna has had plenty of chances to talk about domestic violence before her new album came out! she is totally being selfish using her situation to promote her album. hope young girls don't buy into her thug image.

  • November 03, 2009 - 8:47pm Jazzy18 Says:

    I THINK RIHANNA IS DOIN A GOOD THING ABOUT TELLIN EVERYBODY ABOUT HER RELATIONSHIP WIT CHRIS B.(KEEP UR HEAD UP RIH RIH)

  • November 03, 2009 - 6:51pm SG Says:

    The reason why she is woman of the year obviously has a lot to do with the magazine trying their best to kiss her tush enough to be granted an interview, nothing more than just politics because lets be real here, Rihanna has done very little to be woman of the year besides be a life size personal punch bag for Chris Brown

  • November 03, 2009 - 6:12pm Disappointed88 Says:

    it just boggles my mind that she is woman of the year. what has she done to deserve this award; boyfriend beats her up...she goes back...bad publicity...she dumps him for good...woman of the year! lol

  • November 03, 2009 - 4:50pm Just so you know... Says:

    Let's stop calling it a comeback!!!She never went anywhere!

  • November 03, 2009 - 4:43pm Rachelle Says:

    Her new so called leak song sounds like crap. She is crap so stop feeding into this and even talking about the pub wh*re!

  • November 03, 2009 - 4:42pm Londi Says:

    Stars always want to "talk" when they have a project coming out. I really think the entire situation is so sad. I think that they would have made a great team. I will watch the interview Friday night. People keep talking about her being a role model, but that's the problem. These are IMPERFECT people. They should be noone's role model. They make mistakes and bad decisions all the time.

1 - 20 of 93 | Next »

 

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