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Rihanna 'proud' to take on ambassadorial role for Barbados

Rihanna has said she "couldn't be more proud" as she accepted the role of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for her home nation of Barbados.

The 30-year-old has eight Grammys, two Brit awards and nine UK number ones under her belt - on top of her other successes with her fashion business and charitable foundation.

She now has the special role to promote education, tourism and investment for her native island, and said she would use the "prestigious title" to help "re-imagine Barbados".

She said she was looking forward to help "re-imagine Barbados" as she was given the title.

Rihanna and Prince Harry took part in the
Rihanna and Prince Harry took part in the

"I couldn't be more proud to take on such a prestigious title in my home country," Rihanna said.

"Every Barbadian is going to have to play their role in this current effort, and I'm ready and excited to take on the responsibility.

"I look forward to working with Prime Minister Mottley and her team to reimagine Barbados."

The Caribbean island's prime minister, Mia Amor Mottley​ said: "Rihanna has a deep love for this country and this is reflected in her philanthropy, especially in the areas of health and education.

"She also shows her patriotism in the way she gives back to this country and continues to treasure the island as her home."

Already a cultural ambassador for Barbados, her expanded role reflects her "global influence across a much broader range of areas".

Rihanna wrote in a column for the Guardian this week that "Growing up in Barbados, school was a grind, as she fights to help the "quarter of a billion young people denied education" around the world by conflict, poverty and sexism.

"I’m not ashamed to say I’m still learning," she wrote. "I’ve grown tremendously as an individual through my formal education as well as the global education I have received by travelling the world through music.

"The notion that millions of children are desperate to go to school and are not given the opportunity is something I cannot accept."

Alongside her astronomical musical career, Rihanna, who has amassed an estimated net worth of 210 million dollars (£160 million), has a number of business ventures, notably in the world of fashion and cosmetics.

Most recently she wowed London Fashion Week with a masterclass in diversity as she showcased lingerie brand Savage X Fenty.

Real name Robyn Rihanna Fenty, she has also carried out international charitable work through her Clara Lionel Foundation, which is named after her grandparents.

The pop star has also been a vocal commentator on political and social issues.

In 2017 she was a prominent critic of President Donald Trump's response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico.

The same year she called for an end to gun violence after a cousin was shot dead in Barbados.

In March she almost single-handedly wiped one billion dollars (£760 million) off Snapchat's value after criticising the app for an advert that appeared to make light of domestic violence.