The Hacks Rihanna Uses To Be More Confident

She’s broken down barriers in beauty, fashion, music, and now maternity style—Rihanna isn’t afraid to make a name for herself in everything she does, with a confidence that is hard to match. But confidence isn’t something that happens overnight, and everyone, even Rihanna, has bad self-esteem days, especially as a woman in industries that aren’t historically welcoming. Confidence is not something you’re born with; it’s a muscle that needs to be continually worked.

You’re not the only one who feels like your lack of confidence is preventing you from pursuing your dreams. We are getting closer to closing the confidence gap as women like Rihanna continue breaking down these barriers. If you still need a little help reaching Rihanna-level confidence, Riri’s got you covered. She’s shared some game-changing confidence secrets over the years, and we’re breaking it all down below. 

Do everything YouNot for everyone.

It may sound cliché to say “love yourself” and you may have seen it in every self-help book or cheesy wooden sign from Home Goods, but Rihanna knows that loving yourself isn’t as simple as a book or quote. In an article she wrote for Emirates Woman, she explained how loving yourself is not about doing all things for others. For example, she said that makeup and fashion can be big influences in helpingYou feel confident, but you have to “make sure you are doing it to make you feel good and aren’t trying to impress anybody else.” 

Start living your life for you Do it for yourself and not for others. Recite an affirmation each morning to help you wake up for yourself and not for others. When you pick out the clothes you wear or decide to post that picture on Instagram, don’t do it for anyone other than you: Maybe those boots make you feel sexy or that photo was taken during a moment when you were having fun. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of trying to impress someone with what you think they’ll like or following a trend you don’t fully love (been there), but those things never end up making you feel better in the long run. We’re all uniquely beautiful, and the sooner we realize it, the faster we can become more confident versions of ourselves. 

Fake it ’til you make it.

Rihanna has had some iconic red carpet moments. My personal favorite is not her dress, but an interview. (Of course, the outfit is fierce too). When asked what she does on days where she doesn’t feel as confident, she responded, “I pretend. It’s either that or cry myself to sleep, and I mean, who wants to do that? You wake up with puffy eyes the next day—it’s a waste of tears.” It’s so true. Rihanna, who is the founder of several successful companies and a well-known public figure, probably had to pretend at least once. While sometimes it is nice to have a good cry session, other times, we have to pretend we know what we’re doing and power through.

As women, we often feel we have to be fully qualified to apply for the dream job or know all the answers to be successful, but we’ll never reach our dreams or achieve new things if we’re not putting ourselves out there. Maybe it’s easier to be confident when we know we’re 100% qualified, but the truth is, we rarely will feel totally ready for anything new (especially when we’re challenging ourselves). Perhaps pretending confident is the way to fully embrace confidence. 

Choose your role models.

Rihanna may be the most famous role model, but she also has many great role models. Interview with Emirates WomanShe spoke out about the women in her family who taught her self-love. “Both my grandmother and my mum were strong independent women—they had to be,” she said. “They were both independent women who made things happen for themselves, and I am so thankful I grew up around women like that.”

According to them, the people you spend most time with reflect your personality. Confident people can help you feel more confident. Rihanna was able early on to identify her role model and looked to them for guidance in becoming the confident person she is today. Maybe for you, it’s a coworker or your boss. Maybe it’s a mentor or your best friend, or perhaps you have yet to meet your confidence clan, but you can work to do so. A great way to build confidence is to have someone to look up to. 

Stop comparing your self to others.

In the age of the internet, it’s no wonder comparison is a major confidence buster. Rihanna, a woman who grew into the spotlight, was constantly compared to other females. She was unfairly compared to others, regardless of her body, music, opinions, and she should have been admired for who she is. She is now highlighting the importance of not comparing oneself to another woman. “The biggest mistake you can make is to compare yourself with someone else,” she told InStyle.

Social media can sometimes feel so overwhelming that it’s hard not to compare yourself with an influencer, celebrity, or even a friend. Behind the photoshopped images, there are real people with bad and good days. Rihanna knows that the most confident women stay true to themselves and don’t fall down the hole of comparison (it’s the thief of joy, after all). She said that she wants to “encourage girls and women to respect their uniqueness.” Well, if Rihanna says so.