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28 Jun, 2019

19-year-old Indian model Naomi Janumala has become the global face of Rihanna's Fenty beauty and we're so here for diversity.

Naomi took to Instagram to share the exciting news and wrote, "FENTY CAMPAIGN RELEASE 6-19! DIRECTED and SHOT by Rihanna herself (yeah read that again) and let me tell you, she’s the best hype man ever and probably the best person to hang out on set with."

“When I first met Rihanna, we hugged, and the first thing she asked me was, ‘Where [are] you from?’ When I told her I was from India, she screamed, ‘I knew it, I knew I wanted you! You’re so gorgeous, it’s annoying, I don’t even want to stand next to you! Ahhh!’” Janumala told Vogue India.

Rihanna photographed the model herself.
Rihanna photographed the model herself.

Janumala also spoke about how Rihanna hyped her up during the shoot. “I wish I could show you videos of how excited and dedicated she was while shooting. We clicked so well. Every time we got the shot, she would ask me, ‘Where have you been all my life?’.

It's great to see a big make up brand finally giving exposure to and creating products for people of colour. Naomi is the niece of Bollywood's popular comedian Johnny Lever. She has become one of the top faces in the international model circuit and has graced the ramp for big brands like Alexander Wang, American Eagle, H&M, Adidas, and Levi's.

“Makeup is there for you to have fun with,” Rihanna says
“Makeup is there for you to have fun with,” Rihanna says

Since its release in 2017, Rihanna's Fenty Beauty makeup line has been a hit among make up lovers for having an inclusive approach towards skin tones and gender.

The description on the website reads "Rihanna was inspired to create Fenty Beauty after years of experimenting with the best-of-the-best in beauty—and still seeing a void in the industry for products that performed across all skin types and tones. She launched a makeup line so that women everywhere would be included, focusing on a wide range of traditionally hard-to-match skin tones, creating formulas that work for all skin types, and pinpointing universal shades".

The brand launched their foundation in 40 shades and later expanded it to 50. Fenty Beauty was also named as one of Time magazine's best inventions of 2017.

Comments

Bill Jun 28, 2019 01:40pm
There are millions o Indian women to sell cosmetics to. It is not about the model. It is about the money.
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Laila Jun 28, 2019 02:52pm
I like diversity so I think it's great news to have South Asians represented on the international fashion stage. I hope I will get to see a Pakistani model carve a name for herself too. Right up there with Gigi and Bella Hadid (half Palestinians), Halima Aden (Somali), Imaan Hammam (Sub-Saharan Egyptian). We had one. But decades ago: Yasmeen Gauri. Maybe it's time again. So tall girls past 5.8 start applying. Aim broad and internationally.
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Surya Kant Jun 28, 2019 04:17pm
She is beautiful.
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Truth Serum Jun 28, 2019 06:38pm
@Bill So by same logic they hire Brazilians to sell cosmetics to Brazilian woman. Doesnt work that way. America and Europe are top cosmetic market third is China. Still you wont find much Chinese models. India is not even in top 20 cosmetic market range its lower middle income country.
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Aasma Jun 28, 2019 07:10pm
@Bill Case of sour grapes.
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Sandra Francis Jun 28, 2019 08:02pm
It's nice to know that Fenty is catering for all kinds of complexions. I always had a problem with foundations being of mixed race. There is none that suits my complexion as I have Carib Indian in my blood which is very rare. Have to check Fenty. See if there is one for me.
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Sandra Francis Jun 28, 2019 08:08pm
Hopefully Fenty has a shade of foundation for my complexion as I am of mixed race and have Carib Indian, Portuguese, Indian, Spanish. My complexion is a strange shade of brown
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Anon Jun 29, 2019 09:22am
@Bill Yes.
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