RIHANNA! The Queen herself graced the annual Crop Over Festival with her presence at 36, looking flawless as always. RiRi made a dazzling return to the streets of Barbados for the 2024 Crop Over Festival, also known as the Grand Kadooment parade. On August 5th, the "Diamonds" singer appeared in a breathtaking custom costume adorned with intricate gold and bronze jewels and a matching headpiece, perfectly complementing her chestnut and blonde-highlighted hair. Naturally, she wore a custom super backpack to complete the look.
Rihanna — Crop Over 2024. Photo: Just Jared
And did you check out her shoes? Not Rihanna wearing heels on the road! RiRi is definitely a Hot Gyal, not a Comfort Queen. Although the Fenty Beauty mogul is known for her barely-there Carnival looks, this year was giving hot-mom vibes as she was certainly more covered.
Rihanna's not new to Crop Over
Rihanna has been gracing the festival with her iconic presence as far back as 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019 — notice a trend? This marks Rihanna's first Crop Over appearance since becoming a mother of two, having last attended in 2019 before the pandemic. Could this mean we'll see Queen RiRi back on the road in 2026? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: Crop Over — or Crawpova as the locals pronounce it — is a Carnival must-do, and one that should be on every Carnival Chaser's calendar.
The Designer Behind the Magic
Lauren Austin, co-founder, director, and head designer of Aura Experience, is the creative genius behind Rihanna's stunning costumes over the years. Originally from Trinidad, Austin has lived in Barbados creating eye-catching costumes for over eight years. Aura Experience is the band Rihanna chose to jump with this year, continuing a tradition of dazzling Carnival looks.
Rihanna's Crop Over looks over the years — Aura Experience by Lauren Austin
Join the Fun
For six weeks, Crop Over festivities take over Barbados with Caribbean music, parades, and all-day, all-night fêtes. The rum-fuelled festival is a partying marathon featuring Bajan food fairs and arts-and-crafts markets. The biggest display of Bajan culture culminates on Grand Kadooment Day, where revellers in feathers, jewels and glitter dance to soca and calypso. So if you're thinking about attending Crop Over next year — do it. And who knows, you might even witness Queen RiRi herself. 😉
Speaking of celebrity sightings, Caribbean Carnivals are attracting more and more of them. We recently saw Chloe Bailey in Saint Lucia, Winnie Harlow in Jamaica (makeup by Glam Hub), and in the past Nicki Minaj and Ashanti in Trinidad.
Carnival Glam Hub is celebrating its fifth year in Barbados. Don't miss our luxurious eye makeup, waterproof applications, and amenities including complimentary refreshments, snacks, changing rooms with dressing assistants, seamstresses, and a shuttle service — in Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Miami, Toronto, Antigua, Atlanta, Grenada, Cayman, Saint Vincent, Tobago, and Notting Hill (UK). Visit carnivalglamhub.com.
Disclaimer: Glam Hub did not provide makeup or hair services for Rihanna. This is Carnival Glam Hub's 5th year doing Crop Over.