Proof Rihanna really is the queen of divas: she’s the only star to let the V&A use her outfits for their ‘Diva’ exhibit, but demands fans don’t take photos
Even in the world of divas, someone has to be a prima donna.
Rihanna get up.
The star has been labeled ‘the ultimate diva’ after she banned the public from taking pictures of her outfits – during an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum dedicated to divas.
While visitors are encouraged to take photos of clothes celebrating Cher, Marilyn Monroe and Dame Shirley Bassey, they could be whisked away by security if they try to make any of the material related to Rihanna.
The 35-year-old Barbadian, best known for hits such as Umbrella, Diamonds and Take A Bow, reportedly made the ban a condition of providing iconic outfits from her private archive.
Rihanna at the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 Met Gala
The singer wore a black beanie and Balenciaga overcoat worn at the 2021 Met Gala
She lent the museum the pope-inspired dress she wore to New York’s Met Gala in 2018, and embellished the nude dress with more than 200,000 Swarovski crystals she wore at the 2014 Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards .
Visitors will also be able to see the singer’s sheer maternity dress from the 2023 Academy Awards, a black beanie and Balenciaga overcoat worn at the 2021 Met Gala, and a gray and white ensemble from her 2016 world tour. Visiting the £20-a-head ‘Diva’ exhibition on Sunday last week, she was told by a steward that photography was banned at the request of the singer.
The steward said: ‘We didn’t get much explanation other than ‘it’s the artist’s request’, and personally I can’t even think of a possible excuse. These dresses are here because she’s already been photographed in millions of different ways.
“I’d like to know why, because I have to explain it to people. I just say, ‘She’s a diva, isn’t she. Let’s leave it at that.’ Visitors find it funny.’
Rihanna has made a lot of headlines for her diva claims. She reportedly gave staff a ten-page document of requests for her 2013 world tour, including making sure her dressing room was exactly 73F and had all-white furniture.
Bestselling author Kathy Lette said the ban on photos of the singer was a strong statement in itself. She said, “This exhibition is a celebration of Divas and what better example of Diva-dom than forbidding museum visitors to take pictures of her outfits?”
The star has been labeled ‘the ultimate diva’ after she banned the public from taking pictures of her outfits – at an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum dedicated to divas
Visitors can see the singer’s sheer maternity dress from the 2023 Academy Awards, a black beanie and Balenciaga overcoat worn at the 2021 Met Gala, and a gray and white ensemble from her 2016 world tour.
Alison Jackson, the photographer and Bafta-winning filmmaker, said: ‘It’s hard to understand the reasons for the ban… is she intentionally being contrary in the publicity? Or maybe the designers of the outfits have ruled that they are not to be photographed, as it may reveal their special secrets of design crafting?’
The Diva exhibition, which runs until April next year, will also feature Tina Turner’s 1977 Flame dress and a Vivienne Westwood dress worn by Adele on the cover of British Vogue in 2021.
A Rihanna spokesperson was contacted for comment.