With two little ones at home—RZA and Riot—Rihanna seems to have kids on her mind more than ever. The music and fashion icon is now tapping into her mom’s side, launching a kids’ version of her popular FENTY x PUMA Avanti sneakers.
To celebrate the launch, Rihanna had an eye-opening chat with E! News’ youngest correspondent, 7-year-old Francesca.
“Because I have kids who are younger than your age, and I wanted to have them in my clothes, I wanted to have them in my shoes, everything that I wear,” Rihanna told Francesa, the daughter of E! News’ senior booker, of her inspiration. “I enjoy seeing it in miniature sizes and my kids are so tiny that I just, I wanted to see all you guys in cool shoes. All kids.”
Rihanna, 36, clarified that while she and A$AP Rocky’s sons inspired her latest venture, they weren’t directly involved in the creative process, as reported by E! News.
“My kids are actually a lot younger than you, you could’ve helped me with picking out colors,” the “Umbrella” singer told Francesca. “But they did help me figure out how to make it easier to put shoes on kids.”
Rihanna revealed that designing her kids’ sneakers to match her own was no easy feat—getting little ones to wear them comfortably posed a challenge.
“I had to take my time in redesigning it to make it something that us moms can get onto you guys,” she shared, “without you guys being annoyed.”
Alongside discussing the new line, she shared some advice for young Francesca, who’s eager to become the “next Rihanna.”
“Oh no! You got to be better than Rihanna, girl,” the music and fashion icon insisted. “Rihanna, that’s late! By the time you grow up, I’m going to be vintage, an antique.”
She added, “Aim for the stars. Don’t aim for me, aim beyond me. You’re going to be fantastic. I always want you guys to be greater, better, smarter and change the world in ways that we couldn’t have.”
As for what the pop-star-turned-businesswoman wanted to be when she was a kid, she quipped, “An adult. All I wanted to be at your age was a grown up and now, all I want to be is a kid. So don’t let them lie to you, being an adult is not as fun as it seems.”
Which is why she’s leaning fully into her mom era.
“I love playing ball, and I love going to the beach or pool.”
“They love water. I also love water,” she shared of her toddlers. “I grew up on an island surrounded by water, so I’ve always liked being at the beach and now I get to share that with my kids.”
