Rihanna on April Vogue cover!!!

So this is the story that finally brought Islandista out of her hibernation (more on that anon) - uber-islandista Rihanna is on the cover of the April issue of Vogue magazine!!!

She's covering Vogue's annual Shape issue which is frequently a lightning rod for controversy and criticism.

We're loving how the shot is channeling cartoon vamp Jessica Rabbit, not to mention Ariel from Little Mermaid -a great pop culture reference for one of the world's biggest pop stars.

Ri-ri had accidentally leaked news of the cover shoot some months ago, excitedly tweeting (and promptly deleting):

"Just wrapped my first American Vogue cover shoot with Annie Leibovitz…Rah! #SEXY"

And we agree - Rahhhhhhh!

Rihanna killing it at the AMAs

Not much more we can add to our headline, which just about sums it all up. Ri-ri turned in possibly her best live performance (certainly her best awards performance) ever, opening the American Music Awards last night.

Killed. It. DEAD! She was on fire! Check out the vid and let us know if you agree.

Rihanna 'Only Girl in the World' video

So Rihanna's hotly-anticipated 'Only Girl in the World' video came out this week and can we say welcome back to happy Rihanna?

After the dark and depressing nature of many of the videos from the Rated R album, the rose-tinted Only Girl is a complete turnaround - it's a girly, euphoric fantasy, complete with balloons, flowers, fireworks, twinkly lights in trees, tutus and lots of spinning in said tutu and other frothy, girly outfits.

Check the vid below and tell us your thoughts.

Islandistas in June Vogue & July Elle!

It's all islandista, all the time in fashion's biggest magazines this summer! The fashion folk can't get enough of island girls from all spheres, be they designers, models or singers.

In the June edition of Vogue is Jamaican designer Carly Cushnie of Cushnie et Ochs - along with her design partner, they are highlighted in a feature on New York fashion's New Guard. To paraphrase Daddy Screws, big t'ings a gwan fi yu Carly!Also in the same June edition is Puerto Rican/Virgin Islander (St. Thomas to be exact) Joan Smalls, who truly ripped the runway in the FW10/11 fashion season just gone- walking 40 catwalks.

New music videos - Rihanna & Vita Chambers

Ok, islandistas, we are giving you three for the price of one here - just for the sake of contrasting Rihanna and Vita Chambers' new and very, very different videos. 

 

Rihanna put out two vids in the last two weeks - one in Europe for her love song Te Amo and one in the US for her song Rock Star 101. 

 

Fellow Bajan songbird Vita Chambers also put out a new vid for her song Like Boom. 

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=o4gYQkUDG6g] 

And ... well. Did I mention they are different? Ri-ri's vids, especially Rock Star 101 are back to being very, very dark after the welcomed peppiness of Rude Boy - the shots with her in the horned headpiece in the middle of the circle certainly won't do anything to help those 'Rihanna is a devil worshipper' rumours. Clearly the intention was to feed that loose talk - even though clever folk will argue it's just the jagged R that has been the symbol of her Rated R album - but the inference is clear. 

 

  

[caption id="attachment_2385" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Screen grab from Rock Star 1010 music video."][/caption]

Vita's video on the other hand, is fun, upbeat and full of sweetness and light - in aura, if not in musical style, much like Rihanna in 2005.  

See for yourself. 

Islandistas at the Kids Choice Awards

The biggest night in kiddie-dom was on last night - the Kid's Choice Awards.

Islandistas and their families were out in force - both on the orange carpet, and on the stage as Rihanna, who is top of the charts again with Rude Boy, performed.

Check the pics from the night of family fun.

[caption id="attachment_2187" align="aligncenter" width="324" caption="Mel B hit the orange carpet with her two children, husband and a young relative."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2186" align="aligncenter" width="339" caption="Rihanna on the orange carpet in Dior dress and heels."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2188" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="Rosario Dawson on the Kids Choice orange carpet."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2189" align="aligncenter" width="341" caption="Zoe Saldana also made an appearance."][/caption]

Rihanna's new video - Rude Boy

Rihanna's new video for her song Rude Boy dropped this week and it's a hot one!

The video is full of Caribbean flavour - nuff wukking up and some Jamaican dancehall moves too - including some classic, back in the day stuff like bogling and go-go wining.


So what are your thoughts islandistas? You like?

Fabulous at the Grammys - island folk

Island folk were fabulous at the Grammy Awards last night.

Bajan islandista Rihanna put the awfulness of last year's Grammy experience behind her, winning her second Grammy for rap-sung collaboration for Run This Town with Jay-Z and Kanye West. She kept it succint on the mic, saying thanks and giving a 'lift-up' to Solange's son/ Beyonce's nephew, the too-cute Juelz.

And of course her dress... was... stunning. Definitely going to be making lots of best dressed lists in her pale pink Elie Saab.

[caption id="attachment_1978" align="aligncenter" width="296" caption="Photo credit:Cohan/Granitz via YBF.com"][/caption]

Too gorgeous. And the simple understated makeup with it is on point.

Melanie Fiona also looked beautiful in a black gown - she went for a very natural makeup look but she was glowing so much with happiness at being there that it just made us smile - like our fave lil cousin had finally got near her dream. Too sweet.

[caption id="attachment_1979" align="aligncenter" width="270" caption="Photo credit: Cohan/Granitz via YBF.com"][/caption]

For more pics of Caribbean folk at the Grammys, read on.

Pre-Grammy fun - swag and parties

It is Grammy weekend people and that means celebs, style and lots of free swag (lucky, lucky them!).

Islandistas Rihanna and Melanie Fiona have been out and about this weekend, scooping up goodies in swag booth, and hitting the pre-parties - both to perform and to party.

Rihanna worked this architectural tulle Viktor & Rolf dress to Clive Davis' famous Grammy pre-party. It's a very hmmm... dress. Like hmmm do I love this bold fashion foray or hmmm is this just absurd? 

[caption id="attachment_1972" align="aligncenter" width="355" caption="Photo credit: JustJared.com"][/caption]

Ri-ri always pushes the fashion envelope, though doesn't she? Our thought was -how do you do anything that involves your left arm or left side in this dress? Can she even see over her shoulder to that person getting scrunched by tulle on her left?

[caption id="attachment_1970" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="photo credit: JustJared.com"][/caption]

 

She was in a much more laid back outfit earlier on the day while grabbing some free stuff from the swag booth set up for the Grammys, getting a home stereo system hook up and fittingly - some Marley Coffee.

Melanie Fiona was also turning her swag on and getting some free goodies.

She also hit the stage for the SRC Pre-Grammy party.

[caption id="attachment_1975" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Photo credit: @KaRaMaRiE_2009/Twitter.com"][/caption]

 

And of course, check Islandista later for more Grammy suss and style!

Fashion notes - Anya's comeback & Rihanna's Caribbean designer

You know what they say ... 'don't call it a comeback' but ...

Scandal-hit former Miss Trinidad Universe, Anya Ayoung-Chee seems determined to do just that, with the launch of the second collection of her Pilar line last night.

She teamed up with one of T&T's 'grand dames' of fashion, Meiling for a dual Carnival collection line which was showcased at the Meiling boutique in Kapok Hotel.

We haven't seen any pics as yet but we're interested in seeing what the reaction will be. Anya's first Pilar collection was actually pretty well received and her star was on the rise until the sex tape controversy that shifted the attention to her bedroom abilities rather than her design chops.

Remember also that it was alleged by Wyatt Gallery (her boyfriend and partner in the sex tape) that the tape was leaked by someone trying to sabotage Anya's rise in fashion.

So let's hope it is a comeback.

In more Caribbean fashion notes - Rihanna has tapped a designer of Caribbean heritage - Vincy-descended Celeste Johnny of Johnny Vincent, for her swimwear. More on that after the cut.

Island folk part of massive Hope for Haiti telethon

And I can't tell you how...  how moved I am that everybody cares. It means a lot because for so long, no one cared. For so long, no one knew us. And this really means a lot.

- Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon

[caption id="attachment_1937" align="aligncenter" width="405" caption="Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon (at right) on LKL, along with Ben Stiller (left) and Benicio Del Toro (center)."][/caption]

Those were the words from a tearful Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon earlier this week on Larry King Live, during a mini telethon which CNN held to raise funds to aid Haiti which was ripped apart by a huge earthquake on January 12th.

Islandistas, we have to tell you -  Garcelle's words really grabbed us - the emotion in her voice when she said "no one cared... no one knew us" was really moving. It made us think of the burden and conflicted emotions that her and other Haitians have to bear loving a country that can be so unremittingly sad.

[caption id="attachment_1938" align="aligncenter" width="405" caption="Distraught: Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon manning the phones at CNN's telethon. (Photo credit: CNN)"][/caption]

This is really what it had to come to for the world to look at Ayiti, to pay attention to the injustices that have been wrought upon it since they first declared independence in 1804.

But at least now they are looking.

And a huge cast of stars, including island folk in Wyclef Jean, Rihanna and Alicia Keys are getting together tomorrow night for what could be one of the biggest telethons of all time - the Hope for Haiti telethon, spearheaded by George Clooney and MTV Networks.

Brand new Shontelle:Licky video premiere & new single

Islandista Shontelle has been hard at work, prepping her sophomore album - the follow up to her moderately successful debut, Shontelligence.

Her music video for her lead single, Licky (which was released in October) was released last week (see above), while the power ballad-ish song Impossible was released online earlier this month.

Our thoughts on it all and the Impossible single after the cut.

Ri-ri getting kissy with new man?

Can the choir say AMENNN?

[caption id="attachment_1897" align="alignleft" width="265" caption="Photo credit: SplashNewsOnline/TMZ.com"][/caption]

It seems after the annus horriblis of 2009, Rihanna is finally moving on in love  - in fact, in Combermerian style, she's moving up and on, since her new man, L.A. Dodgers baseball player Matt Kemp, definitely seems like an upgrade.

According to gossip sources, she has been spotted out with him on several occasions recently, including Christmas shopping and out at a comedy club.

And now today, they were photographed together heading out at L.A.X Airport and TMZ posted some blurry pics a while ago seemingly of them getting kissy. Plus Rihanna fan site Rihanna Daily has some snaps of them getting steamy in a hot tub.

Interestingly enough, within hours, pictures leaked of her ex Chris Brown looking couple-y with a chick that people are saying is new Guyanese-Canadian N.E.R.D. member Rhea.

So he's still into Caribbean (and more specifically part-Guyanese) chicks still then? Please, do leave out the islandistas.

More pics of Rihanna and her may be new boo under the cut.

Islandistas head to the beaches of Barbados

Islandistas flocked to the beaches of Barbados during the Christmas season.

Besides the obvious like Barbados' Rihanna who swooped in for a super-short family visit for Christmas, X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke and new Sugababe Jade Ewen also have been spotted vacationing in Bim.

The latter two were among a mini British holiday invasion, as a host of non-islandista British celebs also flocked to the island - Simon Cowell, TopShop billionaire Sir Philip Green, Jude Law and Sienna Miller, among others.

UPDATED: Rihanna to perform in Barbados for Old Year's Night?

Rumours have been buzzing around Barbados for the last 24 hours that local girl Rihanna may be performing in the island for Old Year's Night.

The talk raised eyebrows initially because of the small matter of the US$500, 000 show she is scheduled to do in Abu Dhabi the same night.

However, more details are coming out on the top Ri-ri fan site Rihanna Daily, which reported just a while ago that the big show is set for Harbour Lights and that the "8 hour time difference" is how "it's made possible".

The price tag for the event is reportedly BD$250 (US$125) for a ticket.

We're not quite ready to sign off on this one yet but we'll give you more details as they come to hand...

Word also is that Ri-ri will get to taste her mother's pepperpot after all because she is indeed home for the holidays. Again, more details when we get them...


UPDATE 12/27:  So scrap that... information reaching islandista is that no such event was ever in the works... seems Kedrew was throwing out a sprat... again. But I guess that is the job of official twitterers/tweeters?

Ri-ri did manage to make it to Barbados for the holidays though and has been seen out partying at Models & Bottles and hitting the beach.

All we want for Christmas... is some pepperpot!

Hard-working islandista soul singer Melanie Fiona may be away from home and working on Christmas Day but she's still going to keep her Christmas Caribbean.

[caption id="attachment_1837" align="aligncenter" width="382" caption="A plate of pepperpot would make Christmas right for islandistas Melanie Fiona and Rihanna. (Photo credit: Cynthia Nelson/Tastes Like Home)"][/caption]

 



The Guyanese-Canadian singer, who received her first Grammy nomination earlier this month, told Rap-Up.com about her Christmas plans. Like most West Indians the Toronto-born singer has family all over and is going to spend part of Christmas day with relatives in Miami.

And just like Guyanese-descended Rihanna, who was earlier this month mourning that she may not get pepperpot for Christmas, Melanie Fiona's hoping for some traditional Guyanese Christmas fare too, saying:

"My family is Guyanese, so every Christmas morning we have pepperpot and garlic beef or garlic pork, and my mom makes homemade bread. Anything to do with my heritage is what is my fondest memory… All the crazy stuff that comes with being West Indian, I love it.”

No ... we love it!

Rihanna craving the taste of home

We had to smile at these pics of Rihanna clutching her Tiger Malt as she prepared to get her Caribbean grub on when she was in London this weekend to perform on X-Factor.

[caption id="attachment_1786" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="I wonder if these people got conkies to finish off this meal... it IS Independence yuh know..."][/caption]




Two nights in a row, she left out the fancy restaurants for the chance to get some curry chicken and plain rice from Ochi Caribbean take-away in Shepherd's Bush - washed down each time with a Tiger Malt from Barbados' own Banks Holdings.

 

Girl, we know how yuh feel... islandistas, who hasn't been 'over in away' and craved the taste of home? Not to mention if you're from any Caribbean country besides Jamaica (and to a lesser extent Trinidad), getting products from your specific country is difficult so you get super-excited when you do manage to find something... I certainly remember avidly stocking up on Ju-C and Ovaltine biscuits when I found someone in the city I lived who actually sold it.

Oh, p.s to Ri-ri... you can also check out the Humming Bird in North London - they sell greeeat food from all over the Caribbean - even cou-cou! And Jerk City in Central London is an islandista fave too...

Islandistas turn out for Rihanna's Rated R album launch party

The launch party for Rihanna's Rated R album was held last night at the Juliette Superclub in the Big Apple and pure hotness ensued from the islandistas in attendance.

They were led of course by Ri-ri herself in a spiky gold dress and gold Louboutins that aren't even being sold to the public yet - ye, a so de girl hot.

Check it.

[caption id="attachment_1774" align="aligncenter" width="321" caption="photo via theybf.com"][/caption]

She was accompanid by BFF Melissa and changed into a red look later that night which we're not quite as enamoured of... though she is working the sheer black stockings trend that is making some waves right now.

[caption id="attachment_1775" align="aligncenter" width="313" caption="photo via theybf.com"][/caption]

Cayman's own Selita Ebanks was also working this look at the event in sheer tights, a big, luxurious fur and long leather gloves.

[caption id="attachment_1776" align="aligncenter" width="288" caption="photo via theybf.com"][/caption]

Trini-descended 'socialite' islandista aka the chick people love to hate, Ms Genevieve Jones in a dress that looks like something a slutty pixie would wear - with the sheer bodice and kerchief-hemmed skirt. Only Genevieve could get away with it.

[caption id="attachment_1777" align="aligncenter" width="320" caption="photo via theybf.com"][/caption]

Islandistas at the AMAs

So the American Music Awards hit the air last night and everyone is still buzzing about it.

Adam Lambert's performance? Just... wow.

But would people have been so shocked if a raunchy female performer - say a Janet or even a Rihanna, did the same thing? Food for thought, eh?


Speaking of Rihanna, her performance outfit was... pretty risque. We're getting to expect that from Ri-ri, so really the question should be - where does this rank among her more out-there outfits?

Her red carpet outfit - a black and white Marchesa from their spring 2010 line and her red-eyed makeup was pushing the fashion envelope too, which is to be expected.

More islandistas at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards

So, we were pretty caught up over Rihanna's gorgeous Stephane Rolland couture dress at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards.

That dress deserved a post all for itself.

Now, onto the other islandistas that were at the event.

Another islandista honouree, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice was also on hand to collect her award in a sleek strapless black dress with a sharp angled v-neck bodice.

[caption id="attachment_1738" align="aligncenter" width="315" caption="Photo credit: AP/Henny Ray Abrams"][/caption]

Stylist June Ambrose rocked out a sparkly Sonia Rykiel short dress with minimal accessories and natural looking makeup - nice look.




And Estelle performed in a black suit that we're not quite sure about. We like the androgynous look, but we find it should be cut a bit closer and more feminine to really work. As it is, it  just looks like she put on a small fella's suit.

[caption id="attachment_1740" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Photo credit: AP/Henny Ray Abrams"][/caption]