Rihanna's Queen Nefertiti-inspired Vogue Arabia feature is causing quite the stir online.
The Barbadian singer, who is known to be a fan of the Egyptian Queen (she even has a tattoo of her) is featured on the magazine's November cover, paying homage to the ancient ruler.
In the editor's letter for the issue, which is set to hit newsstands on Nov. 1, Vogue Arabia's Editor-in-Chief Manuel Arnaut wrote:
“We are dedicating the issue to strong and dynamic women who are changing the world. Rihanna, our cover star, is one of them. Not only is she one of the most successful pop icons ever, shaping the entertainment industry with her powerful tunes and unique sense of style, she is also an advocate for diversity.”
On social media, reactions are mixed
Vogue Arabia first announced the Nefertiti-inspired Rihanna shoot in social media posts shared on Oct. 17, and reactions have been mixed ever since.
However, the debate intensified after the cover's official release, with some even accusing the magazine of cultural appropriation.
Here's some of what people had to say:
Many absolutely loved it
Some called Rihanna "Vogue Arabia's queen"
But not everyone was happy with the feature
Some called it "cultural appropriation"
Others had heated debates over this accusation
A few also had thoughts on who could've been a better pick
Others were having none of it
Others defended the cover, raising this point...
