When you have an international pop music superstar hailing from your neighborhood, that’s a pretty big deal, and the government of Barbados decided to rename the street where she grew up Barbados Drive.
This picture shows her house, and many fans come here as a pilgrimage site. This colorful home, reflecting the vibrancy and warmth of the Caribbean region, is where it all began.
A Friendly Neighborhood
Rihanna said that this road is where “My whole life was shaped.” She paid tribute to her home when she went to the street’s renaming ceremony. “I was just a little island girl riding bikes, running around barefoot and flying kites in the cemetery, but I had big dreams. Dreams that were born and realized right here.”
It is humbling to see that such a massive star came from a tiny neighborhood where everyone knows each other. This photo is of the friendly neighborhood joint Willmar’s Bar, which shows the character of the neighborhood and the pride they have for their hometown hero. “We all watch her,” says Mary Allman, who runs the bar.
Westbury New Road
The name of the road where Robyn Rihanna Fenty lived was changed from Westbury New Road. Rihanna comes to visit home twice a year, showing she has not lost her roots.
She does not stay when she comes, though. As one of her neighbors said, “It’s too small for her now!”