Just a few weeks after receiving the 2017 Harvard University Humanitarian of the Year Award, the Bajan superstar has been announced as one of the honorees for this year’s Parsons School of Design Benefit.
Rihanna, alongside Eileen Fisher and the Neiman Marcus Group, will be honored at the 69th annual event, which honors those who contribute to the design and performance community. The ceremony also provides a platform for new talent and raises scholarship money for students at the university, The New School.
“Parsons is proud to present Rihanna with this honor, as she has inspired millions through her powerful music and distinct style,” the school’s executive dean, Joel Towers, said in a statement. “She has championed our recent alumni on a number of occasions by wearing their designs. She is also creating important philanthropic programs, which support communities by fostering effective education, health, and emergency response programs around the world through her Clara Lionel Foundation.”
Rihanna, honored to be recognized by such a prestigious design school, expressed her gratitude in a statement released to The Cut.
“It’s such a thrill to know that a design school as prestigious as Parsons School of Design would present me with this honor,” she said. “I consistently find creative and exciting designs coming from Parson alumni, so I feel a deep connection to the school. But I am especially grateful that Parsons would recognize me for the work I’ve done in regards to philanthropy.”
Congratulations to Rihanna!
