LOS ANGELES (February 4, 2020) – The NAACP today announced that global music and fashion icon, business entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Rihanna, will receive the prestigious President’s Award during the 51st NAACP Image Awards. The President’s Award is presented in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service, with previous recipients including last year’s recipient Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, Jesse Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Soledad O’Brien, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Muhammad Ali among others. NAACP President Derrick Johnson will present the award to Rihanna during a LIVE TV special on BET on Saturday, February 22, 2020, from Pasadena, California.
“Rihanna has not only enjoyed a groundbreaking career as an artist and musician but has also distinguished herself as a stellar public servant,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. “From her business achievements through Fenty to her tremendous record as an activist and philanthropist, Rihanna epitomizes the type of character, grace, and devotion to justice that we seek to highlight in our President’s Award.”
Alongside her incredible musical achievements which include nine GRAMMY awards, Rihanna continues to add more credits to her burgeoning resume: executive producer, fashion designer, actress, business entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Rihanna never stops breaking barriers and has built beauty and fashion empires with global beauty brand FEИTY Beauty, lingerie brand SAVAGE x FENTY, and the recently launched luxury fashion brand FEИTY, which saw her become the first woman of color to partner with LVMH and the first woman to start an original brand for the world’s largest luxury group.
Rihanna has also used her influence for good through philanthropic efforts. Chief among these is her own Clara Lionel Foundation. The Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) was founded in 2012 by Rihanna in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. CLF supports and funds groundbreaking and effective education and emergency response programs around the world. With the voices of Rihanna and her fans, CLF also engages in global advocacy with the goal of improving the quality of life for young people everywhere.
Winners for the 51st NAACP Image Awards will be revealed during the LIVE TV special airing on BET on Saturday, February 22, 2020, at 8pm/7c from Pasadena, California. Voting is still open to the public and fans are encouraged to submit their votes until February 7th by visiting www.naacpimageawards.net.For all information and the latest news, please visit the official NAACP Image Awards website at www.naacpimageawards.net or on Facebook at naacpimageawards and Twitter @naacpimageaward (#NAACPImageAwards).
About NAACP:
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas at naacp.org.
About BET Networks:
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news, and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.
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Media Contacts
NAACP Image Awards
Sunshine Sachs | [email protected]
(323) 822-9300
