The NAACP has announced that Rihanna will be the 2020 recipient of the President Awards. She is to be handed this award during the 51st NAACP Image Awards. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People presents an annual NAACP Image Award. Winners are selected by the NAACP president in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson will present the Rihanna with the award during the live show broadcast on BET on Saturday, February 22nd, from Pasadena, California.
Johnson praised Rihanna in a statement, “Rihanna has not only enjoyed a groundbreaking career as an artist and musician, but has also distinguished herself as a stellar public servant,” Johnson said. “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.”
Rihanna will join the long list of previous winners such as Jay-Z, Muhammid Ali, and Spike Lee.
Rihanna is no stranger to awards the nine-time GRAMMY winner, was also awarded 2017, Harvard Foundation for Interracial and Culture Relation, Humanitarian of the Year. Rihanna launched a fashion line, Fenty Maison, with storied luxury giant LVMH becoming the first woman to create an original brand for them and the first woman of color to front one of their fashion houses Fenty Maison.