Rihanna turned 22 on 20 February 2010, but she actually celebrated five days earlier in Australia. She was there to promote Rated R, and WHO magazine decided to throw her a massive party. They invited 200 people, from Home and Away stars Luke Jacobz, Tessa James and Esther Anderson, to Jermaine Jackson and So You Think You Can Dance winner Talia Fowler. She was given a gorgeous zebra-print cake with star sparkles.
The guests enjoyed the exquisite canapés on offer, but Rihanna decided to give them a miss because she was going for an Italian meal once the party was over. She looked stunning in a nude minidress by the designer Boudoir D’Huitres, and told journalists from WHO that her favourite Australian designers were Sass & Bide (Sarah-Jane Clarke and Heidi Middleton). During her three days in Australia, she also wore Sass & Bide jeans.
She was glad she saved herself for the meal, because she found the cuisine at Beppi’s Italian Restaurant ‘hands down the best food in Australia.’ She wasn’t the first celebrity to rate Giuseppe Polese’s talents, though: Pink had dined there the previous August and wrote in their visitor’s book that they needed to move to LA. They sent her a cookery book with their recipes in it, and she started cooking from it. However, Pink and Rihanna aren’t the only famous diners Beppi’s has entertained: over the years they have fed Frank Sinatra, astronaut Neil Armstrong and Pirates of the Caribbean star Geoffrey Rush.
While in Australia, Rihanna also spent time at the Sydney Aquarium, and went on a cruise around Sydney Harbour.
When she returned home, Matt threw her a big birthday party in Phoenix on the Saturday. She had known he was planning something, but expected it to be just the two of them and her closest friends. He had employed a Jamaican chef to do the food, and there were scrumptious cupcakes to tuck into. It is thought that it took him a whole month to plan everything and make sure it was perfect for RiRi. Some of his Phoenix Suns buddies came along, too.
Rihanna’s birthday cake was extremely personal to her as it had all her tattoo designs on it, and she looked happy and relaxed as she danced the night away, wearing a toy crown. The evening before, they had been out with their friends to the Revolver nightclub, and after the festivities of Saturday, they relaxed and enjoyed a low-key brunch with her friends.
It is thought that Matt bought her a diamond necklace, but there has been no official confirmation.
The whole weekend was a chance for Rihanna to let her hair down and relax. It was completely different from her 21st birthday the year before, which was shortly after she was attacked. Her record company cancelled the party they were planning for her, and instead she went to the cinema with just a few friends. The next day she travelled to Mexico and had an amazing time, although it seems she got so drunk she can’t remember everything.
Rihanna confessed I-D: ‘The most drunk I’ve ever been, my friends could probably tell you better because I blacked out. But it was in Mexico, on my 21st birthday. We went off to this island by boat – it’s so secluded, like you can’t drive on it, so there’s no cars, no schools, you take a boat to and from. But there’s a village on the island and the locals, the natives, they made me moonshine [home distilled alcohol]. Straight out of the tub, they made it and brought it to me in an empty water bottle.
‘I’d been hearing about moonshine, “It’s like the worst, it will kill you!” I’m like, “Okay, let me take a shot of this ever-so-tough moonshine.” I took a shot – nothing. I was so disappointed. Took another shot – nothing. Eight shots later – still nothing! An hour later, I got out of the boat, got into my car, got back to my house, got into the pool, played volleyball – in the pool! And then I can’t remember getting out of the pool. I woke up in different clothes. Different underwear. Like different underwear? And how did I get in my bed?’
She also revealed what her favourite tipple is: ‘I like Jameson and ginger. Actually, dark liquor is the only one that doesn’t give me a hangover. I don’t always get a hangover, but if I do get a hangover, it’s with vodka.’
Some of her closest friends left 22nd birthday messages for Rihanna on her official fansite.
Singer Shontelle, her friend and former drill sergeant, wrote: ‘22 is all that more special a number because that’s how many years the world has been blessed since the day you were born. I’m really proud of you Rock Star! You run this town. Keep it coming harder! Stay beautiful inside and out. Happy Birthday Robyn!’
Evan Rogers and Carl Sturken, who discovered the star, wrote: ‘It seems like just yesterday that we celebrated your 17th birthday and getting a record deal almost at the same time …you’ve come so far and grown so much, we couldn’t be anymore proud of you…. HAPPY B-DAY!!!’
Fellow Bajan performer Hal Linton added: ‘Happy happy Birthday Rih! Sending my blessings and all that good stuff, wishing you many more.’
Rihanna also got thousands of messages from fans. They sent her cards, presents and special scrapbooks they had made.