Rihanna’s 2009 was defined by one date: February 8. That’s when she was assaulted by her then-boyfriend, singer Chris Brown, after an argument on the eve of the Grammy Awards. And from day forward, Rihanna — who, thanks to a string of hits, had become a global star — took on a very different role.
It wasn’t the kind of role we’re used to seeing pop stars play, and for much of the year, Rihanna kept silent about it, even as reports of previous abuse by Brown began to surface, and details about the incident began to surface. When she finally broke her silence, it was with a simple statement, issued through her representatives, which said that she would not make any further comment on the matter.
She reportedly reconciled with Brown, but, after intense media scrutiny, ended the relationship. And this is where the second part of her remarkable transformation began: Rihanna went from being a victim to an empowered, driven, fiercely independent artist. And that voyage is what makes her our #3 woman of the year.