'May you continue to shine like a diamond and bring honour to your nation by your words, by your actions, and to do credit, wherever you shall go,' she said, with a nod to the singer's hit 'Diamonds'.

'On behalf of a grateful nation, but an even prouder people, we therefore present to you the designee for national hero of Barbados, Ambassador Robyn Rihanna Fenty,' Mottley said, inviting the singer up to stand alongside her.

The 'Umbrella' songstress commanded 'the imagination of the world through the pursuit of excellence with her creativity, her discipline, and above all else, her extraordinary commitment to the land of her birth,' Prime Minister Mia Mottley told the assembled dignitaries at the 'Pride of Nationhood' celebrations on Tuesday. Rihanna (with President Sandra Mason, left) was declared a national hero of Barbados minutes after the island became the world's newest republic.Д«RIDGETOWN, Barbados: As Barbados became the world's newest republic, its prime minister's first act was to officially declare the island's most famous citizen, Rihanna, a national hero.Д«arbados had already conferred the title of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary on the billionaire multiple Grammy-winning singer and businesswoman in 2018 and tasked her with encouraging education and tourism.

Rihanna greatest hits