Rihanna is once again being celebrated. This time she’s set to be honored May 22 at this year’s 69th Parsons Benefit, for the Parsons School of Design, alongside other big names, like designer Eileen Fisher and Neiman Marcus.
It’s pretty much accepted by everyone that RiRi is a fashion icon, known for her eclectic taste in fashion and her uncanny ability to pull off any and every look, and Parsons is acknowledging that risk-taking streak as well as the star’s philanthropy.
“Parsons is proud to present Rihanna with this honor, as she has inspired millions through her powerful music and distinct style,” Parsons Executive Dean Joel Towers said in a statement. “She has championed our recent alumni on a number of occasions by wearing their designs. She is also creating important philanthropic programs, which support communities by fostering effective education, health, and emergency response programs around the world through her Clara Lionel Foundation.”
For her part, Rihanna is excited about her latest accolade, and lauded the school for the “creative and exciting designs” that come from their alumni.
“It’s such a thrill to know that a design school as prestigious as Parsons School of Design would present me with this honor,” Rihanna said in the statement. “I consistently find creative and exciting designs coming from Parsons alumni, so I feel a deep connection to the school. But I am especially grateful that Parsons would recognize me for the work I’ve done in regards to philanthropy.”
Just last month, Rihanna was named Harvard’s Humanitarian of the Year, an award that she delightfully accepted (with a ponytail flick) at the end of the month.
The university highlighted the singer’s philanthropy, which includes a center she built in her home country of Barbados to diagnose and treat breast cancer, as well as a scholarship program named after her grandmother and grandfather for students from Caribbean countries who are attending college in the U.S.