10 times Rihanna dominated the stage like a true queen

Rihanna always finds a way to own the moment whenever she performs, no matter what the occasion is. With her fearless style and magnetic performances, Rihanna effortlessly grabs attention everywhere and makes sure that people don't easily forget it.

Rihanna has not been performing on live stages for a few years, but people always keep coming back to her past performances, and it isn’t hard to see why. Through her career, she has given some performances that are hard to get over. Take the time, for example, when she appeared at the 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show; high fashion came together with unbelievable showmanship, and people still talk about it.

Gracing the stage in a pink lace dress dripping with diamonds and some playful ankle boots, she looked full of confidence and charm. Now, instead of wondering if she's still got it, she's rolling that up her sleeve as she gets ready for one of the world's biggest stages to remind people what she can do.

What sets Rihanna apart as a star is how careful she is with every detail and how she turns every stage into a full show of sights and sounds. Rihanna doesn't just sing her hits; she builds a space that shows her art style and growing brand. From how her dancers dress, to the lights and how songs change, each choice seems to be meticulously planned out.

Rihanna's shows are big statements, mixing elements of concerts, fashion shows, and social talk.

Disclaimer: This article contains the writer's opinion. The reader's discretion is advised!

Here are the top 10 times Rihanna dominated the stage like a true queen

Here are ten times that show Rihanna is not just a singer but a true performer. At awards, world tours, and on TV, she always brings new magic to her shows, be it bold looks, brave styles, or just pure boldness. She pulls you in, makes singing look easy, and her way of moving from one music style to another, from dance tunes to pop to R&B, makes each show stand out.

These performances are more than just about voice or dance moves; they are about power, plan, and showmanship. Rihanna knows how to take over a stage, and these ten shows prove just why she remains one of the most thrilling live stars ever.

1) Work feat. Drake at the 36th BRITs Awards (2016)

Rihanna and Drake always have a chemistry that nobody can get enough of. The last time they danced together live at the 2016 BRIT Awards, the whole thing just became way bigger and was hard for anyone in the crowd to forget, and because they did the whole thing with a kind of smooth control that people couldn't look away from.

She was on stage, with her dancers following her moves. Then, when Drake came in, the air of their own presence on the BRITs stage turned it into a sort of space that felt like it belonged just to the two of them, like the crowd faded.

And it was just the two of them performing their music in front of 100 million people in that room. Even though sometimes the performances at music shows feel forced, that was not the case here. Both musicians made it look like it was so easy and natural, like rehearsals didn't even matter because they just fit.

By the time the performance was wrapped up, everyone in that room knew they had watched not just the best part of the night but maybe one of those shows people will remember for a long time.

2) Love on the Brain at the 23rd Billboard Music Awards (2016)

Rihanna's knack for changing her appearance and style is common knowledge, but not many expected her to channel Amy Winehouse so. Her live rendition of Love on the Brain at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards, before the song hit the airwaves as a single, gripped the crowd and showed off a new side of her talent.

2016 Billboard Music Awards - Show - Source: Getty

She broke from her typical lively shows full of eye-catching visuals and dance moves, choosing instead to focus on her singing skills. Without big production or choreography, Rihanna held the stage through the power and feeling in her voice alone.

It's evident that she's engrossed in the moment as she sings, feeling every word. This show gives us a rare look at Rihanna in her element, oozing a quiet confidence and real passion.

3) Rihanna at the 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

At the 2023 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, Rihanna made a glamorous and commanding impression. Rihanna performed at the 2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, including singing her hit song Diamonds. She also walked the runway, showcasing her own style alongside the Angels.

She wore a striking strapless black gown that fit her figure with high lace gloves. The ensemble was very elegant, with her look standing out even more because of the lavish pearl layers draped around her neck and shoulders.

2012 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - Performance - Source: Getty

This added a rich, classic touch to the modern silhouette. As she walked across the stage, Rihanna showed a hint of playful boldness by flashing her leg, sporting a black garter. This daring touch spiced up her refined outfit. Her mix of timeless glamour and edgy style proved why people see her as a fashion icon. Her steady vocals, combined with the passionate delivery of the lines, made it a standout show.

4) Rock in Rio 6 (2015)

Unlike typical festival shows where bands play short sets, the 2016 festival's main act went all out with a huge 26-song show that got the crowd fired up. This big performance showed off her incredible energy and highlighted how versatile she's become over her 10+ years in music.

She switched between styles and feelings, going from upbeat dance songs to quiet, heartfelt ballads, showing she could connect with fans in many ways. A highlight was when she sang older hits like Unfaithful with a new depth in her voice, showing how she's grown as an artist.

The DAILY FRONT ROW "Fashion Los Angeles Awards" Show - Source: Getty

The well-planned song list, including several of her hit songs like Only Girl, Umbrella, Where Have You Been, etc took the audience through the big moments and style changes in her first decade-plus of music. It wasn't just a concert, but a lively look back at her path as an artist, showing how she's always pushed limits while keeping her own style in the ever-changing music world. The show made it clear she's one of the most flexible and captivating performers of her time.

5) Love on the Brain in the 2016 Global Citizen Festival

Rihanna's performance at the Global Citizen Festival deserves to be pointed out for how special it was. Because something was in the air, something that maybe people don't always see on a big stage. And it happened just as she was about to take a step back from all the lights, which made it mean so much.

2016 Global Citizen Festival In Central Park To End Extreme Poverty By 2030 - Show - Source: Getty

She didn't have all that fancy stuff or anything too shiny; she just stood in the center and sang, and her voice was all open, bare, and strong. Everyone could hear how much was in every note, and how her being there was going to be missed a lot. Her vocals were raw, which hit even harder in the crowd; it felt different.

Her raw feelings came through in a rough romance, and it was easy to hear how it hurt and yet felt bittersweet. It felt like a fitting, strong pause before a break, even though it wasn't actually her last live show, yet it felt important.

6) 38th Annual American Music Awards (2010)

At the 2010 American Music Awards, Rihanna gave a strong show of top hits that made a big mark. She started with a deep solo of Love the Way You Lie, making a sad song hit even harder with her strong singing. This set the mood before she turned up the heat with two high-energy acts.

2010 American Music Awards - Show - Source: Getty

Rihanna soon changed the mood up with her lively songs such as What's My Name? and Only Girl (In the World). She mixed her powerful vocals with eye-catching costumes and dance moves. It was a fun show that made people cheer and dance, making this AMA show one of her top and most lively times on stage.

7) 33rd MTV Video Music Awards (2016)

When Rihanna got the big Video Vanguard Award at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards, she made the whole night feel like it belonged to her. She did four different strong performances, which showed how some songs in a row really stuck with her.

She performed Stay, Diamonds, Needed Me, etc., with the kind of depth that feels like she was telling stories of her feelings, where each one showed she could be soft or she could be tough, and it made you feel something.

2016 MTV Video Music Awards - Show & Audience - Source: Getty

Her vocals were unmistakably in the forefront. The night was memorable for all her fans, and not only because the award was given to her, but because she held the stage with a quiet power every time she was on it. For fans who have followed her long, this showed Rihanna was really making her mark as pop royalty, and the crowd was feeling every bit of it.

8) AOL Music Sessions (2010)

Back in 2010, we saw an intimate, stripped-down medley that gave us a raw and refreshing look at how her music had changed up to that point. It wasn't like those big, flashy stadium shows at all because this set, which lasted almost 20 minutes, felt more personal and kind of lived up to her Rated R era in a way fans noticed quickly.

Rihanna And Ke$ha In Concert - Source: Getty

The singer really let the mood shape how every song sounded, and her big hits were this late-night jam session instead of some perfectly rehearsed pop show. The way she moved between styles so effortlessly, but also the confidence to express herself as she led the room like someone who had been in the business much longer than she had at that point.

Her fashion stood out too, and people remembered it. Another thing that stood out was those shows where you got to see not just the performer but the real person behind those hits, cool and in control, and not putting on for anybody.

9) Kiss It Better at the Made in America 2016

What would it take for Rihanna to get on the stage and talk about something? If she were chosen, she probably would do anything or everything. The song Kiss It Better settled in the hearts of so many in 2016.

There was a little mic malfunction right at the start, but she didn't let it keep her down. Rihanna bounced back quickly and then went straight into the song, showing she got a kind of calm on stage and a presence that makes people feel the same way.

2016 Budweiser Made in America Festival - Day 1 - Source: Getty

She didn't only sing; she kind of lived the song. By the time that the performance was done and her voice settled, she took her time walking slowly around the stage, nodding and giving looks to her fans, with gratitude on her face. So it's not just singing that makes them remember, but also her sweet interaction and the love she exhibited for her fans.

10) Diamonds at The X Factor UK 2012

Rihanna doesn't usually hide from a big and dramatic stage, and when she sang Diamonds on the UK's The X Factor in 2012. The way she owned the stage, the emotion and real feelings came together, making the performance so much bigger than just another stage in a talent show.

Honestly, it was more like a movie ending. She was graceful, and her voice perfectly complemented the song and the setting, making it one performance that her fans should not miss.

This live version wasn't just any performance someone could watch without being fully invested in it and feeling the mood of the song. Rihanna can be seen as a singer who not only has talent but also determination. The set almost pushed her back, but she didn’t shift, not for one moment. Despite all the wind blowing at her during the performance, her voice did not break and her performance did not falter.

Rihanna has long been a strong force on stage, with a great deal of charm, a strong voice, and clear stories in all her lyrics. Whether she's drenched in rain or lit by the brightest stage light, she knows how to grab and keep all eyes on her. From her first shows to her latest, she has changed the way one rules a stage, not just by a big show, but by true self and being real.

It's not only the songs she sings; it's how she turns each act into a time no one can drop from their mind. For more than ten years, Rihanna hasn't just been on stages; she's taken them over.