Why Rihanna wants a Paris love nest
Paris: the city of red wine, baguettes, croissants – and now Rihanna, who is moving there with her billionaire boyfriend Hassan Jameel.
According to a well-placed insider, the couple have been house-hunting in the French capital, which is apparently the ‘perfect midway-point’ between New York, where Rihanna is often based for work, and Saudi Arabia, where Hassan is from ( he is the deputy president and vice chairman at Abdul Latif Jameel, one of the largest businesses in the world).
‘Paris is a six-hour flight from both New York and Saudi Arabia so it’s a good compromise,’ the source told Grazia. ‘At first, they considered London, but Rihanna has been looking for a property in Paris for a while and they’ve spent a lot of time there together. They both absolutely adore the city. It gives them much more privacy than the US or UK, which is a huge draw for Rihanna. She almost feels free in Paris, and she finds she identifies with French people, who know their own minds.’
The couple have been dating since last spring and prompted rumours of an engagement before Christmas, when Rihanna was pictured wearing a ring on her wedding ring finger. Throughout their relationship, they have kept a relatively low profile and have avoided attending public events together.
Last week, Rihanna and Hassan, who is heir to a reported $1.5 billion fortune and also president of the charity Community Jameel, were pictured on what many believed to be a ‘romantic getaway’ in Paris. Grazia understands, however, that the trip marked the start of their house hunt. At the same time, it was also revealed that Rihanna was renting out her West Hollywood home for $16,500 a month.
The move will no doubt add to speculation that the singer intends to focus more on her fashion label Fenty, which she has shown twice during Paris Fashion Week, as well as her beauty label, Fenty Beauty. Its launch was one of the most ground-breaking moments in the beauty industry last year, with its focus on diversity. Last September, one of her Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundations was sold every minute and the brand was reported to have made $72 million in media value in just one month.
‘Rihanna and Hassan are ready to buy the first place that fits their needs,’ added the source. ‘She is particularly keen on the Saint- Germain area. They’re both eager to find a place as soon as they can, and Paris is a special city for both of them.’