‘God sent her to me’: Ayra Starr credits Rihanna for boosting her self-confidence
Nigerian Afrobeats star Ayra Starr has revealed that her 2024 encounter with global icon Rihanna was far more than a simple celebrity meet-and-greet—it was a life-changing moment that rescued her from a period of deep self-doubt.
In a candid new interview with W Magazine, the 23-year-old ‘Sability’ singer admitted that despite her meteoric rise to fame, she was privately battling significant low self-esteem when she travelled to Barbados to meet the Fenty mogul last year.
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Starr described the timing of the meeting as nothing short of “divine,” claiming that Rihanna’s genuine interest in her career provided the validation she desperately needed at a vulnerable point in her journey.
Reflecting on her mental state at the time of the trip, Starr was remarkably honest about the pressure of the spotlight.
“I feel like God sent her to me at a time where I was really struggling with my self-esteem and just my image of myself,” she told the publication.
“Meeting her was so surreal because she was so warm and so kind.”
The singer explained that before the meeting, she had been feeling disconnected from her own success. However, seeing Rihanna’s reaction to her work changed everything.
“She was telling me how much she loved my music and how she’d been watching my videos,” Starr recounted.
“It felt like a dream.”
The meeting took place in April 2024 during a visit to Rihanna’s home country, Barbados.
Fans at the time were sent into a frenzy when footage emerged of the two superstars interacting at an event, but the deeper impact on Starr’s personal growth remained private until now.
Starr noted that Rihanna’s approachability helped break down the walls she had built up.
“I feel like I regained my confidence after that meeting,” she stated.
“It helped me reconnect with who I am as an artist and as a person.”
Since that 2024 encounter, Ayra Starr’s career has continued its upward trajectory, with her second studio album ‘The Year I Turned 21’ receiving critical acclaim and further cementing her place on the global stage.
The singer, who signed to Mavin Records at just 18, has often spoken about the intense scrutiny young women face in the music industry. By sharing her experience with Rihanna, she hopes to show fans that even the most successful artists face moments of insecurity.
“I’m just grateful for that moment. It was exactly what I needed to hear from someone I’ve looked up to my entire life,” Starr concluded.
