Rihanna’s maternity style sparks debate on pregnancy beauty standards

In encouraging a new generation of expecting mothers to flaunt their bellies as they see fit, the singer-cum-business mogul is advocating the importance of rejecting societal expectations regarding what women should be wearing during those nine months.

When those iconic pregnancy reveal pictures graced our feeds back in January, they were – for the most part – met with an overwhelming influx of adoration from die-hard fans and humble observers alike.

Praise was given for Rihanna’s unflinching confidence to continue wearing exactly what she pleases throughout the nine months she’ll be carrying her baby to term.

Encouraging a new generation of expecting mothers to do the same and flaunt their bellies as they see fit, the singer-cum-business mogul has been boldly advocating the importance of rejecting societal expectations regarding the clothing choices of pregnant women.

She’s done so with a boundless compendium of maternity style that’s seen her swan through the streets of New York in crop tops, low-slung jeans, and coats buttoned just above her bump, as well as attend high-profile fashion shows in knee-high boots, abdomen-grazing jewels, and sheer lingerie.

Yeah, everyone knows you’re pregnant, @rihanna. Put on some fucking clothes. pic.twitter.com/NO4WCf6R4l

— Sofia13456 (@JulieSofia13456) March 3, 2022

Yet, as they often do, critics have reared their heads online to voice the strange offence they’ve taken over Rihanna’s reluctance to conform with what they believe to be appropriate maternity wear, urging her to ‘cover up’ and don ‘more flattering’ pieces that hide her stomach.

This has acted as a catalyst for debate, sparking a social commentary around the beauty standards that apply to women when they are forming a child inside their womb.

Unsurprising, really, given how firmly Rihanna has cemented herself in popular culture, even the most mundane of her daily activities proving to be fertile grounds for discussion.

Now, though I’m certainly a way off from even considering bringing a smaller version of myself into the world, I can pre-emptively say how grateful I am to RiRi for instigating this conversation.

One that not only embodies everything we love about her (from her notoriously badass attitude to her incomparable eye for panache) but that challenges a side to our collective fight against unrealistic beauty ideals which is far less frequently explored.

A source of inspiration to all for remaining true to her identity during a stage of her life that should be nothing but celebrated, the ultimate trendsetter is showing us that her sense of style refuses to take a backseat to her bun in the oven, and it’s empowering to say the least.

‘Rihanna is setting pregnancy style ablaze,’ Solange Franklin tells Vogue.

‘It’s not hiding. It’s not accommodating. It’s more of an effusive energy, an unabashed and abundant beauty.’

In dressing with the sole purpose of making herself feel good, in outfits that both push boundaries and mirror the joy she is so clearly experiencing at the moment, she is sending a message that unapologetic self-expression can most definitely be retained – and developed – along this journey.