Rihanna Swims With Sharks For Harper's Bazaar Cover

Rihanna Swims With Sharks For Harper's Bazaar Cover

Rihanna was thrown in at the deep end as she took on her latest cover shoot for the Harper's Bazaar March issue. Not only is she seen posing in a fake great white shark's mouth (she's a big fan of Jaws, apparently) she also goes for a little swim with a giant shark in a teeny white one-piece.

Norman Jean Roy/Harper's Bazaar

New York fashion photographer Norman Jean Roy was on hand to capture the amazing shots, while Bronx filmmaker Evan E Rogers documented it.

She can be seen posing in a number of stunning pieces, including the metallic-gold Chanel swimsuit in the top picture.

For the main cover, Rihanna slips into - and seriously simmers in - a gold cutout Balmain jumpsuit with a plethora of amazing jewellery from the likes of Harry Winston, Cartier, and Inez and Vinoodh.

Norman Jean Roy/Harper's Bazaar

There's also another shot where she somehow manages to look totally serene and sexy in a white Gottex swimming costume and a Chanel watch while being circled by an eight-foot shark. Nice work.

Norman Jean Roy/Harper's Bazaar

The shoot celebrates the 40th anniversary of Jaws, and the top picture is actually a (rather more glamorous) take on a picture showing Stephen Spielberg sitting in Jaws himself. The shoot took place at the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, and involved a dozen dives - and three outfit changes - before it was a wrap.

During the interview, Rihanna chatted away about fashion, adventure, and getting red carpet-ready. Check out some of the highlights:

Swimming with sharks is not only scary, it's a big metaphor. How did you learn to swim with the sharks of life?

"I try my best to avoid the sharks of life, but I have had my share of experiences with them, and in those cases I just have to handle them accordingly. But I do not swim with sharks ... sharks swim with sharks."

Would you say you're adventurous? What is the greatest adventure you've been on, and what would you like to do?

"Greatest adventure? Are you kidding me? I just did a photo shoot in the midst of sharks. It's going to be pretty hard to beat that."

You've been killing it stylewise. Do you have to psych yourself up for a daring red-carpet look or do you just go for it?

"The way I dress depends on how I feel. I never have to psych myself up. Usually it just feels like it works."

What has been your favourite red-carpet look ever?

"My favourite red-carpet looks are usually the ones I get to help design: the Adam Selman Swarovski crystal dress at the CFDAs, the Stella McCartney all-white dress at the Met Gala, and the Adam Selman white jersey dress from the VMAs. But the red Azzedine Alaïa at the Grammys is also one of my favourites."

Whose style would you like to steal for a day?

"Zac Posen and his sick custom suits ... and the hair."

Is there a line, fashionwise, that you would never cross - something you would never wear?

"I don't like to commit to those kind of rules. You never know."

How much maintenance does your style take - hair, nails, fittings, et cetera?

"At times a lot of maintenance, and at times none. I have a job that requires quite a lot of glam, and I have a great team that helps me with that. But sometimes, like when I'm in the studio or on vacation, there's little to no maintenance."

Harper's Bazaar's March issue hits newsstands on 17 February.

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