Rihanna's sudden and meteoric rise made American Idol hopefuls look like seasoned crooners who had spent a decade on the road before hitting the big time. A native of the island of Barbados, Rihanna lived an average life and barely even dreamed of show business before she was discovered in late 2003.
Despite her total lack of professional singing experience, Rihanna was snapped up by Def Jam, and had a hit with her single "Pon de Replay" in 2005. She quickly followed this up with the release of her debut album, Music of the Sun. Rihanna wasted no time in putting out a second album, A Girl Like Me, the following year, and her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad, took listeners by storm in 2007 with a slew of hit singles including "Umbrella" and "Don't Stop The Music." Rihanna's instant success wasn't all luck, though. Her talent is undeniable, and her personality is determined yet appreciative. All it took was the perfect mix of circumstances, blended together like a good callaloo (one of Rihanna's favorite Caribbean dishes).