Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born in the parish of St. Michael, Barbados, on February 18, 1988. Growing up,

Rihanna led a relatively simple, average life on her island home. She attended Combermere, a kind of technical high school,

and, despite having a natural singing talent, she didn't give much thought to performing -- aside from singing with her

friends for fun. At one point, though, Rihanna did enter a beauty and talent pageant at her school. Singing Mariah Carey's

"Hero" as part of the talent component, Rihanna went on to win the competition. But that performance and singing in the shower or in

front of the mirror was the extent of her

musical experience before 2004. def

jam discovers rihanna During Christmas 2003, a series of chance events unfolded that

would change Rihanna's life forever. A New York City record producer, Evan Rogers, was vacationing with his Barbadian wife

Jackie near Rihanna's home. A mutual friend introduced them, and after Rihanna belted out a few tunes for Rogers, he realized

her potential and invited her to New York to record some demo songs. Rihanna jumped at the opportunity to sing

professionally, and she took Rogers up on his offer the following spring.