Rihanna reacts to the cover of the Sunday Times magazine, where she is compared to Princess Diana
Rihanna reacts to the cover of the Sunday Times magazine, where she is compared to Princess Diana Instagram/badgalriri

RIhanna has spoken of her delight at being compared to Princess Diana in The Sunday Times yesterday.

Leading feminist writer Camille Paglia drew the comparison, based on the turbulent childhoods endured by both RiRi and the late Princess of Wales.

Paglia said that, like Diana, Rihanna has become a global media icon, writing: "Not since Diana rocketed from a shy kindergarten aide to a lean, mean fashion machine has there been such a ravishingly seductive flirtation with the world press."

However, the comparison was at times far from positive. Paglia continued: "Like Diana, Rihanna has worryingly drifted into using photo ops to send messages of allure, defiance, or revenge in a turbulent relationship with an errant partner.

"Rihanna, another victim of a festering romantic triangle, has bounced dizzyingly back and forth in her checkered affair with rapper Chris Brown, who was convicted of a felony in 2009 for abusing her."

Specifically, Paglia compared the picture of Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal after the breakdown of her marriage with Prince Charles with the image of Rihanna on her balcony in Barbados, as she separated from Chris Brown after the brutal assault.

Despite the obvious inherent criticism in the comparison, Rihanna was quick to express her delight at being likened to the world's most iconic Princess.

"When your face is pic-stitched to Princess Diana's on the cover of The Sunday Times.... I mean... #extraordinaRIHbehavior," she posted on her Instagram account.

"Just so happens I came home drunk to this in a pile of papers outside my hotel room! My lil Bajan behind, never thought these many people would even know my name, now it's next to Princess Diana's on the front of a newspaper! Life can be such a beautiful thing when you let it be #yourejealous," she added.

Rihanna is expanding her ventures and launched her first fashion collection at London Fashion Week.

Click here to take a look at Rihanna for River Island show at the Autumn/Winter 2013 collection during London Fashion Week...

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