by TONY BEST

IT MAY BE hard to explain the explosive international appeal of Rihanna, the Grammy-award winning superstar whose music sells in the millions around the world, but whose heart is firmly rooted in Barbados

In less than four years, the 20-year-old has gone from an unknown quantity even at Combermere School to a celebrity whose face graces the covers of big-name publications in North America, Europe and Asia, and whose endorsements are being eagerly sought by large multi-national corporations that sell everything from cosmetics and clothes to umbrellas.

But there is more to the Bajan than her music. Her stylish, sexy personality and sense of style and fashion is a trend setter.

Cosmopolitan, perhaps the oldest and best-known upscale women's magazine with a circulation of more than a million in North America alone, and with editions published in French, Spanish, Romanian and a host of other languages, has explored the question on many people's minds: what makes Rihanna tick?

The 122-year-old publication has made her its cover girl for the March edition now on the newsstands and the reasons are clear.

For one thing, there is the novelty of having someone from a small Caribbean island grabbing and holding people's attention everywhere.

"In just three years, the Barbados native (whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty) has become a man-melting megastar," was the way Cosmopolitan put it.

For another, there is her personality.

"That effervescent personality and her sultry beauty have proven to be an irresistible combo for Hollywood Romeos," stated Cosmopolitan.

Next is the glamour that surrounds her. "When Rihanna strides into a Los Angeles hotel restaurant, the singing sensation looks totally glamorous in a Robert Cavalli leopard-print wrap that flutters sexily behind her," it wrote.

"But that air of sophistication evaporates when she slides into the booth and dives" into an interview. Specifically, she can be a prankster.

Then there is the confidence she exudes, thanks to her booming career, which, like her image, is on fire. She has worked with music's biggest names and is racking up accolades. She has grown in such confidence that she now makes most of her decisions.

Peel away those astonishing feats, including making Cosmopolitan's cover and what do we find?

In a series of answers to multiple choice questions put to her by the magazine we learn some intriguing things:

* The favourite part of her body isn't her boobs, abs or legs, but "my butt".

* The thing she misses most about Barbados "when I am away from home is family, partying with friends, beach."

* The "best part of being a celebrity . . . is not having to go to school anymore"

* "You'd be surprise to find out that I have never owned a car."

* "If I weren't a singer/actress, I'd want to be a pilot."

* The feature that gets the most compliment: her eyes.

* She believes in ghosts and says she can tell when a hotel is haunted.

* "The craziest thing I've ever done for a guy is show up unannounced in another country."

* For more than two years, there were whispers that she was involved romantically with Jay-Z, president of Def-Jam, her record label, rumours she vigorously denied. "I felt self-conscious around him until he took me aside and
said that I just had to ignore it."

* Rihanna enjoys her short list of three girlfriends but likes being around men because they are more loyal. "I love listening to guys talk because I learn
a lot."

* When she wants advice she turns to men friends, especially her brothers in Barbados.

* What turns her on in a man: "I like facial hair and a guy who dresses rugged."

* What turns her off: "a guy who doesn't treat his family right."

* Humility is key in any relationship she gets into. "If a guy is hot and he knows it – forget it. I hate arrogance."

* Nude scenes on television and movies can be "hot, depending on the person, wink wink."

* She would like to play an assassin in a movie.

* A key thing about men: "you can't lower your standards for a guy because he won't respect you and he'll tell his friends. You always have to stick up for yourself and speak your mind."

Finally, "some people never figure themselves out, and that's sad," she says. "I'm still learning who I am, but I'm not scared to be myself anymore."