Rihanna fronts ELLE September cover as Dior fragrance muse

Rihanna is the cover star for the September 2026 issue of ELLE, marking a significant milestone in her decade-long partnership with the fashion house Dior. The editorial, photographed by Inez & Vinoodh and styled by Jahleel Weaver, celebrates her role as the muse and face of the new Dior J’adore Intense fragrance.

Dior’s perfume creation director, Francis Kurkdjian, designed the scent to reflect an unfettered and liberated woman, using Rihanna as the primary inspiration. The fragrance is described as a bolder, richer version of the brand’s iconic scent.

The accompanying cover story by writer Roxane Gay explores Rihanna’s status as a global beauty icon and her ability to navigate the industry on her own terms. The feature also touches upon her business ventures, including Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty, while noting the ongoing anticipation among fans for her next studio album.