Rihanna spent more than $50,000 to fly her family to New York to celebrate her Glamour Award as a thank-you for supporting her through tough times.
She flew in her mom, Monica Fenty, plus her brothers and aunts from her native Barbados to watch her pick up the Woman of the Year Award in an emotional ceremony at Carnegie Hall Monday night. Afterward, the songbird introduced them to Iman, Serena Williams, Tyra Banks and fashion designer Stella McCartney.
More: Women of the Year “Front Row” report
Rihanna said during her tearful acceptance speech, “I really look up to my gran and my mom. They are my two women of the year . . . Without their unconditional love and guidance, I wouldn’t be here.”
The group went on to dinner at South Gate in the Essex House, where one Rihanna relative was spotted helping America’s UN ambassador, Susan Rice, pull down the lining of her gown in the ladies’ room.
Missing from the festivities was Ronald Fenty, Rihanna’s father. The pop star told Diane Sawyer last week that he’d abused her mother when Rihanna was a child.
The singer and her family are expected to leave town by the time Chris Brown arrives to appear on Wendy Williams‘ show Friday. Her rep had no comment last night.
Other celebrities at the dinner included a glowing and pregnant Padma Lakshmi, “Orphan Doctor” Jane Aronson, freed journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling, Amy Poehler, and Katie Couric with her 13-year-old daughter, Carrie. Couric told Page Six, “I wanted to give her the chance to meet some of the many inspirational women at this event.”
Couric was in sparkling form when she bumped into McCartney, who wore a super-short skirt. She asked the designer, “What happened to the rest of your dress?” McCartney replied, “I had to cut back on fabric. After all, there is a recession on.”