Rihanna returned to breaking hearts on the red carpet at the first annual Diamond Ball on Thursday, Dec. 11, in Beverly Hills. The charity auction and dinner was held in honor of the Clara Lionel Foundation, an organization created in honor of her grandparent to improve the quality of life for communities globally. The "Diamonds" singer, 26, lost her grandmother to cancer two years ago, and has since become a fighter for improving the lives of those afflicted.
Many celebs turned out for the event like Brad Pitt, Kim Kardashian (in a see-through skirt), and Jimmy Kimmel, but in a wine red Zac Posen mermaid gown that hugged her in all the right places, the Barbados-born singer stole the show. If her evening gown wasn't breathtaking enough, the singer also flattered in an eye-catching diamond necklace with a huge ruby pendant by Chopard and other baubles by Chopard and Repossi.
We're use to watching the artist slay the red carpet in looks that are way more controversial, (a la her cleavage-baring Tom Ford gown for the 2014 amfAR LA Inspiration gala in October), so to see her in an elegant choice is a surprising change.
For beauty she wore a sleek ponytail and a shimmering burgundy lip. According to Us Weekly eyewitnesses at the event, the crowd sat in awe of her beauty as she entered the party in the middle of the dinner hour.
"I named this charity after my grandmother Clara and my grandfather Lionel, who taught me at a young age how important it is to give back," Rihanna said in a speech. "Clara and Lionel's mission is to improve the quality of life for people not just in Barbados, but globally. My team and I take this challenge very seriously and already accomplished so much that we're proud of. "
The event raised $375,000 in a live auction. Salma Hayek and her husband Francois-Henri Pinault snagged a piece of artwork by Damien Hirst for $190,000 and another lucky participant came away with the privilege of naming a Gucci handbag for an upcoming line.
