Camila Mendes Explains How Rihanna Inspires Her

Rihanna is one of few celebrities who truly embodies a carefree attitude when it comes to fashion, beauty, and life. This eternally aspirational mood is something that Riverdale star Camila Mendes loves about RiRi—and it inspires her every day in all sorts of ways.

"I feel like, as a society, we're tackling beauty from the wrong angle. We're tackling it from a place of appearance rather than a place of health," Mendes tells us behind the scenes of our July cover shoot. "The American idea of beauty is being thin, slender, and tall. When I see Ashley Graham post a photo, I'm like, 'She looks gorgeous!' And when I see Rihanna, who's incredibly inspiring to me these days, she'll acknowledge, like, 'Yeah, I gained a little weight. My weight fluctuates, like, who cares? I'm a woman.'" Preach.

You can read Mendes' cover story here, and get caught up with her behind the scenes in the video.

Credits:

Shot and Edited by Dani Okon

Interview by Maura Gaughan and Lindsey Byrnes

Produced by Maura Gaughan