When it comes to schools in the early 2000s, it seems some experiences were universal. The stereotypes in Y2K movies, however, fall somewhere between fact and fiction. Geeks, nerds, jocks. Sure. But an anarchical school for uncontrollable girls in London, who try to save the school from bankruptcy by stealing the painting 'Girl With A Pearl Earring'? Well, that was a St Trinian's plot and a St Trinian's plot alone.
Having said that, Rihanna, the unsuspecting #Back2Skool advocate, looks straight out of the British blockbuster with her latest hairstyle, resurrecting the somewhat fictional look for 2024. Who'd of thought it?
To promote her latest foray into the world of fashion, Rihanna took to Instagram with said new look. The posts arrived on our feeds in honour of the recent Fenty X Puma Creeper Phatty 'In Session' collection.
As shown, for the school-themed shoot, RiRi's hair has been styled in classic school pigtails but with a slight edge. In other words, the look is anything but juvenile...
Making the 'do St Trinian's appropriate, the singer-turned-beauty and fashion mogul has added extreme volume to her locks and topped the untamed style with embellishments, including a number of satin bows and broach-like jewels.
We're sure that Kelly Jones, Georgia Nicolson and Britney Spears circa Baby One More Time would all certainly approve. IYKYK.
So, if you've not got any weekend plans, now you do. First on the curriculum: recreating Rihanna's adult-friendly pigtails, 10 marks.
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Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
