Rihanna, who is currently pregnant with her second child, performed her power ballad “Lift Me Up” in custom Margiela at the Oscars tonight. The song, which was up for “Best Original Song” at the ceremony, is a powerful tribute to late Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman. The performance saw the pop star put her powerful vocals on full display, with a robust orchestra behind her.
For her ensemble, Rihanna opted for shine galore. The singer wore an ornate bandeau bra embellished with hanging strands of crystals that curtained her baby bump. The look also included sparkly brocade trousers and latex opera gloves, rounded out with a heist-worthy amount of sparkle on her neck, wrist, and ears. The bump-baring look felt like a fabulous extension of the bold Alaïa outfit RiRi wore on the red carpet earlier in the night.
It’s fair to say, there was hardly a dry eye in the audience during the performance. “Lift Me Up” was co-written by Rihanna, singer Tems, Wakanda Forever director Ryan Coogler, and the film’s composer Ludwig Göransson. It honors Boseman, who died shortly before filming on Wakana Forever began. Rihanna’s partner A$AP Rocky was in the audience and toasted his champagne flute to his beau at the performance’s end. The star-studded audience at the Dolby Theater gave the singer a standing ovation.
