Revealed: Rihanna’s first interview about assault

Rihanna has spoken for the first time about her assault at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. In an interview with Glamour magazine (photo shoot pictures inside) – and a television appearance that will air later this week – Ri Ri opens up about her drama with Brown, and the huge amount of media interest that followed. "This happened to me ... it could happen to anyone," Rihanna told Diane Sawyer of US network ABC, before describing Brown as her “first big love”. Here are a few excerpts from her interview with Glamour, who also did a photo shoot with the Umbrella hitmaker – and named her as their Woman of the Year.

Rihanna on the alleged police leak of the photo showing her bruised face after the attack: It was humiliating; that is not a photo you would show to anybody. I felt completely taken advantage of. I felt like people were making it into a fun topic on the Internet, and it’s my life. I was disappointed, especially when I found out the photo was [supposedly leaked by] two women.

Glamour: Do you feel that this experience has laid the groundwork for coping with anything so public again?

Rihanna: It has taught me so much. I felt like I went to sleep as Rihanna and woke up as Britney Spears. That was the level of media chaos that happened the next day. It was like, What, there are helicopters circling my house? There are 100 people in my cul-de-sac? What do you mean, I can’t go back home?

Glamour: If you could offer a message to the millions of young women who look up to you, what would you tell someone who found herself in a similar situation?

Rihanna: Domestic violence is a big secret. No kid goes around and lets people know their parents fight. Teenage girls can’t tell their parents that their boyfriend beat them up. You don’t dare let your neighbor know that you fight. It’s one of the things we [women] will hide, because it’s embarrassing. My story was broadcast all over the world for people to see, and they have followed every step of my recovery. The positive thing that has come out of my situation is that people can learn from that. I want to give as much insight as I can to young women, because I feel like I represent a voice that really isn’t heard. Now I can help speak for those women.