Rihanna Graces Elle Cover, Talks Style

We profiled Rihanna's red hair earlier this week.

We also took a listen (and liking) to her hot new collaboration with Eminem from his upcoming album, Recovery. The girl can definitely be pretty bad ass.

But inside is also a fashionista waiting to come out.

Gracing the cover of the July issue of Elle, Rihanna muses on fashion and has a few things to say about glamorous, often unattainable - ideals of designers.

"I respect designers who aren't afraid to go outside the box," she says.

"I went to a Jean Paul Gaultier show, and I saw girls who are thicker than me, beautiful and voluptuous and different ethnicities. That made me so excited," the singer continued. "I thought, Okay, I can work that, for sure."

Rihanna in Elle ... and in concert.

Of course, the beauty is leaving her mark on couture, and not just with the shocking ensembles she wears live. She's become a high-end icon as well.

"There are definitely fewer black women in the high-fashion industry. One of the things I respected most about Gucci was that they did a print campaign with me."

"I'm a black girl on a fashion spread for Gucci. That was a big deal."