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LVMH May Sell Its Stake in Fenty Beauty as It Refocuses on Core Luxury Brands
Luxury powerhouse LVMH is reportedly considering selling its 50% stake in Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, citing a strategic shift to prioritize its core luxury brands. While the move reflects LVMH’s broader portfolio strategy, the decision is a major moment for the beauty industry and Black entrepreneurship. Fenty, co-founded by Rihanna in 2017, has redefined inclusivity and representation in luxury beauty, proving that cultural authenticity drives both influence and revenue.
Why This Matters for the Culture
Representation became commerce. Fenty wasn’t just another beauty brand, it redefined what “universal shade ranges” meant by centering Black and brown skin tones in the product and the narrative. Black-owned innovation in luxury. Rihanna’s leadership and voice in shaping Fenty made it a case study in how cultural authenticity can drive market opportunities, not just resonate with consumers, but sell. A shift in luxury power dynamics. If LVMH does sell its stake, it could open up new possibilities in ownership, pivot the brand’s direction, or set a precedent for Black-led brands in the luxury beauty space.
What’s Next?
If LVMH lists the stake, we can expect high-profile bidders from private equity to luxury groups to tech-driven beauty players to eye a slice of the inclusive beauty movement. Will Fenty gain increased independence from LVMH’s structure? Might Rihanna take a larger role in decision-making, or steer toward new product categories? As fans and supporters, we’ll be watching how the brand remains true to the values that made it iconic: inclusivity, boldness, community. The ripple effects extend beyond shade ranges, this deal could influence how Black entrepreneurs view luxury partnerships, valuation, and ownership.
Why We Care
When a global beauty powerhouse like Fenty shifts, the reverberations aren’t just in boardrooms, they’re in salons, social feeds, and everyday lives. For a generation that grew up hearing “it’s just makeup”, Fenty showed us it’s so much more: identity, access, and economics wrapped in one.