2007's Most Popular Entertainers: Red-Hot Rihanna Speaks Out!

Rihanna is definitely one of the year's hottest entertainers. And I mean...HOT. Not only has she dropped her third album in less than two years, but she has also managed to help us make it through the rainy summer with her monster hit single "Umbrella". Young Miss Rihanna - she is, after all, only 19 - is causing a stir wherever she goes, and she has been doing a very good job consolidating and expanding her fan base. Her great album, racy new looks and overall glamorous attitude have helped shape Rihanna into one of the biggest stars out there, with a promising and exciting future in store.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rihanna talked about what the past year meant to her and how being so successful at such a young age has changed her. ''I have a lot more business sense", she says, "things that you usually learn when you leave college and you're in your 20s. I've also learned common sense things like keeping good people around me who help me avoid making mistakes. But the best part about starting so early in this business is that I have more time to grow". Admit it - she's right. Whoever mastered her transformation form sweet teenager to hot-looking young woman also gave her a chance to see how it's done and experience the rough world of mature showbiz first hand - which may have been a bigger favor than even she is aware of.

''It really overwhelmed me when 'Umbrella' was No. 1 for so many weeks all over the world, not only in America, and broke records and made history. 'Umbrella' just went way ahead of me and where my mind was a lot quicker and earlier than I expected it to", she says. Quite understandably - but I think we wouldn't mind getting this kind of pleasant surprises even more often.

''[Success] doesn't affect me as much as people may assume", Rihanna also reveals to EW. "I'm in my own world most of the time and all of this is happening around me, but it isn't getting to me. The people around me keep me grounded and sane. I'm just in the middle of it all and they try to keep me away from the negativity and chaos. So they'll probably be the ones who go crazy before I do". Lucky her, then, I guess - but this may be a good time to point out that she did, occasionally, display just a tiny bit of diva behavior before coming back with both feet on the ground. But with that much going on around her...well, we forgive her.

And apparently Rihanna thinks she'd like to try her hand at doing a bit of modeling. Well, we definitely won't mind that - not at all, actually. But she should try to do a better job at finding a role model. ''Kate Moss.", she says, "just looks like she has a fun job. I know it's hard work, but she's a very successful model. I would like to try something different instead of just singing. If I had to spend a day in the life of another career, it would be hers". Well, yes, but hopefully without the junkey boyfriend and the coke-snorting scandals.