Rihanna Reveals Her Biggest Turn-Ons and What She Thinks a Guy Needs

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It’s no secret that Rihanna is one busy superstar. From riding the success of her summer single, "Bitch Better Have My Money," to working on her upcoming eighth studio album, Anti, to advising on this season of The Voice, the 27-year-old performer has very little time for anything else.

And that includes dating.

"Guys need attention," the singer told filmmaker Miranda July in an interview for the New York Times Style Magazine’s "The Greats" issue. "They need that nourishment, that little stroke of the ego that gets them by every now and then. I’ll give it to my family, I’ll give it to my work — but I will not give it to a man right now."

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Thought she’s recently been linked to rapper Travis Scott, Rihanna admitted that it’s tough finding a guy who isn’t intimidated by her power of celebrity.

"I’m turned on by guys who are cultured," she said of what she finds appealing in a man. "That’ll keep me intrigued. They don’t have to have a single degree, but they should speak other languages or know things about other parts of the world or history or certain artists or musicians. I like to be taught. I like to sit on that side of the table."

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The singer is one of six "greats" being highlighted by NYT’s Style Magazine for its inaugural celebration of powerful figures in arts and culture, joining director Quentin Tarantino, fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld, author Jonathan Franzen, filmmaker Steve McQueen, and entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes on the prestigious list. She’s the youngest person to make the cut as well as the only woman of color, a distinction July asked about in her interview.

"You know, when I started to experience the difference — or even have my race be highlighted — it was mostly when I would do business deals," Rihanna said of navigating her career, which now spans more than a decade’s worth of Billboard hits. "And, you know, that never ends, by the way. It’s still a thing. And it’s the thing that makes me want to prove people wrong. It almost excites me; I know what they’re expecting and I can’t wait to show them that I’m here to exceed those expectations."

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