Pop culture’s fascination with nuns has taken center stage once again, with Rihanna’s recent cover shoot for Interview magazine challenging traditional perceptions. Paired with a skin-baring Dior shirt and a custom wimple by Sarah Sokol, Rihanna’s striking look adds to a long history of unconventional nun imagery in fashion, art, and cinema.
Designers like John Galliano and Maison Margiela have drawn inspiration from nun attire, incorporating elements like wimples and veils into their collections. Meanwhile, artists such as Andy Warhol and Ken Vrana have reimagined nuns in provocative ways, pushing boundaries and sparking conversation.
In cinema, nuns have been portrayed in various lights, from Audrey Hepburn’s conflicted nun in “The Nun’s Story” to the sexually charged narratives of ’70s “Nunsploitation” films. Today, movies like “The Conjuring” franchise and arthouse productions like “Saint Maud” continue to explore the allure and complexity of nun characters.
Rihanna’s bold cover and Sydney Sweeney’s role in the film “Immaculate” contribute to this ongoing tradition of subverting expectations surrounding nuns. Whether seen as empowering or controversial, these portrayals capture the imagination and provoke discussion, adding layers of meaning to an iconic image.
