Meet The Nigerian Heiress Abimbola Fernandez Who Wants To Be The Next Rihanna

 

When Rihanna first launched her singing career, she may have dreamed about landing the kind of fame and fortune that would allow her to buy a Picasso. But pop star  Abimbola “Bim” Fernandez, who counts Rihanna as one of her role models, already has an original canvas by the Spanish master hanging above her bed in her Manhattan pied-à-terre.

The 24-year-old beauty doesn’t need to aspire to a life of wealth and luxury. She is the daughter of Nigerian gemstone tycoon Antonio Deinde Fernandez, who Bim says is worth a staggering $8.7 billion.

Her privileged background might raise the hackles of many a cash-strapped artist struggling to break into the music industry, but Fernandez insists:
“Money can’t buy a record deal. “It can’t buy good music. You can either sing or you can’t.”

Bim with her family and late Nelson Mandela

It was after Bim’s mother, Aduke, died last year that Bim finally decided to pursue her dream of stardom and step up her game as a tribute to her mom.
She sealed a deal with SMH Records in November, and a reality-TV pilot about her life is in final negotiations for pickup by a major network, according to her label’s co-owner, Michael A. Smith.

 iTunes release her first single “Let’s Take It Naked,”  today Jan 21, a flute-infused, bubble-gum dance-floor jam, along with a music video and radio promotion from distributor Caroline Records (a division of the very big deal Capitol Music Group).

Abimbola with her dad

 Talking about her dad, she said:
“He’s terrified because I’m his baby  especially with [me] revealing [my] wealth, and me being alone in the country, he’s terrified of someone kidnapping me and holding me for ransom,” she says. “He also just doesn’t want people taking advantage of me because I have been very sheltered my whole life.”

Bim's father owns four residences: A mansion in Larchmont, New York (where Ms Fernandez also resides), a home in Brussels, a Palace in Nigeria, and a French chateau that was once owned by Napoleon. Mr Fernandez is apparently transported between each of his homes on one of his three private jet. He made his fortune by operating a series of diamond and gold mines across the Central African Republic, and is notably reclusive for fear of abduction and robbery.

Abimbola's dog wearing her gold necklace

I think that, unfortunately, everyone’s perception of socialites has been pretty accurate so far, which is what I want to change,” says Fernandez.
 “People think I’m exactly like Paris Hilton, that I do nothing, I don’t work for myself, I don’t make my own money, I just spend my dad’s money, and I’m a spoiled brat. I hope they’re not right.”