Rihanna Shows Off Her New Tattoo At UNICEF’s Snowflake Lighting Ceremony

Fresh back into the States following a mix of overseas concerts,  Rihanna lite up the blue carpet at the 2008 UNICEF Snowflake Lighting in New York City on Wednesday November 19 at the Grand Army Plaza.

She joined up with Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini for the night’s honorary lighting duties, which followed a performance by Neyo.

According to a press release:

“At 23 feet in diameter, over 28 feet in height and weighing 3,300 pounds, the UNICEF Snowflake is the largest outdoor chandelier of its kind. It’s adorned with 16,000 Baccarat crystal prisms and has become an iconic fixture during the holiday season as a reminder of UNICEF’s commitment to do whatever it takes to save a child.”

After the lighting ceremony, a cocktail party in the Gucci 5th Avenue flagship store is scheduled to follow - celebrating “the launch of the 4th annual Gucci Campaign to Benefit UNICEF which continues to support education, healthcare, protection and clean water programs for orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.”

But that wasn’t the only talk of the night for the ‘Umbrella’ songstress.  She showed off a new tattoo on her right wrist saying:

“It’s tribal.  It represents strength and love.”

Rihanna also revealed that she got the exotic-looking tat while in New Zealand for a recent tour date.

“It’s their traditional way of tattooing,” she said of the Maori-inspired geometric design. “I always wanted [one].”

But she added:

“It hurt like hell!”