BLACKPINK's JENNIE has said Rihanna is her ultimate inspiration, telling Cosmopolitan for its August 2026 cover story that emulating the singer's wide-ranging cultural influence "would be a dream." The comments came as part of a broader profile marking a busy period for JENNIE, who has been building a solo career and public profile alongside her group work, making the interview notable for what it reveals about her ambitions and the artists she looks up to.

In the Cosmopolitan interview, published on 3 August, JENNIE praised Rihanna's impact on pop culture, music and art, and also spoke warmly of collaborator Doechii and fellow Chanel ambassador Gracie Abrams, referencing Abrams' earlier TIME100 tribute to her. The piece comes as JENNIE promotes her new solo single "Less Than a Lover", released on 24 July, following a summer of solo festival performances at Lollapalooza and the Governors Ball after BLACKPINK's Deadline World Tour. She also said she was looking forward to attending Rosalía's Lux Tour as a fan, having learned Spanish to sing along to the song "La Perla".