When it comes to the cover of a women's magazine, we expect Rihanna to tone down her usual overt sexuality.
And in a leaked image of her forthcoming ELLE UK covershoot, the singer manages to channel a sophisticated sexiness in a halterneck top and mini-skirt.
With her hair cropped short, the 24-year-old smoulders as she looks straight ahead of the camera for the April issue of the glossy.

 

Looking good: Rihanna shows off her toned back in a halterneck top and mini skirt for the April cover of ELLE UK

The photos were taken by Mariano Vivanco at a Paris studio, with the singer in a series of monochrome ensembles.
Her photoshoot comes as she plans to launch her debut fashion collection Rihanna for River Island on March 4.
On Saturday, she made a brief appearance on the catwalk at her London Fashion Week show.
Meanwhile, Rihanna is rumoured to have already split from Chris Brown following their recent reconciliation.

 

Holiday mode: Rihanna relaxes by a pool in an Instagram photo

The R&B bad boy was nowhere to be seen as Rihanna partied with friends on Valentine's Day.
The couple had only gone public together at a Los Angeles Lakers basketball game on Christmas Day.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone magazine, the singer opened up on their controversial reconciliation four years after Chris assaulted her following a pre-Grammy party.
She said: 'I decided it was more important for me to be happy, and I wasn’t going to let anybody’s opinion get in the way of that.
'Even if it’s a mistake, it’s my mistake. After being tormented for so many years, being angry and dark, I’d rather just live my truth and take the backlash. I can handle it.'
For more information on Rihanna's Elle shoot, visit the magazine's website.

Rihanna shows some serious skin for first Elle cover (well we wouldn't expect anything less)