Rihanna’s Beauty Empire Enters Runeterra

And no, it’s not a skin you can buy.

When League of Legends teamed up with Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty for the launch of Arcane, fans of both brands were treated to a collaboration that brought gaming and high-fashion beauty together in a way that had never been done before. In a series of dazzling events and immersive beauty experiences, the partnership celebrated League’s first-ever Netflix show, Arcane, which follows fan-favorite characters Jinx and Vi through an emotional and explosive storyline set in the fantastical world of Runeterra. The fusion of League of Legends and Fenty Beauty wasn’t just about aesthetics—it became a statement on inclusivity, pushing boundaries in both the gaming and beauty industries. Fenty, known for its commitment to diverse, cruelty-free beauty that caters to a wide range of skin tones, found a fitting partnership in Arcane, a series that highlights complex characters and darkly beautiful settings. Together, they crafted an unforgettable launch, giving gaming enthusiasts a fresh look at beauty, and Fenty fans a new entry into the world of online gaming.

When the Arcane series premiered in 2021, it marked a major milestone for Riot Games, the developer behind League of Legends. To mark the occasion, Riot didn’t settle for a conventional promotion. Instead, it enlisted Fenty Beauty to help bring the visual experience of Arcane to life in real-time, holding exclusive Fenty Beauty experiences at Riot Games’ Los Angeles campus. This live celebration allowed fans to interact with Fenty-curated looks inspired by the show’s characters and environments, and to see firsthand how the worlds of beauty and gaming could overlap. Riot Games also opened the gates to these events with “VIP beauty experiences and gifting,” a move that took the collaboration beyond the screen and into the realm of live, interactive fan engagement. Riot’s press release emphasized that these beauty looks weren’t just for show—they were designed to “highlight the multifaceted and diverse beauty landscape that celebrates beauty in all of its forms,” aligning perfectly with Fenty’s brand values of inclusivity and authenticity.

Fenty Beauty’s collaboration with Arcane was about more than surface-level beauty. Since its launch, Fenty has set a high bar in the beauty industry for its dedication to inclusivity, making products that cater to people of all backgrounds and skin tones. Partnering with Arcane, a show that dives deep into the identity struggles of its characters, the collaboration felt less like a marketing gimmick and more like a shared vision for change. The looks curated by Fenty took inspiration from the League universe, where Runeterra’s vibrantly diverse characters and richly detailed environments brought out a new side of fantasy beauty.

In many ways, Fenty’s involvement with Arcane served as a bridge between League of Legends players and a broader audience who might never have considered gaming part of their lives. Through its influence, Fenty transformed Arcane into a spectacle that appealed not just to gamers but also to beauty enthusiasts and Rihanna fans. The series itself features two central characters, sisters Jinx and Vi, whose complex relationship mirrors real-life struggles around family, loyalty, and self-identity—subjects that resonate with Fenty’s emphasis on celebrating individuality.

During the Arcane premiere weekend, which took place during the 2021 League of Legends World Championship Finals, the Fenty Beauty brand elevated the show’s atmosphere with its immersive beauty stations. There, fans could explore custom looks inspired by the characters, using Fenty products and colors that mimicked the Arcane aesthetic. This hands-on experience, hosted by Fenty at the Riot Games campus, added a new layer to the show’s launch, merging digital fantasy with real-world glam. With Fenty curating beauty looks, League of Legends showed how a game known for its strategic play and intense battles could also embrace beauty as a form of self-expression. Riot Games had already made waves by collaborating with high-profile artists like Imagine Dragons and Zedd, but Fenty’s involvement signaled a deeper commitment to broadening the game’s cultural footprint. It represented the possibility of a more inclusive gaming community—one that embraces self-expression and diversity in all its forms.

The Arcane x Fenty collaboration wasn’t just a one-off experiment; it’s set a precedent for future intersections between beauty and gaming. As more players are drawn to games like League of Legends not just for the gameplay but for the culture and the world-building, partnerships like Fenty’s highlight how the gaming industry is expanding beyond traditional boundaries. For years, beauty and gaming were seen as separate worlds, but with brands like Fenty leading the charge, that’s changing fast.

In an industry still struggling to represent women and diverse communities, Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty is showing that there’s room for everyone—even in the fantasy-driven landscapes of League of Legends. With beauty looks that draw from Arcane’s dark, moody visuals and Fenty’s signature bold style, this collaboration goes beyond cosmetics. It’s about bringing beauty into unexpected places and making sure everyone feels seen. The future of gaming and beauty is looking vibrant, diverse, and a little more inclusive, thanks to this groundbreaking partnership. And if Rihanna has anything to say about it, this is just the beginning of a new era—one where beauty doesn’t just sit in a bottle or a compact but comes to life in every character, every scene, and every fan that finds a piece of themselves in the fantasy.