Rihanna has been accused of cultural appropriation following the unveiling of her August 2019 cover for Harper’s Bazaar China.

On Tuesday, the world’s richest female musician shared a first look at her latest photo shoot for the magazine.

In the image, the fashion mogul can be seen wearing a vibrant blue gown that features pleated, billowing sleeves and a bright red sash tied at her waist.

Rihanna’s beauty look is equally as elaborate with her hair fashioned to emulate traditional Chinese styles, her brows blocked with a flash of red at the front and her lips painted in red just at the centre.

Harper's Bazaar China also shared a series of images from the photo shoot on its own Instagram account, where it revealed that the idea behind the cover was to show how a “Western style icon meets Eastern aesthetic”.

Rihanna's best looks at the Met Gala through the years Show all 8 1 /8 Rihanna's best looks at the Met Gala through the years Rihanna's best looks at the Met Gala through the years 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination' (2018) In 2018, Rihanna served as co-chair at the Met Gala, alongside Donna Karan and Amal Clooney. The singer paid tribute to the theme with her extravagant ensemble, a custom creation designed by John Galliano. Fans of the star dubbed her 'Pope Rihanna', thanks largely to her silver, papal mitre. Getty Images Rihanna's best looks at the Met Gala through the years 'Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art Of The In-Between' (2017) The theme for the 2017 Met Gala took inspiration from Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo and her fashion label, Comme des Garçons. Rihanna wore a bold ensemble by the fashion label at the event, which featured a complex floral design. Getty Images Rihanna's best looks at the Met Gala through the years 'China: Through The Looking Glass' (2015) Arguably one of Rihanna's most famous Met Gala looks, in 2015 the star stood out on the red carpet wearing an ornate, yellow gown by Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei, which took two years to make. The singer came across the creation on the Internet while researching a design ahead of the event's theme. She later performed for the other guests at the ball. Getty Images Rihanna's best looks at the Met Gala through the years 'Charles James: Beyond Fashion' (2014) Rihanna took a more subtle approach at the Met Ball in 2014, wearing a white, two-piece outfit by Stella McCartney. The star accessorised with white, pointed pumps by Christian Louboutin, and wore diamond studs and a choker necklace by Jacob & Co. Getty Images Rihanna's best looks at the Met Gala through the years 'Schiaparelli And Prada: Impossible Conversations' (2012) In 2012, Rihanna opted for a black, backless floor-length gown by American fashion designer Tom Ford. Described on the Tom Ford website as one of the designer's "muses", the singer paired the embossed crocodile leather dress with Christian Louboutin heels. Getty Images Rihanna's best looks at the Met Gala through the years 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' (2011) The 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' exhibition was held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City in 2011, just over a year after the British fashion designer's death. Rihanna donned a sheer, one-shoulder dress with black, floral patterning by Stella McCartney for the Met Gala, wearing her hair in a long, red plait. Getty Images Rihanna's best looks at the Met Gala through the years 'The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion' (2009) In 2009, Rihanna rocked up on the Met Gala red carpet wearing a cropped trouser suit by Dolce and Gabbana. The singer's fourth studio album, Rated R, was released that year. Rex Features Rihanna's best looks at the Met Gala through the years 'Poiret: King Of Fashion' (2007) In 2007, a 19-year-old Rihanna attended the Met Gala wearing a white gown by haute couture fashion designer Georges Chakra. The star was all smiles as she carried a red rose on the red carpet. Getty Images

In photos posted to Harper’s Bazaar China’s account, the 31-year-old singer is shown wearing a number of different looks that include references to Chinese culture, including a manicure featuring lotus flowers and dragonflys, fans in her hair, and even a shih tzu dog.

Despite the magazine sharing its intentions behind the images, many people on social media have accused the publication and singer of cultural appropriation.

“As much as I love Rihanna how is this not deemed as cultural appropriation?” one person asked.

Another added: “So nodoby gunna call Rihanna out for cultural appropriation...hmm I see [sic].”

“Why is Kim not allowed to call her brand Kimono cos it’s cultural appropriation yet Rihanna can do s*** like this?? Just doesn’t sit right with me,” one person tweeted.

Another agreed, adding: “Wait a minute when Kendal Jenner was on the cover of a magazine with an 'afro' people were screaming cultural appropriation but when Rihanna dresses up like this, nobody says anything, it's art, it's glam.”

In response to the criticism, many people defended the photo shoot by explaining that the images were made for a Chinese audience by Chinese creatives.

In both Rihanna's and the magazine's Instagram posts, credit is given to the photographer, stylist, director, and editors of the spread.

“Rihanna's Harper's Bazaar China photo shoot is not cultural appropriation at all,” one person tweeted.

“The whole team behind the photo shoot (stylist, photographers, chief/visual editors) were Chinese.”

Another added: “It is so interesting how people have been impulsively calling Rihanna’s photo shoot in Harper’s Bazaar China as ‘cultural appropriation’ when the entire creative team consists of Chinese artists.”

This isn’t the first time Rihanna has been accused of cultural appropriation.

In 2017, the Fenty Beauty founder came under fire for her Vogue Arabia cover in which she channelled Queen Nefertiti, an Egyptian royal ruler from the 1300s, by wearing a snakeskin coat, metallic blue eyeshadow, a blue-and-gold headdress.

The singer was criticised for representing an Arabian magazine, despite not being Arab.