Rihanna ''feels fantastic'' after being unveiled as the first black woman to front Dior.

The Barbados-born singer - who was announced as the latest face of the luxury French label last week - has admitted the team up ''means a lot'' to her and described the ads as a ''big deal''.

She told MTV: ''It feels fantastic. It is such a big deal for me, for my culture, for a lot of young girls of any colour. I think, to be acknowledged by Dior is just... it means a lot as a woman to feel beautiful, and elegant, and timeless.''

The 'Rude Boy' hitmaker will star in the label's upcoming Secret Garden campaign which has been shot in both print and on film by photographer Steven Klein at the Palace of Versailles.

The advert will be the fourth video released by the brand as part of their Secret Garden campaign.

The three previous installments have all featured models, including Daria Strokus, Melissa Stasiuk and Xiao Wen Ju, walking through the palace's decorative gardens, situated on the outskirts of Paris.

Rihanna has also previously fronted campaigns for Balmain and is the creative director of sports brand Puma.