Rihanna talks topless expression

Rihanna apparently sees nudity as just another form of artistic expression.

The 26-year-old, known for her raunchy music videos and for posting racy pictures on social media, appears topless on the latest issue of Lui magazine.

But the pop star reportedly isn't worried about criticism leveled at her about her risqué image.

"Rihanna's going to do what she wants to do, how she wants to do it and whenever she feels like doing it. She's an artist and that's not just limited to her musical talents," a source told Hollywood Life. "She's approached all the time to do shoots. Some she agrees to and the others she turns down. She's free to express herself in every platform she wants and will continue doing so."

Rihanna is said to feel that her fans expect her to be true to herself, and sometimes that means overt sexual expression. Although her music is popular among young people, she doesn't see herself as a role model.

"Keep in mind, she doesn't have children of her own and isn't a mother and isn't raising any children to look up to her," the source said. "She hates that the media gives her extra responsibilities as if they're paying her."

"She loves all her fans, boys and girls, men and women, gay, straight, yellow and purple. She knows good and well that her fans are ride or die fans who support Rihanna in every choice she makes," the source adds. "She's always looking for new and innovative ways to sell her image and express herself and fans get it!"

Rihanna meanwhile scored a big win on Thursday night when she took home Artist of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles.

The singer
"I know I'm a pain in the a**, but it's worth it because we got the biggest award of the night!" she told her team as she took the stage.

The pop star also won Best Fan Army, Hip Hop/R&B Song of the Year (Pour It Up) and Song of the Year (Stay).