Julia Gillard speaks on ‘unusual’ friendship with Rihanna

Julia Gillard has opened up about a high-profile pairing with the former prime minister that surprised the world.

Few could have predicted that a 2016 meeting between two of the world’s most influential women, both from vastly different backgrounds, would end in a lasting friendship.

But three years after Julia Gillard met pop star Rihanna in a Soho restaurant, Australia’s first female prime minister has opened up about the pair’s “unusual” friendship and combined mission to improve education standards around the world.

Ms Gillard’s comments comes as her megastar pal graces the cover of Vogue Australia’s May issue.

Julia Gillard helped to recruit Rihanna as an ambassador, after first chatting over a casual dinner in New York

Ms Gillard is certainly not oblivious to the fact that she has an unlikely pal in the superstar singer.

“I know ours is an unusual relationship,” she told Vogue.

“We are from very different worlds and we’re very different ages.”

Usually, award-winning pop stars find themselves surrounded by groupies or glamorous models rather than former politicians from Adelaide.

“No one would ever mistake me for a rock’n’roller or a pop icon,” Ms Gillard joked.

Likewise, she noted: “the world of politics is not something (Rihanna) has deeply immersed herself in.”

But despite their differences Ms Gillard said the pair had grown close over the past three years.

“I’ve found Rihanna is very easy to be around, and very easy to have a conversation with,” she said.

“I’ve learnt things from her about her world I didn’t know, so it’s been a fascinating insight for me.”

Julia Gillard is the honorary chairwoman for the Global Partnership for Education.

Rihanna was recruited by Ms Gillard as an ambassador to the GPE, after they met in Africa in 2016.

As the nation’s first female prime minister, you could forgive Ms Gillard for not being totally across Rihanna’s discography — she was, after all, busy breaking the glass ceiling for women everywhere.

“I had heard (Rihanna’s) name and admittedly I had heard some of the songs, but I personally didn’t know much about her or have any expertise in her music,” Ms Gillard said.

“I’d have to confess that if Vogue was recruiting for a popular culture editor, I don’t think I’d make the interview cut! Popular culture and popular music are not my forte.”

Since her departure from federal politics in June, 2013, Ms Gillard has taken on the role of chairwoman for the Global Partnership for Education.

The world was first introduced to the friends in 2016, when Ms Gillard met the singer at a restaurant in New York to recruit her as an ambassador for the organisation.

According to Ms Gillard, Rihanna was “very warm and very casual, no airs or graces, and very eager to learn”.

“I walked away thinking she was a very intelligent, thoughtful person who wanted to keep learning about all of the complexities of the world we live in,” she said.

Rihanna is featured on the cover of Vogue Australia’s May issue.

The following year, the pair visited two schools in the African nation of Malawi together.

Fast-forward two years, and the world is well-acquainted with the powerful pair’s work to ensure children in developing countries have access to education.

Ms Gillard told Vogue that Rihanna views education as “a real enabler”.

“She left school young because she was discovered young, so she’s conscious that she didn’t finish her own schooling,” Gillard said in the cover story.

“She talked to me about her brothers and how determined she’d been that they finished school, so I think she’s got this very personal sense that individual education really matters.”

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard recruited Rihanna as a global education ambassador.

Ms Gillard said it is often “heartbreaking” for Rihanna to see children around the world missing out on an education, “simply because of poverty and because of where they were born.”

Rihanna has even converted the former PM to the world of pop music.

“We’ve had some really interesting conversations and clearly since spending time with her, I’ve become a fan,” Ms Gillard said.

“Not only of the music, but more importantly a fan of her work and the efforts she’s prepared to make to uplift the education of every child around the world.”

Julia Gillard recruited Rihanna as an ambassador for the Global Partnership for Education.

Meghan Markle and Julia Gillard enjoyed a robust discussion on the issues impacting women around the world.

Rihanna isn’t the only celebrity Ms Gillard has been rubbing shoulders with recently.

She joined a discussion panel with the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and model Adwoa Aboah, to mark International Women’s Day last month.

Seated beside the heavily pregnant Royal, Ms Gillard chatted about women’s access to education and limitations within employment.

Julia Gillard joined Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and model Adwoa Aboah in a panel to mark International Women's Day.

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