Rihanna splashes out £100k for glitzy 5ft Marilyn Monroe portrait

London: Rihanna has forked out nearly 100,000 pounds for a giant sparkling portrait of Marilyn Monroe made out of 65,000 crystals. The Pop star commissioned British artist Claire Milner to make the 5 sq ft picture of the Hollywood legend.

The 23-year-old star lashed out thousands more having it shipped to her luxury Beverly Hills mansion. The portrait constantly changes colour, sending rainbows of light round the room. Milner spent four months finishing the shimmering picture — which weighs a hefty 13 stone — placing each of the crystals by hand at her Yorkshire studio. The artist has done similar portraits of David Beckham and Elvis. “I tried to show the glitter of the public life and then the sadness in Marilyn’s eyes,” a leading daily has quoted Milner as saying. “Because of who Rihanna is, everything had to be done through her interior decorators. But they told me afterwards that she loved it. A 100 per cent Swarovski crystal portrait is very luxurious — people stand and stare because it constantly changes colour, sending rainbows round the room,” she added. A source said Rihanna identifies with blonde bombshell Monroe — who died aged 36 from a drugs overdose 50 years ago this August — because she feels the same pressures of fame. The chart-topper had previously spent a fortune for a GUN chandelier, which is now hanging in her living room. ANI