Rihanna: “God has a crazy way of working, and sometimes when stuff happens you feel like, ‘What did I do to deserve this?’ Why was it backfiring on me? But I needed that wake-up call in my life. I needed a turning point, and that’s what God was giving to me.”

After the violent incident on the night of the 2009 Grammy Awards, Chris Brown pled guilty to assault. He was sentenced to more than 1,400 hours of community service and five years of probation.

Rihanna does say that one of the more difficult things at the time was having to deal with what the media was saying about her and the incident.  “All this terrible stuff they say to you, it breaks you down,” she says. “[But] once you’re back on your feet — if you ever make it back on your feet — that’s the ultimate achievement.”

Like other abused women, Rihanna had a hard time breaking up with Chris Brown after the incident, but recalls the moment she finally knew the relationship was over. “I remember I was in New York at the Trump Hotel and I woke up and I just knew I was over it. It was a different day. I felt different. I didn’t feel lonely. I felt like I wanted to get up and be in the world. That was a great, great feeling.”

Others notice a difference in her as well. “I feel like I smile for real this time. The smiles come from inside, and it exudes in everything I do. People feel my energy is different. When I smile they can tell that it’s pure bliss and not just a cover up.”