LOS ANGELES, USA — Ayra Starr’s Starrgirl rollout has attracted high-profile support from some of the biggest names in global music and fashion, extending the album’s momentum beyond the Afrobeats scene.
The Nigerian pop star released her third studio album on Friday, 14 August 2026, following a strong opening across streaming platforms.
Her early chart and streaming performance has now been followed by public backing from Rihanna, Wizkid and Chloe Bailey.
From a custom Fenty Beauty package to social media shoutouts, the celebrity co-signs have added another layer to the Starrgirl launch.
Rihanna and Fenty Beauty send Ayra Starr a Starrgirl surprise
One of the most talked-about moments came from Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty, which sent Ayra Starr a custom celebratory package for the release of Starrgirl.
The purple-themed package arrived ahead of the album launch and quickly caught the attention of fans online.
The gesture carries added weight because of Rihanna’s influence across music, fashion and beauty.
For Ayra Starr, the recognition adds another high-profile name to the growing list of international figures taking notice of her career.
Wizkid declares ‘Starrgirl day’
Wizkid also threw his support behind the album, giving it a direct co-sign on X.
The Afrobeats star posted:
“Starrgirl day ❤️🦅”
The post included the album’s streaming link as Starrgirl arrived across streaming platforms.
Wizkid’s endorsement also comes as fans turn their attention to “Gimme Dat”, his collaboration with Ayra Starr on the new album.
The track brings two of Nigeria’s biggest Afrobeats stars together and stands out as one of the album’s major collaborations.
Chloe Bailey joins the Starrgirl celebrations
The support also reached Hollywood, with American R&B singer Chloe Bailey publicly celebrating Ayra Starr and the new album.
Bailey shared the animated Starrgirl artwork on her Instagram Stories and congratulated the Nigerian singer with the message:
“You are most definitely a Starr. Congrats!!!”
Her post added another international voice to the conversation around Starrgirl as Ayra Starr continues to build relationships across the global music industry.
Starrgirl connects Afrobeats with global pop
The international support around Starrgirl also reflects the album’s cross-border collaborations.
One of its most notable tracks is “Heaven Baby”, Ayra Starr’s collaboration with British singer Zayn Malik. The track arrived globally at midnight alongside the album.
The project also features Wizkid, Rema, Danny Ocean, Leon Thomas, Theodora and KWN, giving Starrgirl a broad mix of Afrobeats, R&B and international pop influences.
These collaborations build on Ayra Starr’s growing audience outside Nigeria while giving the album multiple entry points into different global markets.
Behind that wide-ranging sound is a similarly broad production team.
Led by Mavin Records boss Don Jazzy alongside production duo The Elements, Starrgirl also features contributions from Johnny Drille, Shizzi, Joe Reeves, Skillies, Xize and Stefan Johnson, helping push the project beyond traditional Afrobeats.
Their contributions can be heard across the album’s varied moods, from the dramatic “Dangerous”, produced by Johnny Drille and Xize, to the smooth R&B-leaning “Amazing”, produced by Joe Reeves.
Shizzi and Skillies bring a more experimental, energetic edge to “Tornado”, while Stefan Johnson, working with Ilya, contributes to the introspective “Where Do We Go”.
Drille also provides live guitars on “Dance” and “Treasure”.
Ayra Starr’s Starrgirl rollout keeps gaining momentum
The celebrity backing follows an already strong opening for Starrgirl.
On release day, the album reached #1 on the Apple Music Nigeria Top Albums chart and debuted at #10 in South Africa.
Ayra Starr also crossed 3.9 billion cumulative Spotify streams across all credits, extending her place among Africa’s most-streamed female artists.
The rollout has generated online attention beyond the music, including a viral livestream incident involving Ayra Starr’s traditional Yoruba-inspired outfit.
Taken together, the chart performance, celebrity support and international collaborations have given the 16-track album a strong start as Ayra Starr continues to expand her global audience.
Listen to Ayra Starr’s Starrgirl
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Stream Starrgirl on your preferred streaming platform.
NOWinSA will continue following the celebrity co-signs, collaborations and global reaction shaping Ayra Starr’s Starrgirl era.
