Rihanna speaks out over assault

Rihanna has spoken openly about how the beating she endured at the hands of then-boyfriend Chris Brown has changed her life.

The 21-year-old singer said she "went to sleep as Rihanna and woke up as Britney Spears" such was the media attention following the assault, with pictures showing the female singer's beaten and swollen face leaked on to the internet.

Referring to the police photo, Rihanna told Glamour magazine that she felt "humiliated", adding: "I felt completely taken advantage of, I felt people were making it into a fun topic on the internet, and it was my life."

But the singer said she has emerged "stronger, wiser and more aware" as a result of her ordeal and hoped that it might help other victims of spousal attacks come forward.

"Domestic violence is a big secret," Rihanna told Glamour, adding: "It is one of the things (women) will hide, because it is embarrassing."

She continued: "The positive thing that has come out of my situation is that people can learn from that.

"I want to give as much insight as I can to young women, because I feel like I represent a voice that really isn't heard. Now I can help speak for those women."

Early this year Brown, 20, was sentenced to five years probation and community labour after pleading guilty to attacking his girlfriend hours before they were due to perform at the Grammy Awards.