Cheryl Cole: 'Rihanna is the perfect pop star'
Speaking to GQ magazine, Cole also praised the 'We Found Love' singer's "freedom" in not being influenced by negative comments about her.
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"You know what I love about Rihanna? I know she gets a lot of criticism, too, about what she wears and what she sings about, but she is so free," she explained.
''She doesn't give two f**ks. I love that in her. I love that sense of freedom about her. She's gorgeous and free. A perfect pop star.''
The 'Fight For This Love' star also compared her career to that of the US superstar, adding: "She's been through the same thing absolutely. And you can imagine how intense it is when all the world's eyes are on you. So she knows that feeling. But she's free-spirited, she just doesn't give a s**t.
"Maybe it's going through everything she's gone through that has enabled her to get to that point. She's like, 'Whatever. What more can you say about us? You can't hurt us any more'. I love that about her. It's liberating. She's liberal.''
The pair reportedly recorded a duet together back in January, having planned a collaboration since early last year.
Watch the music video for Rihanna's new single 'Where Have You Been' below: