Harvard University thinks Rihanna shines bright like a diamond when it comes to philanthropy.

The Grammy Award-winning singer is being honoured  as Harvard’s 2017 Humanitarian of the Year.

Rihanna (Chris Radburn/PA)
Rihanna (Chris Radburn/PA)

The university says it chose Rihanna for her involvement in a number of charitable causes. She built a state-of-the-art centre for oncology and nuclear medicine to diagnose and treat breast cancer in her home nation of Barbados.

She also created the Clara Lionel Foundation scholarship programme — named for her grandparents — for students from the Caribbean who attend college in the US.

Rihanna also supports the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen Project, providing children with access to education in more than 60 developing countries.

Previous winners include actor James Earl Jones and young activist Malala Yousafzai.