“Rude Boy” and “Umbrella” hitmaker Rihanna has secured her place in wax at Madame Tussauds in Washington DC. Her look-alike figure was unveiled at a ceremony on Tuesday 31 August “amid a sea of large umbrellas”, according to the museum. The singer's wax double wears an outfit by French label Balmain, which she wore during Paris Fashion Week last October - a black lace corset, fitted jacket, skinny pants and black silk heels.

Madame Tussauds added diamond earrings, tennis bracelet and a ring, while the figure’s hair is styled into Rihanna’s trademark blonde quiff.

Madame Tussauds is offering anyone who mentions the word “umbrella” upon entering the museum, a “buy one, get one free” admission until the end of the month.

After only just beginning tweeting on Saturday 28 August - “So now that I finally took over my Twitter page no more corny label tweets” - Rihanna quickly changed her profile picture to one of her giving her wax model a kiss on the cheek.

Meanwhile Rihanna has claimed she will be delivering a new single very soon. Asked via Twitter by DJ Ryan Seacrest when she plans to unveil some new songs, she replied: “Soon! In less than 10 dayz ima send u sumn special, and ur gonna play it OVER and OVER, like I'm the only girl in the world!”