(photo: Kevin Mazur, WireImage)
Years of standing outside of venues to get a glimpse of Rihanna has paid off for a group of her New York fans.
The pop singer invited Tamara Wray, Janise Williams and two of their other friends to join her on her global 777 Tour that kicked off in Mexico City Wednesday and passes through a total of seven countries in seven days all in support of her seventh album, "Unapologetic."
Wray, 21, said she cried when she received an email inviting her to join the tour. "I was just so excited, I just couldn't believe I was going to all these countries," Wray told Yahoo! Music.
Wray and Williams, 20, said they first got Rihanna's attention by bearing bad weather to see their favorite singer.
"We'd be standing outside in the cold, the rain, blizzards, Sandy," Wray said. "She's real good with fans," Williams added.
Williams and Wray are among other fans and 150 journalists from 82 countries who are jet-setting with the "Diamonds" singer to Mexico City, Toronto, Stockholm, Paris, Berlin, London and New York.
(photo: Kevin Mazur, WireImage)Rihanna recognized Williams and Wray Wednesday when she walked down the aisle of the 300-seat plane. She screamed and gave them hugs. The party plane hostess, who poured shots of Ace of Spade champagne to passengers, also gave Williams the bottle as a souvenir.
Rihanna gave all of the passengers a treat. Shortly after takeoff, Rihanna made an announcement over the intercom.
"Would everybody look in their gift bag right now?" she asked. "There's a tiny little string in there, and it looks sh-tty and cheap but if you read the fine print it's a real diamond. … I don't want you guys to lose that."
The token was received by hoots and applause. "You can never say you never had a diamond in your life," Rihanna said. "You're so very special. I love you."
Yahoo! Music's Billy Johnson Jr. is traveling with Rihanna on her 777 Tour. Check for regular updates here in the Hip Hop Media Training blog and Yahoo! Music's Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts.