Rihanna has defended her decision to spend time with Chris Brown in a new interview for the November issue of Vogue, in which she also poses in a stunning photo shoot, captured by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz.

In her accompanying interview with the fashion bible, Rihanna explains that outsiders have not yet seen how her relationship with Chris Brown has changed since that fateful day three years ago.

“The world hasn’t let go. They haven’t seen any progress in our friendship, because they don’t see anything,” she said.

“But they’re not on the inside. They can’t see what I see, unless they’re sitting in my point of view. I guess I’ll learn to accept that.”

This is Rihanna’s second Vogue shoot and cover.

For the April 2011 cover of the magazine, Rihanna looked stunning in a mermaid inspired and figure hugging gown.

This time, Rihanna, 24, is red-hot in a strapless scarlet lace red dress, and is sporting her haircut de jour, a short pixie crop.

Rihanna’s second Vogue shoot and cover

In inside shots, Rihanna poses in a field of wheat wearing a similar scarlet dress, provocatively stretching out as she relaxes in the great outdoors.

In another snap, the desert dust blows up the skirt of her stunning black Haute Couture leather and lace gown, which she pairs with sheer mesh fingerless gloves.

Rihanna was clearly excited by her second Vogue cover, tweeting on Saturday: “Mama I made it! Here’s #2.”

Rihanna’s quotes to Vogue come as it was recently revealed that she will go public with Chris Brown following the release of her next album, Unapologetic.

A source told gossip site HollywoodLife: “She is hitting the studio real hard these days, but talks to Chris every step of the way.

“As soon as she finishes up with this album, they will be out. She’s gotta focus and get that album together and stay paid.

“She’s tied up and busy with the album, but she makes time for Chris late nights. She did one night before – I think, like, Tuesday. I’m not sure but I know she saw him this week.”

Speculation has been rife that the pair are back together, especially after they were spotted cuddling up to one another at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn at the beginning of October.

Chris Brown has since split up with his girlfriend Karreuche Tran, seemingly to make way for his relationship with Rihanna.

In the same breath, Rihanna told Vogue that she wanted to date a “ballsy” man.

In her interview, presumably conducted before her recent reconciliation with Chris Brown, Rihanna also bemoaned about her lack of a love life and said that she wished a guy would pluck up the courage to approach her because she just wants to have fun on a date.

She said: “I would love to go on a date. You don’t think that? I’m a woman. A young woman, vibrant, and I love to have fun.

“No one asks. Trust me on that. I’m waiting for the man who’s ballsy enough to deal with me. And I have too many vaginas around me at this point!”

Rihanna revealed that confidence and a sense of humor are the main qualities she looks for in a man.

“Seriously, all I want is a guy to take me out and make me laugh for a good hour and take my ass back home,” she said.

“He doesn’t even have to come up. All I want is a conversation for an hour.”

Rihanna doesn’t mind waiting for her dream man to come along and says she won’t settle for second best.

Rihanna explained: “I’m going to wait, though. You always find the wrong s**t when you go looking.”