Rihanna says she's happy for Chris Brown's success

NEW YORK -- Rihanna says she resented Chris Brown for a time, but has put that behind her and is happy that her former boyfriend has found success in music again.

Rihanna tells Esquire magazine that disliking Brown "was taking up too much of my time" and that she has moved on from that.

"It was too much anger," the 23-year-old said. "I'm really excited to see the breakthrough he's had in his career."

Brown, 21, is serving five years of probation after pleading guilty to felony assault for the attack on Rihanna in the early morning hours before the 2009 Grammys. "Graffiti," the album he released 10 months after the attack, was a commercial disappointment. But his latest release, "F.A.M.E. (Forgiving All My Enemies)," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in March; it reached gold status and has multiple pop and R&B hits with songs like "Look at Me Now" and "Deuces," among other tracks.

"It's incredible to see how he pulled out the way he did. Even when the world seemed like it was against him, you know?" Rihanna said. "I really like the music he's putting out. I'm a fan of his stuff. I've always been a fan."

Rihanna has done well musically, too: Her albums following the attack -- "Rated R" and "Loud" -- have both gone platinum, and she's releasing a new album, "Talk That Talk," next month. Her latest single, "We Found Love," is her 20th song to hit the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart since she debuted in 2005.

Overall, she says she wants to see Brown do well.

"I would never wish anything horrible for him. Never. I never have," she said.

Esquire named Rihanna as its Sexiest Woman Alive for 2011. The November issue of the magazine hits newsstands on Sunday.