Although Nicki Minaj is considered as a rather controversial persona with her extravagant image, she was called Queen of Rap and also one of the most influential female rappers. Let’s take a look at some facts about that Queen:
1. Nicki now has the last name Maraj-Petty
Of course, one of the recent events in the singer’s life was her marriage to Kenneth Petty, who used to be her close friend in childhood. They started dating in December 2018, and on October 21, 2019, they officially married, and Nicki took her husband's last name in addition to her own.
2. Lots of celebrities have their own apps, and Nicki is not an exception
In winter 2016, Minaj released her game together with the Glu Mobile. Now, she has her mobile game, and so do other stars, including Katy Perry, Kim Kardashian, and Britney Spears, so her fans can be happy with having their favorite rapper in their phones.
3. The image of Nicki Minaj was one of her ways to save her world
Nicki shared with the audience the little trick that she used to do in childhood. She had a tough family life with all that parents' fighting (actually, her dad was alcohol and drugs addicted and tried to burn their house), and she found a way to escape that awful reality. You know how? The young girl used to imagine new identities of herself: Cookie, Harajuku Barbie, and then Nicki Minaj.
4. Did you know that there is a Nictionary?
A few years ago, Nicki created her own dictionary indeed and called it Nictionary. It was presented in the mobile app and included her often used terms so the admirers could understand her right. Currently, it is no longer available, but you can find the Nictionary online.
5. Not only Nicki’s father is a controversial person in her family
The singer also has four siblings, and one of them is her older brother Jelani. In 2017, at the age of 38, he was arrested due to the sexual assault on his step-daughter, who was just 11 years old! Although Nicki and her mom visited Jelani at the prison, she does not comment on this situation in any way.
6. Nicki always had a dream of becoming an actress, and she was in the theater!
After graduation from the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, Nicki still had her desire to start the acting career. In 2001, she appeared in the Off-Broadway play In Case You Forget, it was her debut on the stage of a theater.
7. She has a style inspiration – Betsey Johnson
We all know that Nicki has a unique style, but it turned out that she has a fashion idol! And that is Betsey Johnson, a designer. In 2011, they became friends after the singer sat front row at Johnson’s fashion show. By the way, the admiration is mutual.
8. Nicki was the first female rapper who performed at Yankee Stadium
In 2010, Minaj performed the song Monster together with Kanye West and Jay-Z at Yankee Stadium. It was significant not only because there were so many hip-hop artists together on one stage but also because Nicki turned out to be the first female rap artist who had a performance at Yankee Stadium.
9. The singer adores stuffed animals
Nicki always loved to replenish her collection of stuffed toys, and a few years later, when her pink monkey named Oscar was missing, she offered a reward of $50,000 to anyone who would find it.
10. Another inspiring person for Nicki is the actress Meryl Streep
When the singer attended La Guardia High School of Music and Art, she used to look up to Meryl Streep and take some notes from her acting career for her own. Besides, although most people like the character Andy Sachs in the film Devil Wears Prada, Nicki preferred Miranda Priestly.