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| Nikki |
She is usually seen looking like something out of a cartoon, with an array of garish wigs, bubblegum pink lips and crazy and colourful outfits.
But Nicki Minaj has had a dramatic makeunder for a new photo shoot – and the results are rather surprising.
The singer unveils her natural beauty with minimal make-up, and cuts a very sexy figure in a series of racy outfits.
Even Nicki admitted to Elle magazine that she was shocked when she saw herself in the images, taken for their latest issue.
‘When I saw myself with barely any makeup at, it was such a… like, I'm so, so attached to my pink lipstick, it's hard. I feel that it's become a part of me,’ she said.
‘To go in front of the camera, without pink lips or big ol' crazy lashes— you know, nothing— I felt naked. It was scary! So this photo shoot was a real accomplishment in my eyes.’
The 30-year-old looks like a Bond Girl on the cover of the magazine, in a bondage style black leather Tom Ford jacket with nothing underneath, and the zip dangerously low in order to show off the star’s extremely ample cleavage.
She also sports black American Apparel leggings and wears her platinum blonde locks tousled into a beach babe style.
The American Idol judge displays her famous curves once again in other photos, sporting a woven raffia bustier and matching skirt by Dolce and Gabbana in one black and white shot.
For another image, Nicki slips into a striking Jeremy Scott for Adidas swimsuit with a face printed on it, worn as a body along with black leather Salvatore Ferragamo trousers.
Nicki also opened up about being bullied during her younger years and how she learned to cope with that.
‘I went through a lot of bullying early on. Girls made my life a living hell. We had come to America from a different country. My brother and I had accents. It was very tough,’ she confessed.
‘So I've always put up this wall— it was a self-defense mechanism growing up— because I was almost expecting people to attack me. And I still have it. It's sad.’
But Nicki uses her newfound confidence to her advantage, and advises other women to do the same.
‘Even if you're doing a nine-to-five job, treat yourself like a boss. Not arrogant, but be sure of what you want— and don't allow people to run anything for you without your knowledge,’ she said.
‘You want everyone to know, OK, I can't play games with her. I have to do right by this woman. That's what it's all about.’
The Starships hit-maker’s attitude has rendered her an unstoppable force and her huge success isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.
‘My goal in the beginning was to buy my mother a house. Now I realize, OK, if I really focus and become a key player in business, then I can build an empire,’ she said. ‘I'm thinking of a legacy that I can be proud of and wealth that my grandchildren can use to go to college. So world domination— in terms of providing for my family— is absolutely my goal.’
The April issue of Elle magazine hits newsstands on March 26.
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