Nicki Minaj‘s sense of style is just like her music: wild, colorful, daring and boundary-pushing.
Throughout the years, she’s rocked eye-catching wigs, bold patterns, avant-garde silhouettes and a number of blinged-out accessories — perhaps most famously, her collection of “Barbie” necklaces. The record-breaking rapper’s fashion was definitely at its wackiest back in the days of her Pink Friday era, with Minaj sporting everything from a full-body leopard-spotted look at the Grammys to a metallic dress tricked out with vibrant plushies and an ice cream cone necklace in 2011.
As her career has progressed, the Trinidadian artist has opted for slightly more sophisticated looks while keeping things fun and interesting. She’s known for showing off her curves in demure, form-fitting gowns or bodysuits with cool cutouts, but she’s also still down to take risks, too – be it with a wild animal print or a dangerously sheer fabric.
No matter what she wears or how her style changes, though, one thing will always remain the same: Pink is her color. Nobody pulls off the shade quite like Minaj, who’s made it her own with neon hair highlights, babydoll lipsticks and powerfully feminine outfits.
It’s also important to note that Minaj’s style doesn’t just change with the times – it also varies based on which of her alter egos she’s embodying on any given day. “If I’m more dressed down in sweats and black hair, that’s the Nicki character,” she explained to New York magazine in 2012. “Roman is more outlandish with his dress code — he’ll wear speakers on his butt and stuff like that. Barbie wears little cute dresses that don’t show too much skin.”
See how the Queen of Rap’s fashion has evolved over the years, from 2009 to now, below:
2009 BET Hip Hop Awards
Nicki Minaj attends the BET Hip Hop Awards ’09 at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center on Oct. 10, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia.
BET’s 106 & Park
Nicki Minaj visits BET’s 106 & Park at BET Studios on March 31, 2010 in New York City.
2010 MTV Video Music Awards
Nicki Minaj poses in the press room at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at the Nokia Theatre on Sept. 13, 2010 in Los Angeles, CA.
2010 American Music Awards
Nicki Minaj arrives at the 2010 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Nov. 21, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
2011 Grammy Awards
Nicki Minaj arrives at The 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
2011 MTV Video Music Awards
Nicki Minaj arrives at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on Aug. 28, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
2011 iHeartRadio Music Festival
Nicki Minaj poses backstage at the iHeartRadio Music Festival held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 24, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
2011 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Nicki Minaj attends the Carolina Herrera Spring 2012 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at The Theater at Lincoln Center on Sept. 12, 2011 in New York City.
2011 American Music Awards
Nicki Minaj poses for a portrait at the 2011 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A.
2011 Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
Nicki Minaj performs on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve at Los Angeles Center Studios on Dec. 31, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
2012 Grammy Awards
Nicki Minaj arrives at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on Feb. 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.
2012 MTV Video Music Awards
Nicki Minaj arrives at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards at Staples Center on Sept. 6, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.
2013 Met Gala
Nicki Minaj attends the Costume Institute Gala for the “PUNK: Chaos to Couture” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 6, 2013 in New York City.
2014 MTV Video Music Awards
Nicki Minaj arrives at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 24, 2014 in Inglewood, California.
2015 Grammy Awards
Nicki Minaj attends The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on Feb. 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
2015 BET Awards
Nicki Minaj poses with awards in the press room during the 2015 BET Awards at the Microsoft Theater on June 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
2015 MTV Video Music Awards
Nicki Minaj attends the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on Aug. 30, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
2015 American Music Awards
Nicki Minaj attends the 2015 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on Nov. 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
2016 Met Gala
Nicki Minaj attends the “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016 in New York City.
2016 MTV Video Music Awards
Nicki Minaj attends the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on Aug. 28, 2016 in New York City.
2016 Night Of Stars Gala
Nicki Minaj attends 2016 Fashion Group International Night Of Stars Gala at Cipriani Wall Street on Oct. 27, 2016 in New York City.
2016 TIDAL X: 1015
Nicki Minaj attends TIDAL X: 1015 at Barclays Center on Oct. 15, 2016 in New York City.
2017 Met Gala
Nicki Minaj attends the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between” Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City.
2017 Paris Fashion Week
Nicki Minaj attends the Haider Ackermann show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear Fall/Winter 2017/2018 on March 4, 2017 in Paris, France.
2017 MTV Video Music Awards
Nicki Minaj attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on Aug. 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California.
2018 Met Gala
Nicki Minaj attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City.
2018 MTV Video Music Awards
Nicki Minaj attends the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards Press Room at Radio City Music Hall on Aug. 20, 2018 in New York City.
2018 New York City
Nicki Minaj is seen on Sept. 05, 2018 in New York City.
2018 Harper’s Bazaar Icons Party
Nicki Minaj is seen arriving to Harper’s BAZAAR ICONS Party at The Plaza Hotel on Sept. 7, 2018 in New York City.
2018 New York Fashion Week
Nicki Minaj backstage at the Marc Jacobs Spring 2019 Runway during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at Park Avenue Armory on Sept. 12, 2018 in New York City.
2018 Milan Fashion Week
Nicki Minaj arrives at the Versace show during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019 on Sept. 21, 2018 in Milan, Italy.
2019 Met Gala
Nicki Minaj attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City.
2020 New York Fashion Week
Nicki Minaj attends the Marc Jacobs Fall 2020 runway show during New York Fashion Week on Feb. 12, 2020 in New York City.
2023 MTV Video Music Awards
Nicki Minaj at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards held at Prudential Center on Sept. 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey.
