You might not know Nicki Minaj was born Onika Tanya Maraj.
The 5’2″, Trinidadian-American rapper exploded onto the scene with songs like “Starships” and an appearance in the blockbuster hit The Other Woman opposite Cameron Diaz, Kate Upton, Leslie Mann, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
She’s played a pivotal role in pushing powerful female rappers, and continues to dominate the charts. Here are seven of some of her finest moments to date.
The 7 most mesmerizing photos of Nicki Minaj
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Rick Kern / Contributor / Getty
Minaj performs in concert during X Games Austin at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX, on June 5, 2015.
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Kevin Mazur / Contributor / Getty
Minaj attends the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between” Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 1, 2017.
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Michael Tran / Contributor / Getty
Minaj speaks onstage at the 2015 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, CA, on Nov. 22, 2015.
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Eugene Gologursky / Contributor / Getty
Minaj attends the Monse fashion show during New York Fashion Week: The Shows in New York City on Sept. 8, 2017.
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Gary Gershoff / Contributor / Getty
Minaj attends the 14th Annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards at Weylin B. Seymour’s in Brooklyn, NY, on Nov. 6, 2017.
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Jon Kopaloff / Contributor / Getty
Minaj arrives at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum in Inglewood, CA, on Aug. 27, 2017.
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Gabe Ginsberg / Contributor / Getty
Minaj, dressed as a fairy princess, attends a Haunted Funhouse Halloween party at 1 OAK Nightclub at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV, on Oct. 31, 2015.
Minaj performs in concert during X Games Austin at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX, on June 5, 2015.
Minaj attends the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between” Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on May 1, 2017.
Minaj speaks onstage at the 2015 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, CA, on Nov. 22, 2015.
Minaj attends the Monse fashion show during New York Fashion Week: The Shows in New York City on Sept. 8, 2017.
Minaj attends the 14th Annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards at Weylin B. Seymour’s in Brooklyn, NY, on Nov. 6, 2017.
Minaj arrives at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum in Inglewood, CA, on Aug. 27, 2017.
Minaj, dressed as a fairy princess, attends a Haunted Funhouse Halloween party at 1 OAK Nightclub at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV, on Oct. 31, 2015.
