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Nicki Minaj has graced her first cover of American Vogue and is getting candid with her fans ahead of the release of her fifth studio album, ‘Pink Friday 2.’
According to Vogue, the 40-year-old sat down for an exclusive interview with the outlet in August. On Thursday, November 9, the publication published the rapper’s feature, along with photos from Minaj’s cover shoot.
In the cover shot, Minaj donned a Valentino Haute Couture dress. In the following image, the artist sported a complete Vetements ensemble and was accompanied by her son, Papa Bear.
A third photo features Minaj in a vibrant Dolce & Gabbana “Alta Moda dress,” and a fourth photo sees the rapper keep things subtle in a matching Ferragamo sweater and brief look.
Check out some of Minaj’s looks from the cover shoot below.
As the 40-year-old got candid with the outlet, she spoke on her motherhood experience and how she initially expected her focus to “lose the desire to make music.”
“I think that deep down inside, I believed that once I had a family, I would just lose the desire to make music,” Minaj explained. “I would always tell people, ‘Watch, when I have a child I’m going to cook every meal for him and bake cookies every day.’ Maybe subconsciously I hoped my focus would just be on being a mother, and I looked forward to that idea. It felt like a relief.”
However, Minaj explained, “What happens is that you find out you have to work.”
The rapper then recalled meeting a woman who seemingly lived a life opposite of her own as a sole homemaker. Minaj explained that although the woman was confident about her motherly skills, she “started to feel guilty about not working.” However, Minaj explained that when the woman acquired a career, she felt “guilty for working.”
The 40-year-old went on to detail her epiphany.
“I was like, OMFG,” Minaj recalls. “She felt guilt when she was doing the perfect homemaker thing, and guilt as a working mom when she missed a moment in their lives…”
Additionally, Minaj explained how the realization affirmed her continued passion for making music.
Maybe God let that lady say that to me because it made me think, Well, if I’m going to have mom guilt regardless, I might as well continue doing the only thing I know how to freaking do, which is make music.”
As the conversation continued, Minaj spoke about “finally being happy” about who she is and where she is in life.
“When you look around and try to keep yourself in a grateful frame of mind, the things that you can be thankful for seem to start adding up, and you realize that in the big scheme of things, most of the stuff you would have complained about is so trivial,” the mother explained. “It’s been a constant race. But then you stop and realize, there’s nothing to run around for. That’s the thing that’s changed in me. It’s not that I’ve taken these amazing steps. It’s just about finally being happy with who you are as opposed to where you are.”
Additionally, the rapper reflected on her recent breast reduction while advocating for healthy body positivity.
“…Today I can say that I’m at peace with who I am and how I look,” Minaj explained. “…Recently I had to get a breast reduction, and actually, I love it. I used to want a bigger butt, and now I look back and realize how silly that was. So—love your curves, and love your non-curves. There’s nothing wrong with any of it.”
