‘American Idol’ judge Nicki Minaj is known for her bright pink lips but switched it up for the April cover of Elle magazine when she opted for an Au natural look.
The cover line reads: “Nicki Minaj, no wig, no costume, the American Idol diva like you’ve never seen her before.”
She had this to say about her recent make-under photo shoot, “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. 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.”
Minaj recalls her difficult school years, “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. 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.”
Her advice to women: “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. You want everyone to know, Okay, I can’t play games with her. I have to do right by this woman. That’s what it’s all about.”
She has set high aspirations for herself, “My goal in the beginning was to buy my mother a house. Now I realize, Okay, if I really focus and become a key player in business, then I can build an empire. 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.”
You can see the full photo shoot for Elle magazine here. We must say we liked the fresh faced look:
Photo Credit: WENN
