Unleashing The Truth: Nicki Minaj - The Ultimate Mean Girl?

Unleashing The Truth: Nicki Minaj - The Ultimate Mean Girl? The Nicki Minaj brand machine — in full force ahead of the rapper's long-awaited "Pink Friday 2" album — is here to undo your preconceived notions about the "Barbie World" rapper. Speaking candidly in the December issue of Vogue, the cover star said she's had a lot of time to figure herself out and offset long-held misconceptions about her combative and indignant reputation. Incidentally, the interview was published just days after Minaj told her legion of Barbz that she doesn't condone threats made in her name. The 40-year-old, who is set to release her five-years-in-the-making “biggest gift I’ve ever given humanity” on her Dec. 8 birthday, recoiled at the idea that she isn't nice — the misconception about her that rankles her most.
Unleashing The Truth: Nicki Minaj - The Ultimate Mean Girl? When I hear the word mean, I think about the core of who the person is,” she told Vogue. “I always tell people that the difference between being mean and being a bitch is that bitch passes. Bitch comes and goes. Mean is who you are. I could be the biggest bitch, at the height of my bitch-ness, but if the person I may be cussing out at that time needs something from me, I’m going to give it to them. I have to be able to look in the mirror and be OK with myself.” Even with her prickly history with the media, the “Starships” and “Super Bass” rapper displayed a softer, more introspective side in the interview. She's happier than she's ever been, she said, and tries to keep herself "in a grateful frame of mind." (She opened her "73 Questions" video interview with "I'm blessed.")

"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. 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.”

Not to say that hasn't come with challenges. The Trinidad-born, Queens-raised rapper opened up about her difficult childhood, marital woes and struggle with body image and a Percocet addiction. Onika Maraj (that's her real name) will have you know that "Nicki Minaj" is just her most famous alter-ego.

“I think of ‘Nicki Minaj’ more like the Superman suit — who you change into when you go into the telephone booth," she said, later adding, "Do you all think that Nicki Minaj is the same person I am with my child’s nanny?"

#nickiminaj #meangirl #rapper