The Queen of Rap Nicki Minaj, 35, looks like a total boss lady on the cover of the September issue of Vogue Arabia. The rapper looks like a goddess ready to conquer the world in an elegant dark ensemble for a black and white shoot. With the latest release of her album Queen, Minaj is feeling on top of the world. However, the rap star revealed that she’s had her fair share of criticisms. The cover story calls Nicki: ‘Music’s bad girl is fashion’s latest muse’. Her upcoming Vogue Arabia cover will be her first for Vogue.

In the first alluring shot, revealed on Thursday, Nicki has donned a velvet long sleeve gown which features dramatic tulle sleeves and a thigh-high slit. Keeping the overall makeup nude, her eyes says it all with a dramatic extended winged eyeliner. In her interview the rapper says: “I’m not here to play. I’m just as smart, talented and creative as any man.”  Her fourth album, Queen, jumped straight to number one in 85 countries. Beyoncé on Vogue Cover: The Icon Talks About A Rare Pregnancy Complication She Faced During Her Twin Pregnancy.

Nicki Minaj on Vogue Arabia Cover

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The second cover shot sees a close-up of the Grammy-nominated artist wearing an oversized Marc Jacobs suit jacket with shoulder pads and her long locks adorn a wide-brimmed hat. In her interview, she recalls: “I always thought, I’m going to get the hell out of this joint, stop waitressing, and become a big superstar.”

In her first ever Vogue story, Nicki Minaj reveals all about her new album, her fans and her rise to fame. The cover story was shot in New York by an all-female team, just days before the Met Gala, according to ET Online. Talking on receiving criticisms, the rapper says, “I think anybody who says they don’t care about horrible things being said about them or lies being spread about them are not being truthful. I’m a human being and of course it bothers me when I read lies or horrendous things about myself…I took time to create something for my fans that I knew was going to be perfection.” In October 2017, Vogue Arabia featured Rihanna on their cover and received severe backlash for featuring non-Arab women on its cover.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 17, 2018 09:47 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).