The Style Evolution of Nicki Minaj

Constantly celebrated for her musical influence and admired as a fashion icon, Nicki Minaj's dynamic appearance reflects her ongoing growth and fearless commitment to self-reinvention over the years.

Nicki emerged into the music scene with mixtapes Playtime is Over, Sucka Free and Beam Me Up Scotty (2007-09). Her raw and authentic look reflected the McBling aesthetic while staying true to her Queens, New York roots.

Despite focusing on perfecting her artistry, Nicki remained simple and stylish - favouring revealing tops, skinny jeans, eccentric accessories and fitted jackets over excessive glamour.

In the following years (2010-12), Nicki released albums Pink Friday and Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded, showcasing extravagant alter egos blending high fashion and Harajuku-inspired outfits. We see variations of this in her 2010 AMAs, 2011 VMAs and 2012 BET Awards looks.

Moving from natural hairstyles, she embraced colourful wigs alternating between straight, curly and beehive-shaped styles. Although we saw bolder makeup, it remained consistent in complimenting her facial features and outfits.

Post The Pinkprint album release in 2014, we see Nicki toning things down and shifting into her natural era, welcoming more mature and captivating looks. Effortlessly, keeping it calm, chic and classic.

Even with minimalist fashion becoming her signature look, it's not to say the experimental outfits didn't make their appearances. Instead, they became more refined, emphasising a focus on sex appeal.

In recent years, Nicki has continued to showcase her versatility by participating in various fashion events and musical endeavours. This is evident in her Fendi collection, contributions to The Barbie movie soundtrack and the sequel to her Pink Friday album. Fortunately, these days we're treated to a blend of alter egos, quirky and elegant wardrobe selections from her.

Her evolving style throughout the years has been exciting to follow and there is certainly more to come.