Everyone has an opinion on Nicki Minaj. Some people think she's awesome and fun, some people think she's a disrespectful idiot, some people think she's a "slut", and some people even think she's part of the Illuminati. Me? I think she's an awesome, feminist role model. Here's why.
The first time I ever heard about Nicki was watching her performance of Roman Holiday at the 2012 Grammy's. It was loud, theatrical, over-the-top, and totally wild. For young me, it just honestly freaked me out. Her shocking, abrasive style has created controversy and divisiveness among music fans all over. Often people wonder, with such rapping, singing, and acting skills as she has, she feels the need to dress in tight, revealing clothing, wear loud makeup, and dye her hair different colors. Here's what it is: Nicki Minaj has never, and never will, bend to the male gaze.
As a female rapper, almost unarguably the best in the game, Nicki Minaj didn't get to where she is today by doing what people want her to do. She could sing beautiful ballads and always rap about romance, keep her hair its natural color and pose in classy lingerie, she could film music videos where she's rolling around on a bed being filmed with a soft-focus filter, she could never rap about sex and never swear. But to do that would be to sacrifice who she is as a performer, and who she is as a performer is someone who is going to be completely, unapologetically herself.
Nicki never says she's something she's not. She never says that her music is made to have some deep, higher meaning (though much of it is poignant, inspiring and powerful). She often talks about how her music is made to have fun. She is a strong advocate for the idea that (as seen above), women can party and have fun, as long as they put in their daily grind.
And Nicki Minaj has always put in the grind. Read any interview with her, and you know she micromanages her brand to no end. Nothing goes without her say, and if it does, you know someone's going to pay for their mistake of not running it by her. Her image is something she curates herself, and it is something so unapologetically genuine in its wild exaggeration that you almost can't help but feel confident, because her confidence is so palpable.
Nicki doesn't stand against women and feminism either. She's described herself as a feminist, which is more than you can say for many female celebrities in this day and age. Her songs often talk about being a powerful woman with an empire. At concerts, you hear her calling out, "Where all my independent women? Scream if you're a woman who don't depend on a man for nothing!" She tells her younger fans how important it is to go and get an education, and not to worry about men. She speaks openly about her experience with abortion and her childhood with a difficult father. She doesn't take shit from people who patronize her. She calls out people when it comes to issues she cares about, like racism and body-shaming.
You can be a feminist and wear sexy, revealing clothing. You can be a feminist and rap about sexual situations. Nicki Minaj is such a great role model because she is exercising the right women have to wear and be whoever they want--you don't need to be "acceptable" to society's fashion, sexual, and musical norms to have your voice heard. You can just be unapologetically you.
I could go on about how awesome Nicki is forever. Her raps are well-crafted and creative. Her fashion is groundbreaking. Her online persona is incredible and genuine. Often, her music is a subversive spoof of whatever we think it is (contrary to popular belief, Anaconda is an incredible middle finger to the male gaze and what we think women should be). Her empire is self-made and so interesting to read about.
So yeah. She swears. You can see her boobs and butt. She makes you uncomfortable. Keep being uncomfortable; she's enjoying every second of it, and educating women on how to be confident badasses in the process.
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