We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably did not know about Nicki Minaj, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more fascinating facts about the singer and musician that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: She Was Discovered by Lil Wayne. As a solo artist, Minaj has Lil Wayne to thank for achieving fame as quickly as she did. She signed to Young Money Entertainment in 2009, and in that same year she appeared on a track with Gucci Mane and Trina.
Number Seven: She Wants to Play Down Her Sex Appeal. Though Minaj is obviously a sexy woman, the truth is that she wants young girls to know that sex appeal won’t get them everywhere. She says that she wanted to “subdue her sexuality” for this reason.
Number Six: Her Multiple Identities Are a Defense Mechanism. You’re probably aware that Minaj has several alter-egos that she utilizes when she performs. However, these identities didn’t begin when she became famous – they began in her childhood. Minaj began creating alternate identities in her head so she could escape from her tumultuous childhood.
Number Five: She Is a Big Betsey Johnson Fan. Minaj has said that one of her main fashion inspirations is Betsey Johnson. However, if you’re familiar with Johnson’s and Minaj’s styles and how they interact, this might not come as much of a surprise.
Number Four: She Has Her Own Barbie Doll. As part of an auction for charitybuzz, Mattel made a Barbie that was Nicki Minaj-themed. The Barbie was valued at around $15,000.
Number Three: She Holds a Special Forbes Record. Minaj is the only woman in the world who has been featured on Forbes’ list of Hip Hop Cash Kings.
Number Two: She Is Very Charitable. Minaj might have a lot of money, but she likes to give back as well. After Hurricane Sandy, Minaj gave $15,000 to the Food Bank for New York City, and she even held a turkey drive at PS 45 – her alma mater.
Number One: She Is a Christian. Minaj has been very open abour her religious identification as a Christian, and she’s not the only one in her family. Her dad became a Christian after going to rehab. We hope you enjoyed our list of 15 things you didn’t know about Nicki Minaj!