Platinum-selling rapper Nicki Minaj lands her first Vogue cover ever, gracing the September issue of Vogue Arabia. Minaj, with more than 90 million followers on Instagram, has dropped her fourth album 'Queen', after a hiatus of nearly four years.
Within a few hours of the album’s release, 'Queen' had reached number one in more than 85 countries, including the UAE, Palestine, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, writes Vogue Arabia. . The success was met with high-profile acclaim, with Naomi Campbell and Kim Kardashian sharing enthusiastic support ahead of the artist’s August 20 performance at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards.
“The fashion industry has been successfully collaborating with rap artists because they appeal to young luxury consumers and global influence. In 2018, we’re not just obsessing over their lyrics, we’re taking their style notes, too,” explains editor-in-chief Manuel Arnaut of Vogue Arabia’s 17th cover. “For us, Nicki Minaj embodies everything that makes the industry crossover a success. She’s the author and producer of most of her material, is a platinum-selling rapper, a successful businesswoman with clothing, fragrance, and beverage lines, and has appeared on Time’s 100 most influential people list. Put simply, she’s the ultimate girl boss.”
The covers and fashion editorial were shot in New York a few days before May's Met Gala by an all-female team. Photographer Emma Summerton was behind the lens, with styling by Anna Katsanis and Vogue Arabia fashion director Katie Trotter. Kim Kimble worked on hair with makeup by Sheika Daley.
