Who'd have thought it! Nicki Minaj transformed into a beauty as she ditches outlandish stage outfits
By Daily Mail ReporterLast updated at 9:34 PM on 8th April 2011
Her outlandish stage outfits and penchant for wigs mean that Nicki Minaj is often seen as a living Barbie - which is just the way she wants it.
So the pared down pop star is unrecognisable in a series of elegant and sexy new photographs.
In place of the brightly coloured wigs and face paint, she posed for fashion bible Elle magazine.
Holding her own: Nicki is the picture of female empowerment as she models a sexy black bodysuit in the latest issue of Elle Magazine
Turning heads: Nicki doesn't need her signature pink hair and outrageous clothes to turn heads, she's pretty in a demure black top too
Wearing a long black wig, Nicki struck a series of provocative poses, some of them in a frilly white dress, and others in a black bodysuit.
Nicki's layout was shot by famous fahion photographer Terry Tsiolis, and shows her wearing designs by Givenchy, Mark Fast and Jean Paul Gaultier.
The dressed down looks are rather out-of-character for the rapper, who is known for her over-the-top wigs and pastel coloured cosmetics, which is fitting since her début album is titled Pink Friday.
Showing off her curves: Nicki models a pair of short shorts and a matching multi-coloured, midriff baring top
'In this very moment I’m king,' she said.
The pint-sized rapper broke into the music business four years ago, with an attention grabbing mix tape.
Bragging rights: Nicki, who recently had the number one album in America, tells Elle Magazine 'In this very moment I’m king'
Working it out: Nicki puts her toned legs on display in a short and frilly white dress paired with black boots
'I didn’t want to be a pawn in their game or have a sidekick role. I wanted to be more of a lead character—a superhero,' she added.
Nicki also hopes to inspire others saying she is 'fighting for the girls who never thought they could win.'
