Nicki Minaj Covers Teen Vogue

Nicki Minaj covers Teen Vogue with her quirky twist on girly couture. On the cover, she rocks a pink and blue tutu and nice waves in the June/July issue. She opens up about her past and the subject of online bullying to the magazine.

The American Idol judge talked about the ins and outs of the music industry, which she compares to high school. “People treat the business like it’s high school. It can absolutely feel like one big popularity contest, and you know what? I can’t be bothered,” she said. “I can’t allow myself to play ridiculous games with grown adults in the industry. I can’t be nice to someone just because they’re hot right now. I can’t do it.”

Minaj may be on top of the world now, but the singer reveals that she wasn’t always as confident. “Every time my parents fought, my mother would have us move and I would have to go to a new school. Which meant I’d have to face the task of making new friends. I dreaded it.” She mentioned she would get bullied sometimes, but wouldn’t let anyone push her around.

When asked how she deals with the negative comments online, she replied: “I used to read the bad things people said about me. Then I asked myself, “Why am I reading that when I have millions of great things? You can’t give negativity power.”

Nicki Minaj will perform “High School” at the Billboard Awards with Lil Wayne this weekend.

Shanika Simmons