Nicki Minaj: My Turn

It's hard not to notice. Blue eyeshadow, pink lipstick, wild wigs and a curvaceous bod remain her trademarks. Nicki Minaj is one of a kind when she hits the stage. But, the "Queen of Bubblegum Rap" was never a fairytale princess. From Trinidad to the Bronx, N.Y., the early years were scarred by a drug addict financier father who tried to kill her gospel singer mother by burning the house down. Minaj would prevail with 100 million records sold, 7 songs on the Billboard Charts at the same time and 10 Grammy nominations but no wins. Accents and alter egos that allude to childhood fantasies mark her style. Before the Pink Friday or Queen albums, she worked as backup singer for Britney Spears. These days Minaj collaborates with fashion houses and cosmetic kings but also tends to her young son called Papa Bear. In retrospect it no longer matters that she was once fired from 15 jobs, including waitress at Red Lobster.