Nicki Minaj announces her pregnancy with epic Instagram photoshoot

Nicki Minaj knows how to make both an entrance and an announcement. The rapper popped up on Instagram this morning with big news and a bigger belly. Accompanied by a signature over-the-top amazing pregnancy photo, Minaj announced that she is expecting her first child with a lone hashtag that read simply “Preggers.” The mom-to-be married childhood sweetheart Kenneth Petty in October of 2019 (points for getting that wedding in under the COVID wire, Nicki) and later this year, the couple will become proud parents.Minaj’s post, in which she paired her halo of electric yellow curls with an elaborate flower applique bikini top, pink string bottoms, and mile-high pearl-encrusted heels (as one does when one is midway through their first pregnancy) received congratulatory comments and messages of support from designer Oscar De La Renta, musician Big Freedia, singer Sam Smith, reality star Kristen Cavallari and model Winnie Harlow, among others. The artist also gifted us with three other baby bump photos shared throughout the day, including one shot by famed photographer David LaChapelle where Nicki is styled like the Virgin Mary.

 

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#Preggers ?

A post shared by Barbie (@nickiminaj) on Jul 20, 2020 at 7:21am PDT

Minaj dropped some pretty obvious pregnancy hints back in May, confessing on Twitter that she had avoided morning sickness but was still making frequent trips to the bathroom. She also promised that a baby bump photo would be forthcoming, telling followers that “The world ain’t ready yet.”

Lmao. No throwing up. But nausea and peeing non stop. Omg what do u think this means guys???? Lmaooooooooooo https://t.co/NLxdgw01fD

— Mrs. Petty (@NICKIMINAJ) May 7, 2020

In the past, Minaj has been frank about her desire to be a mother and how that might affect the future of her music-making career. In a 2014 interview with Complex (via US Weekly), the rapper said that she felt as though she was always meant to be a mother. “I wonder if I’m going to be one of those women who balances my child with a career,” she mused. “I always said, ‘When I have my baby, it’s going to be all about my baby.’ I don’t want the child feeling like they don’t have all of my attention, so I always said, ‘I’m going to take a little break.’ But we’ll see.”