A sleek Italian manicure? Stunning, but not exactly an option for Cardi B. When it comes to nail moments, the prolific rapper is all about the drama. Think: a Catwoman-inspired look all blinged out with no holds barred.
Our July/August cover star first had a taste of the limelight when she joined the cast of VH1’s sixth season of Love & Hip Hop: New York, charming a worldwide audience with her candid and filterless personality back in 2015. Even then, her fabulous manicures were the talk of the town, whether it was her pearlescent square tipped number in episode four, or her polished stiletto option in mauve in episode five.
She graduated from the reality show after two seasons, and made waves in the music scene with her debut single Bodak Yellow in 2017. Soon after the release of her debut album Invasion of Privacy, the hip hop artist became a household name in no time, dishing out hit music videos after hit music videos like Up and I Like It (featuring J Balvin and Bad Bunny). All while making appearances on the red carpet at A-list events including the Grammys and even the MET Gala within a short span of the last seven years. Fun fact: Her all-red Thom Browne look in 2019 was accompanied by a manicure that took three hours and 250 crystals to achieve.
As Cardi B’s star rose to fame over time, so did her nail art, garnering attention for how detailed and polished they look both on and off screen . Of course, she has her go-to manicurist, Jenny M Bui, (also known as The Queen of Bling) to thank for a lot of her looks, including the nails seen in music videos such as WAP and Money. To date, Cardi B has 17 music videos under her belt, excluding those she guest starred in. And here, we’ve narrowed down some of our favourite looks we’ve spotted on this superstar so far. Next to look forward to? Her new music video Hot Shit, which is launching tomorrow.
1 / 8
Teasing in turquoise
What it is: Long and pointed turquoise nails furnished with crystals.
As seen in: Up
2 / 8
Gothic glam
What it is: Sophisticated black nails with a polished finish, decorated with crystals.
As seen in: Up
3 / 8
A golden mile
What it is: Long and tapered nails painted in gleaming gold. Simple yet dramatic.
As seen in: Lizzo’s Rumours (featuring Cardi B)
4 / 8
Backstreet beauté
What it is: Square tipped nails that feature a gold canvas with metallic blue stripes. A fun and playful look.
As seen in: Cardi B and Bruno Mars’s Please Me
5 / 8
Wilding it out
What it is: Sexy, fun and cute all at the same time. This look features leopard prints on a lengthy stiletto manicure.
As seen in: WAP featuring Meghan Thee Stallion
6 / 8
Pretty in pink
What it is: A pretty baby pink manicure featuring crystal embellishments and a pointed tip.
As seen in: WAP featuring Meghan Thee Stallion
7 / 8
Twinkling talons
What it is: The mid-length manicure features a metallic lavender base and iridescent crystals for dramatic flair.
As seen in: I Like It
8 / 8
Crystallised claws
What it is: This fierce acrylic option is encrusted with crystals, getting attention for all the right reasons.
As seen in: Money
