Nicki Minaj Pays Tribute To Karl Lagerfeld After Skipping 2023 Met Gala

After seeing her make a bold return to the red carpet dressed by Riccardo Tisci’s Burberry in 2022, The Barbz were hopeful that Nicki Minaj would be in attendance at this year’s Met Gala. Several of our favourite rap divas stepped out for the special occasion, including Ice Spice and Yung Miami, as well as Cardi B. Rihanna was at the function too, arriving fashionably late, as she and A$AP Rocky have previously become known to do. Anna Wintour’s theme of choice was a tribute to her late friend Karl Lagerfeld, and while Minaj wasn’t at the Met last night, she did share some of her fond memories with the fallen fashion icon on Instagram.

“I set trends from Queens to Beijing 🇨🇳,” the mother of one wrote in the caption of her photo dump, which begins with a throwback photo from an ELLE Magazine photoshoot with Lagerfeld. “I’m not the one who do the imitating,” Minaj added before revealing that she’s got a music video dropping on Tuesday (May 2) for “Alone” at 4 PM ET. Her other carousel selections chiefly include more snapshots with the Chanel designer, proving that they forged a heartwarming friendship in the later years of his life.

Nicki Minaj Pays Tribute to the Late Karl Lagerfeld

Minaj also made sure to remind followers of some of her past iconic outfits, proving that she’s always been a style star – Met Gala invite or not. While some of them found her leaning into her masculine side in a unique tuxedo, others flaunted her famous (ass)ets as she sultrily gazes back at the camera. She’s not often one to keep up with what everyone else is wearing, instead choosing to influence the world with her unique choices.

It remains unclear if the Trinidadian simply opted to skip out on showing up (as many celebrities, including Beyoncé, seemingly did), or if she was one of the names cut from Wintour’s uber-exclusive guest list. Regardless, she’s sure to continue serving us plenty of fire looks on her social media as the weather continues to heat up. Scroll further to see Nicki Minaj’s iconic outfits from past Met Galas. Afterward, leave a comment letting us know which one is your personal favourite below.

Queen of Rap’s Past Met Gala Looks

Bella Hadid, Riccardo Tisci and Nicki Minaj attend The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022, in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/MG22/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)
Nicki Minaj arrives for the 2019 Met Gala celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019, in New York City. (Photo by Karwai Tang/Getty Images)
Nicki Minaj attends Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. (Photo by Rabbani and Solimene Photography/Getty Images)
Nicki Minaj attends the “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between” Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017, in New York City. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Nicki Minaj arrives for the Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2, 2016 (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

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