Why Netizens Are Saying Nicki Minaj Is In Her K-Pop Era

On Sunday night, MTV hosted its annual VMAs (also known as The 2022 Video Music Awards).

K-Pop took the spotlight that night as many of our favorites took home awards.

SEVENTEEN WON BEST PUSH PERFORMANCE AT THE VMAS 🎉 pic.twitter.com/QOZtCXzeMO

— steph • ⑰ (@yslshua) August 28, 2022

Yet, even Western artists proved to be inspired by K-Pop.

📹 | Taylor Swift and @dylanobrien dancing during @BLACKPINK’s performance #VMAs pic.twitter.com/c7lKCPMrZY

— Taylor Swift News 🕛 (@TSwiftNZ) August 29, 2022

American rapper Nicki Minaj is surprisingly labeled as being in her “K-Pop era” after her appearance at the 2022 VMAs.

The IRL Barbie stunned in two all-pink looks. One was a sexy hot pink dress, including a leg-slit, while her performance fit featured a cute mini-skirt. Both included rhinestones and complimented her bubblegum pink hair.

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A post shared by Barbie (@nickiminaj)

Yet, it’s her interesting choice of contact lenses that has netizens talking. She opted for light blue eyes to complete the Barbie aesthetic.

@mtv

Queen of suspense: #NickiMinaj #VMAs

♬ original sound – MTV

While most thought Nicki Minaj’s outfit was stunning, most netizens agreed that her contact lenses were too much.

Nicki Minaj’s look reached K-Pop fans, too. The video below that has gone viral with over 90K views jokingly referred to Nicki as being “in her kpop era,” comparing her colored contact lenses to other K-Pop idols’ memes in which they wore colored contacts, such as aespa‘s Giselle and TWICE‘s Dahyun.

Netizens agree that the look totally radiates K-Pop vibes as many idols have dyed their hair vibrant colors and wear colored contact lenses for concepts. Now, would Nicki be the main rapper if she were to debut in a group?

Nicki Minaj has already technically been in her K-Pop era for a while. Previously, she featured on BTS‘s “IDOL.”

Even before that, in 2010, Nicki Minaj and will.i.am‘s music video for “Check It Out” appeared to be heavily inspired by K-Pop. Not only was its concept similar to that of K-Pop MVs in its time, but it included a Korean MC at the start and hangul throughout.

Maybe WJSN‘s (also known as Cosmic Girls) Exy, ITZY‘s Lia and eaJ (also known as DAY6‘s Jae) were onto something.

exy listening to her "nicki minaj sunbaenim" on her mp3 player while the lyrics are cussing on FULL MODEpic.twitter.com/a5vdfl9qIM https://t.co/5KzL9sZUh0

— ✩ (@eunseobub) October 3, 2021