Nicki Minaj's Inappropriate Outfit At The 2018 VMAs Looked Like She'd Just Come From The Beach

Rapper Nicki Minaj loves a beach getaway — just listen to the opening lines of her hit song "Starships." And it may have inspired one of her most memorable outfits. Her earworm tunes and iconic quips have made her a superstar, and the songstress has established herself as a sight not to be missed on Hollywood's biggest red carpets. Minaj is a fashionista who is not afraid to take a risk by wearing an ensemble that demands attention. But this has led to the entertainer wearing some ... unconventional looks. Let's just say that when it comes to the Video Music Awards (VMAs) on MTV, Minaj has a better track record with her performances than with her outfit choices. Her 2018 VMAs wardrobe is a great example as Minaj walked the carpet in a beige bodysuit with black lining and a see-through skirt. The material and lackluster shape of the outfit made it look more like a one-piece bathing suit than a show stopper.

Paul Zimmerman/Getty

This boring look was reserved compared to what we typically see from Minaj. The stretchy fabric looked waterproof and the belt across her waist resembled a life preserver. A strap from the belt connected to a choker around the rapper's neck which made the garment look even more like a flotation device. From the back, the bodysuit separated into two pieces which were identical to a bikini. The sheer skirt was girly and whimsical, but couldn't keep this strange choice from being one of the worst MTV VMAs looks of all time. The VMAs is less formal than other events, but an outfit that resembles beachwear is still not appropriate. Other looks might have been creative and boundary-pushing, but nobody else appeared to have come straight out of the ocean.

Nicki Minaj is nothing if not eye-catching when it comes to her style. She's been known to wear dresses that range from large and colossal to revealing, barely-there costumes. Her hair has donned a multitude of different colors, so much so that her eclectic locks were included in the design of her sweet but fleeting Pink Friday Perfume (which we tried!). But her VMA outfit choices have often turned heads for the wrong reasons.

In 2011, Minaj went over the top by wearing everything but the kitchen sink to the awards show. Her metallic dress was paired with a tutu and high socks that were decorated with drawings of anime. She accessorized with an ice cream cone necklace that matched her blond, pink, and yellow hair. The 2014 VMAs saw a monochrome Minaj in an all-black minidress. And while the gown was less artistic than the singer's usual wardrobe, it did show off her sexy side. It then created one of the worst award-show wardrobe malfunctions of all time that forced the rapper to cover the outfit with her hands while performing on stage. Minaj returned to her pink roots at the 2017 VMAs where she wore a Pepto-Bismol-colored skin-tight latex bodysuit. 

She hosted the VMAs in 2023 and changed into several fashions throughout the show including a sheer bedazzled dress that barely covered her body. On the red carpet, she wore a pink bustier with a lace skirt and veil to look like a bubblegum bride. These looks might have been confusing or too risqué, but at least the "Anaconda" rapper only confused the VMAs with the beach once.