# Understated Rapper Makeovers The Elle US Nicki Minaj Feature Shows a New Side of the Starlet By Alexandra Serrano | Published 2013-03-16 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/elle-us-nicki-minaj References: [fashiongonerogue](http://fashiongonerogue.com/nicki-minaj-gets-a-make-under-for-elle-us-april-2013-cover-shoot/) & [elle](http://www.elle.com/) Though the female rapper is known for her fierce personality talent and looks, the Elle US Nicki Minaj feature shows a new side to her appeal. Styled by legendary editor Joe Zee, Nicki Minaj shows off her natural beauty with [minimal makeup](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/juju-watkins) and [sleek blonde locks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glow-reimagined). "I'm so, so attached to my [pink lipstick](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mac-cosmetics-x-doja-cat), it’s hard. I feel that it’s become a part of me…It was scary! So this photo shoot was a real accomplishment in my eyes," says the starlet of her understated look. Thomas Whiteside captures this more down-to-earth look with the precision of a seasoned photographer. The Elle US Nicki Minaj feature is sure to get fans talking of the artist's evolving style aesthetic as she exposes her multifaceted persona. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.4/10 - Popularity: 70% | Activity: 83% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) > [Media](https://www.trendhunter.com/media) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Understated Rapper Makeovers:** The trend of female rappers presenting themselves in a more natural and understated way creates opportunities for beauty brands to focus on producing minimalist, clean beauty products that cater to the need for less bold makeup looks. - **Natural Beauty Revolution:** The promotion of natural beauty and minimal makeup is causing a shift in the beauty industry towards clean and organic products that celebrate individuality over conformity. - **Celebrity Authenticity:** The growing trend of celebrities showcasing their natural selves without heavy makeup is creating an opportunity for beauty companies to market themselves as supportive of individualism and authenticity. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Beauty:** The beauty industry has the opportunity to emphasize the promotion of clean, minimalist beauty products that cater to the trend of natural, understated looks. - **Fashion:** Fashion industry has the opportunity to create versatile and understated fashion styles that complement minimalistic and natural beauty. - **Photography:** The trend towards natural beauty and understated looks presents opportunities for photographers to showcase a more authentic, natural, and unfiltered side of celebrities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Vegan Celebrity-Inspired Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nicki-minaj-2.md) - [Blurred Cosmetic Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mac-cosmetics-and-ella-gross.md) - [Rapper-Inspired Playable Game Characters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/call-of-duty-season-5.md) - [Edgy Cruelty-Free Cosmetics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/barry-m-beauty.md) - [Nighttime Cosmetic Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/night-night-club-campaign.md) - [Iconic Touring Artist Makeup](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/madonnas-makeup.md) - [Daily Style Accessible Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/demi-lovato-x-amazon.md) - [Makeup Artist-Crafted Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/air-max-dn-silhouette.md) - [Empowering Makeup Brand Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/juju-watkins.md)