Nicki Minaj Launches First Solo Beauty Endeavor With Press-on Nails Brand
Nicki Minaj, a repeat player in celebrity fragrance, is setting her sights on a new beauty category.
The rapper has teamed with celebrity nail artist Yvett Garcia to introduce Pink Friday Nails, a direct-to-consumer line of press-on nails featuring 11 designs that range in price from $19.99 to $29.99.
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Aiming to bridge the gap between custom press-ons — which can cost hundreds and in some cases, thousands of dollars — and those presently available in the mass market, the line offers its debut styles in five lengths and four shapes, from short rectangular to Minaj’s signature XXL stilettos.
The line’s matte, chrome and gem-embellished offerings feature nods to some of Minaj’s own past styles, including the rhinestone-covered set she donned during her 2022 MTV Video Music Awards performance and other references that may seem obscure to most, but trust a Barb — the nickname given to Minaj’s fan base — to connect the dots.
Like Minaj’s debut 2012 Pink Friday fragrance, the line pays homage to Minaj’s most-decorated album (and its 22-track sequel, “Pink Friday 2,” released in December). Unlike that fragrance — or the nine that have followed since — Pink Friday Nails marks a first solo beauty foray for founder Minaj, whose myriad fragrance licensors have included Luxe Brands, Give Back Brands and Elizabeth Arden.
The rapper-entrepreneur introduced her Pink Friday 2 Eau de Parfum, $42, at JCPenney in December, one of many recent celebrity fragrance launches including Beyoncé’s Cé Noir Eau de Parfum, which launched in November; Millie Bobby Brown’s “Wildly Me,” and a first fragrance oil from Drake’s Better World Fragrance House, which mainly offers candles.
Pink Friday Nails will continue to steadily roll out new designs, Garcia said, hinting that a pink, pearl-ornamented set inspired by those Minaj wore in last year’s “Princess Diana” music video is on the way.
“When I became a mom, I couldn’t spend as much time getting my nails done as when I only had to worry about me, so it became a necessity to create fly, quality press-on nails,” said Minaj, whose son is 3 years old, in a statement.
Landing in retail doors is an eventual goal, though Garcia did not specify where she and Minaj envision the line launching. “We want to see this all over — we think Pink Friday Nails can unlock a whole new standard to the [ready-to-wear] press-on nails game.”
Launch Gallery: Nicki Minaj Launches Pink Friday Nails Collection
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