Nicki Minaj was honored with  the Fashion Rebel Award at the 2017 Fashion Los Angeles Awards last night (Sunday, April 2).

The award comes on the heels of Nicki signing with the celebrity division of Wilhelmina Models last week. Of course, Nicki was fierce in a short, black Versace dress, which she rocked with super-long tresses that hung to her feet. Fergie presented Nicki with the award. Kim Kardashian was also on hand to present the Creative of the Year award to photographer Mert Alas.

“We all have insecurities,” Nicki admitted during her speech. “I want to say, shout out to all of the kick-ass women, not only in this room, but all around the world. You know what, we win and fail in the public eye. That’s not easy to do. People think they know what it requires. People think they can do it. Everybody wants to walk in your shoes, until you put them in your shoes.”

She went on to thank everyone who was supportive early on in her career, including fashion designers Alexander Wang and Tommy Hilfiger.

“A lot of years ago [in 2011], my publicist called me and told me that someone wanted me to be their date for New York Fashion Week for three shows,” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh, OK.’ Turns out to be some really influential lady in fashion. Her name was Anna Wintour. They really needed me to sit next to her. But I want to say thank you to Anna. A lot of people gave me a shot early on in my career, and I would just like to recognize some of those people who were just amazing.”

She continued by expressing how difficult it often is to live life in the limelight, and shouted out all of the tough women who are able to live with the constant criticism that comes with such a lifestyle.

“It takes guts, it takes balls to fail and to make mistakes in the public eye, and to read shitty comments about yourself every fucking day and to still have a beautiful f---ing smile on your f---ing face,” she said. “I love you guys so much for believing in me. I took some time off to rest, and now it’s game time, b---es.”

Watch the speech below.

 

 

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