Last year, Nicki Minaj was a buzzed-about femcee who was holding her own in the male-dominated rap game. Now, she’s a star in her own right, eclipsing many of her peers and becoming an icon for her Barbiez worldwide.

Her influence — whether it’s through her music and the many lyrical characters she embodies, her fashion sense or speaking out about important issues like child abuse and discrimination — is now strong enough that the MTV News Hip-Hop Brain Trust voted her the #6 Hottest MC in the Game. And, like the true pioneer she is, she’s the first woman to make the list.

Source: MTV