From provocation to ’60s style: Cardi B embraces a refined look on the cover of a magazine
In front of the camera of photographer Sylvester Makou
Cardi B is the cover star of Vogue Arabia’s September issue. For the new photoshoot, the rapper surprisingly stepped away from her signature provocative looks and appeared before the camera in a more understated aesthetic with a touch of ’60s style. The shoot was photographed by Sylvester Makou, with Lisa Jarvis responsible for the styling.
In an open interview, the 33-year-old star spoke about fashion, her meteoric success, the pressure of fame, motherhood, her own beauty business and her trip to Saudi Arabia.
For Cardi B, fashion has long been much more than simply part of her stage persona. She pays close attention not only to her dress or suit, but also to her hair, makeup and accessories.
«When it comes to clothing, when it comes to putting the whole look together — from the hair to the shoes — I don’t play around. Every single detail matters», she emphasized.
Another important area Cardi B is involved in today is the beauty industry. In March, the singer launched her own vegan brand, Grow Good, dedicated to hair care.
The idea for the project did not come out of nowhere. For years, Cardi experimented with oils and homemade hair masks in an effort to make her hair healthier. The first batch of Grow Good products sold out within 45 minutes. The line of moisturizing masks, developed from the singer’s own at-home recipes, sold out in less than ten minutes.
«I’m proud to sell people something that is genuinely good. I’m not just putting my name on products because I’m a celebrity», Cardi said.
Despite her worldwide fame, Cardi does not hide the fact that life as a celebrity has turned out to be far more difficult than she could have imagined. The constant attention from the public, social media and the press, she says, creates enormous psychological pressure.
«That’s why they say: be careful what you wish for, because you might get it. Being famous is very difficult, and sometimes I feel like I didn’t sign up for this at all. You can never fully protect yourself. You can never be prepared for that kind of pressure», she admitted.
The artist also spoke about her trip to Saudi Arabia. In December 2025, she performed at the MDLBEAST Soundstorm festival in Riyadh. For Cardi, it was an unusual experience, as her stage persona is markedly different from the country’s traditional aesthetic.
Nevertheless, the singer was thrilled with the trip.
«I noticed that it was very clean there and a little more strict. All the women wore black. Everything was black. But then I realized that it could also be beautiful, powerful and luxurious in its own way», the artist shared.
Before leaving, the star also took home a special souvenir: «Before I left Saudi Arabia, I took some sand with me because it felt so sacred to me».
Despite her busy career, being a mother remains incredibly important to Cardi. The singer has four children ranging in age from eight months to nine years.
She pays particular attention to their education. Cardi draws on her own experiences and wants her children to have more opportunities.
«I don’t want my children to grow up and say: “Damn, I don’t know how to do this. Mom should have made me.” When you’re little, you don’t want to do certain things, but when you get older, you appreciate that you did them anyway», the artist explained.
Today, Cardi is simultaneously pursuing her music career, working with fashion brands, growing her own beauty business and raising four children. Despite the pressure and constant attention, the artist is well aware of how far she has come.
«I kept proving people wrong over and over again. It feels good to know that I achieved something that no one before me had achieved», the performer said.
Photo: Vogue Arabia
