Nicki Minaj Gets Make-Under For ELLE

Nicki Minaj strips off all the outlandish outfits and wigs for her nearly makeup-free photo shoot with ELLE magazine. The American Idol judge said of the shots, "When I saw myself with barely any makeup at, it was such a ...like, I'm so, so attached to my pink lipstick, it's hard. I feel that it's become a part of me. To go in front of the camera, without pink lips or big ol' crazy lashes- you know, nothing – I felt naked. It was scary! So this photo shoot was a real accomplishment in my eyes." Click the pics for a closer look at the Super Bass singer's dramatic make-under.

"I went through a lot of bullying early on. Girls made my life a living hell," Minaj admitted. "We had come to America from a different country. My brother and I had accents. It was very tough. So I’ve always put up this wall – it was a self-defense mechanism growing up – because I was almost expecting people to attack me. And I still have it. It’s sad."

"My goal in the beginning was to buy my mother a house. Now I realize, Okay, if I really focus and become a key player in business, then I can build an empire," the 30-year-old rapper told the magazine. "I'm thinking of a legacy that I can be proud of and wealth that my grandchildren can use to go to college. So world domination- in terms of providing for my family – is absolutely my goal."

What advice does Minaj have for women? She tells ELLE, "My advice to women in general: Even if you're doing a nine-to-five job, treat yourself like a boss. Not arrogant, but be sure of what you want- and don’t allow people to run anything for you without your knowledge. You want everyone to know, Okay, I can't play games with her. I have to do right by this woman. That’s what it's all about."