Who Is Cardi B? 6 Facts About the ‘Love & Hip Hop: New York’ Star!

“I’m being nice to you. Have I stabbed you yet? No.”

If there’s one thing to know about Cardi B, it’s her brutal honesty. The stripper turned social media star has made headlines for her unfiltered personality on Instagram, which has since earned her a seat alongside the cast of Love & Hip Hip: New York.

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Her hilarious, to-the-point tirades on social media have brought in millions of followers — but there’s more to the New York-native than meets the eye! Continue reading for some fast facts on the reality star!

1. Who Is Cardi B?

Cardi’s full name is Belcalis Almanzar, and she hails from The Bronx, NY. The 23-year-old is of Dominican and Trinidadian descent.

The nickname Cardi is short for Bacardi — like the rum!

2. Cardi Started Stripping as a Teen

In an interview with Vlad TV, the 23-year-old revealed she started dancing when she was just a teenager. She doesn’t regret the decision, as she credits stripping to saving her life while she endured an abusive relationship.

“I was poor as hell,” Cardi explained. “I was living with my ex-boyfriend, who was beating my ass. I had to drop out of school. It was crazy.”

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Further, during an appearance on Kocktails With Khloé, she opened up on how she broke the news to her mother. The 23-year-old claimed to have lied to her mother for months about her career, and told her she was a babysitter employed by “white people who are so rich.”

“One time she got me mad and we were arguing,” she said. “And I was like, ‘Oh it’s your fault, cause you kicked me out the house and that’s why I’m stripping!’ And she just pushed me down the staircase.”

3. She Has a Boyfriend in Jail

Cardi’s relationship with boyfriend Tommy is often featured on the VH1 reality series. The Harlem, NY-native is currently serving a four-year prison sentence on gun charges. The couple has recently been on-and-off due to Cardi’s flirtatious nature on the reality series.

Cardi previously revealed she wanted to marry Tommy while he was still in prison, although she has yet to say when exactly she’ll tie the knot.

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4. Her Instagram Personality Isn’t a Facade

Cardi’s rise on Instagram was the result of the brunette beauty simply being herself. She currently boasts over five million followers on the platform alone.

“You know what, when I started doing videos, I just took a camera and started talking about how corny guys are, how corny bitches are,” she explained during an interview with Complex. “Just cracking jokes like I do with my friends. A lot of people when they meet me will be like, ‘You’re just like your Instagram video.’ I’m like, ‘Bitch I know. That’s who I am.'”

5. She’s Not the Type to Go On “Typical” Dates

In an interview with The Fader, the reality star opened up about her unconventional dating style.

“I’m not the type of person to go on typical dates,” she said. “I’m the type like, ‘Babe I wanna go out today, let’s go to the club.’ I love going to clubs. I love the strip clubs. Oh, and there’s food in the strip club, so win-win.”

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6. She Has Her Own Way of Shutting Down Haters

Cardi previously confessed the hate from Internet trolls was so intense, she almost stopped making videos. It was only until fans, women in particular, started sharing words of support.

As far as the haters? The 23-year-old has her own method of silencing them, and it’s partly due to being raised in the NYC borough.

“I’m from the Bronx, and in the Bronx, when we go to school, there’s something that we do that’s called ‘cutting ass,’” she revealed to The Fader. “People say roasting or flaming but that’s what we call it. I’m so quick with it, it’s not even funny. Nothing is off limits. Don’t try to play me.”