Cardi B Transformation: Photos of Rapper Then and Now

There’s no doubt about it, Cardi B is living her best life! The musician — whose real name is Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar — was first introduced to fans in 2015 after joining the cast of the VH1 show Love & Hip Hop: New York during season 6. The reality series followed the lives of several female hip hop industry hopefuls and their paths to making it in the entertainment industry. Following her stint on the show, Cardi took her rap career to a new level and has since become a household name.

Despite having dropped her first-ever mixtape, Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1, in 2016, Cardi didn’t blow up until her single “Bodak Yellow” was released in 2017. After hitting the airwaves, Billboard reported that the New York native made history with the uber-catchy song. In September 2017, she became the first female rapper in nearly 19 years to have a No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart without the help of another musician.

Following her whirlwind rise to fame, Cardi opened up about how her life changed so quickly during a December 2018 interview with the CR Fashion Book. “One positive thing is that, my family, whatever they want, they get,” she said at the time. “Everything that I want to buy, I can get. I don’t have to worry so much about my future. One negative thing is that, even though I’m happy, I feel like I was a little bit happier two or three years ago when I had less money. I had less people who had opinions about my life. I felt like my life was mine. Now I feel like I don’t even own my life. I feel like the world owns me.”

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Ultimately, Cardi has found her footing in both her professional and personal life. She released a chart-topping album titled Invasion of Privacy in April 2018, which featured collaborations from powerhouse artists like SZA, Migos, 21 Savage, Kehlani, Bad Bunny and more. Not only has she made music with A-listers, but she starred in the 2019 feature film Hustlers alongside Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu. Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Cardi made a social media anthem alongside Megan Thee Stallion with the August 2020 hit, “WAP,” which has its own dance on TikTok. It’s safe to say, she’s killing it.

Aside from her career, the “I Like It” rapper is also a devoted mom to daughter Kulture Kiari Cephus with her husband, Migos member Offset. “I want my daughter to feel like she’s that woman,” Cardi told W Magazine in November 2018 about teaching confidence to her baby girl. “I’m not going to say ‘that bitch’ — but I want her to feel like that person.”

Scroll through the gallery below to see Cardi’s amazing transformation, from Love & Hip Hop to now.

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No Regrets

When it comes to her past, the songstress has no regrets. “I’m glad for this chapter in my life,” she said about being an exotic dancer during the CBS interview. “A lot of people always want to make fun of me, ‘Oh, you used to be a stripper!’ I don’t regret it because I learned a lot. I feel like it matured me.”

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After Cardi appeared on reality TV, she gained a lot of traction. “The first time around I was a bit skeptical when approached to be on the show because I was working on my music,” she told The Post in 2016. “I did not really want to open up about my entire life on TV, but it was a big opportunity. I am very surprised about the feedback I was getting. I was just being myself.”

Superstar In the Making

“I was skeptical about recording and putting my mixtape out because what if people did not like it?” she explained at the time. “I had low expectations, so I was just going to be happy with making money off of YouTube videos. But a lot of people downloaded my music, and I ended up doing a tour that was really successful. It is crazy that people are interested in me. I am just a girl from the Bronx.”

Forever and Always

Offset proposed to Cardi on stage at Power 99’s Powerhouse concert in Philadelphia in October 2017. Afterward, the entertainer showed off her gorgeous ring via Instagram. “Jesus Christ, I’m so emotional, @offsetyrn. I loveee you so much,” she captioned the photo. “Thank you for seeing the potential in me since you met me … I can’t wait to spend FOREVAAAA with you. Let’s make a lot of shmoney and love together.”

Staying Strong

In December 2017, multiple videos surfaced online that Offset had cheated with other women. Cardi got candid about the allegations in February 2018 but defended her decision to stay with Offset. “I know I look good, I know I’m rich, I know I’m talented. I know I could get any man I want — any basketball player, football player,” she told Cosmopolitan. “But I want to work out my s—t with my man, and I don’t got to explain why. I’m not your property. This is my life … I’m going to take my time, and I’m going to decide on my decision … It’s not right, what he f—king did, but people don’t know what I did, ‘cause I ain’t no angel.”

Hot Mama

In July 2018, Cardi gave birth to her first child — Kulture. One month later, Cardi went on to win three awards at the MTV VMAs. “A couple of months ago, a lot of people were saying, ‘You know you’re gambling your career. You’re about to have a baby. What are you doing?’” she said during her speech. “And you know, I had a baby, I carried the baby, and now, I’m still winning awards!”

Hot and Heavy

Cardi revealed in an Instagram video in December 2018 that she and Offset split up after being married for over a year. “Things just haven’t been working out between us for a long time,” she said. But in February 2019, Cardi and Offset appeared at the 61st annual Grammy Awards where they couldn’t stop packing on the PDA.