Honestly, the 2017 VMAs felt like a fever dream for the Barbz. We’re talking about a night where the air was thick with tension, mostly because the Nicki Minaj and Remy Ma beef was at its absolute peak. If you weren't glued to Twitter that August night, you missed a masterclass in celebrity survival and high-fashion risk-taking.
Nicki didn't just show up. She commanded the space in a bubblegum pink latex unitard that looked like it was vacuum-sealed onto her body. People still talk about that outfit. It wasn't just a "look"; it was a statement of dominance during a year where she was fighting for her crown.
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The Pink Latex Moment and the Backstage Secret
The red carpet at the Forum in Inglewood was basically a runway for Nicki. She paired that Vex Clothing latex jumpsuit with a two-tone, 60-inch wig—half platinum blonde, half bubblegum pink. It was peak Harajuku Barbie. But here’s the kicker most people don't know: that outfit was a last-minute miracle.
According to auction listings that surfaced later from Gotta Have Rock and Roll, the costume was actually finished backstage. Designers were literally working in the hallways of the VMA set to get the fit perfect right before she stepped in front of the flashes. It looked effortless, but it was total chaos behind the curtain. That’s the thing about Nicki; she thrives in the high-pressure "on-the-fly" moments.
"Nicki, What’s Good?" — The Remy Ma Shade
You can't talk about the Nicki Minaj 2017 VMAs experience without mentioning the ghost in the room: Remy Ma.
Remy was a guest announcer that night, and she decided to go for the jugular. Right before a commercial break, she looked into the camera and dropped the infamous line: "Nicki, what's good?"
It was a direct flip of Nicki’s own 2015 confrontation with Miley Cyrus. The audience gasped. Twitter exploded. At that point in 2017, "ShETHER" was still ringing in everyone's ears, and the industry was practically begging for a face-to-face showdown. Nicki, however, took the high road—or maybe just the "too busy to care" road. She didn't bite. She had a performance to give.
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The "Swish Swish" Spectacle With Katy Perry
The finale of the night was the live debut of "Swish Swish." Katy Perry was the host, and despite the mixed reviews of her hosting gig, the closing performance was a massive production.
Imagine a giant basketball.
Suddenly, it opens.
Nicki Minaj emerges from the center of the ball like a high-fashion referee.
She was wearing a striped latex top (yes, more latex) and thigh-high boots that looked impossible to walk in, let alone rap in. She stayed on her pedestal, cool and collected, while Katy Perry was literally flying through the air on wires to dunk a ball. It was campy, it was over the top, and it was exactly what the VMAs used to be about.
Interestingly, Katy Perry later revealed to Terrance J on the pre-show that Nicki actually flew in from Miami specifically for this performance. It wasn't a given that she'd be there. She showed up for her "sister" Katy, showing a side of industry camaraderie that contrasted sharply with the Remy Ma drama happening on the same stage.
Why 2017 Was a Turning Point
By the time the Nicki Minaj 2017 VMAs rolled around, Nicki was in a weird spot. She had just broken Aretha Franklin’s record for the most Billboard Hot 100 entries by a female artist. She was winning, statistically. But the narrative in the media was obsessed with the "feud" culture.
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Looking back, that night was the bridge to her Queen era. You could see the shift from the pop-heavy Pinkprint vibes into something more hardened and protective of her legacy. She wasn't just a rapper anymore; she was an institution.
If you're looking to revisit this era, the best way to do it isn't just watching the YouTube clips. You have to look at the photography. The way she used color—that specific bubblegum pink—became a blueprint for the "Aesthetic" era of Instagram that followed.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to really understand the impact of this night, go watch the "Swish Swish" music video and then compare it to the live VMA performance. The differences in energy are wild. Also, check out the Queen Radio archives from 2018 where she finally addresses a lot of the behind-the-scenes tension from this specific year. It puts the "Nicki, what's good?" moment into a whole new perspective.
Most importantly, if you're ever wearing latex for more than an hour, buy some specialized shine spray. Nicki’s team used it liberally that night, and it’s the only reason she didn't look like a matte balloon by the end of the three-hour show.