Cardi B took a stand against trolls once again. In a video posted to her Instagram profile, the rapper addressed some negative comments her haters have made when they post stills from her videos where she appears without makeup.
“This is my face after wakin up 20 minutes ago, no filter, hair not brushed, lip chap all that,” she writes. “I never been afraid to show my real self. When YOU ON TOP the miserable and the ugly love to screenshot pictures while you in motion then criticize your face. I’m confident in my own skin. You bitches need to ask ya self if ya confidence in ya self enought that ya gotta try to bring bitches down for a hobby that’s winning and in their 20s.”
This isn’t the first time the Bronx rapper has gone sans makeup, in fact, she’s never been shy about anything, really. But she couldn’t let this conversation go unchecked, and cites how trolls will screenshot a video of hers to specifically pick apart her looks. In the video, she also calls out how misogynist, racist trolls attacked another Black woman, Chloe Bailey, for basically posting anything that makes her feel good.
“Y’all take pictures of videos of me with no makeup while I’m in motion and be like, ‘Oh look at Cardi. She looks so weird without no makeup.’ This me without no makeup. No filter. You could see all the little blemishes all over my face. You can see my lips all chapped. I just woke up 20 minutes ago, didn’t even brush my hair,” she said. “I feel good. Every single time a bitch is feeling good, like y’all be doing to the other young lady, when y’all see them doing so good, y’all be trying to pull their confidence down. That don’t work on me anymore.”
Though she doesn’t mention Bailey by name, many are concluding that is who she was referencing by “young lady.” Women in the music industry, especially Black women and other women of color, are constantly put through the ringer when it comes to expressing anything–whether it’s their sexuality, their anger, or just simply living, and Cardi B has declared that they will no longer steal her joy.
With her latest single, “Up,” hitting number two on the global Apple music chart and becoming the biggest debut for a solo female rap song on the Spotify chart, Cardi B keeps winning–with or without makeup.