“I told Nicki Minaj that she empowered me to stand up to my teachers” – Ayra Starr

Ayra Starr, the talented Nigerian singer known for her soulful voice and captivating melodies, revealed a heartwarming telephone conversation with the esteemed American-Trinidadian Hip Hop star, Nicki Minaj.

In an exclusive interview with Teen Vogue, the 21-year-old songstress, whose real name is Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, expressed her deep admiration for Nicki Minaj, citing the global icon as a significant influence on her life and artistic journey.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Ayra Starr fondly recalled growing up listening to Nicki Minaj’s music, which played a pivotal role in building her self-confidence and empowering her to face challenges head-on, even defying her teachers.

The “Bloody Samaritan” crooner shared that the opportunity to have a personal conversation with her role model felt surreal and overwhelming.

She said;

“I was on a call with Nicki Minaj…. She doesn’t understand how much I love her. I grew up listening to her. I was like, ‘You made me feel confident. Because of you, I could tell my teachers no!”

“Being signed to Mavin was definitely one of the best things to happen to me as an artiste,” Ayra starr added.