"I could buy designer, but this Fashion Nova fit." - Cardi B, "Money Bag"
"Do it for the culture" is a phrase we use frequently but Cardi B actually did that. The Bronx rap star started stripping to escape a relationship with an abusive ex-boyfriend and move out on her own. In 2014, she took the internet by storm and rose to prominence by sharing her flamboyant 'no filter' personality via Instagram.
VH1 quickly jumped aboard the Cardi B. bandwagon and added her to their roster for Love and Hip Hop: New York, where she became the meme queen and continued to dominate our social media feeds.
After years of grinding and booking her own tours, in 2017, she dropped her debut single "Bodak Yellow", which broke a number of industry records, and the world was shook. Cardi got a bag, fixed her teeth, and recently dropped her debut album Invasion of Privacy, which was certified gold overnight.
The nationwide celebration of Cardi B. is a symbol of the impact that women of color have on pop culture and culture in general. Women like Roxanne Shante, Queen Latifah, Lil Kim, and Nicki Minaj have set the standard and actively combatted the misogynoir culture that is heavily prominent in the rap game with the message of sexual liberation and free agency for women.
In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Cardi touched on owning her past as what gave her her present:
"People say, 'Why do you always got to say that you used to be a stripper? We get it.' Because y'all don't respect me because of it, and y'all going to respect these strippers from now on. Just because somebody was a stripper don't mean they don't have no brain."
For years, women in the hip-hop industry were limited to roles of sidekick or video vixen. Nevertheless, women used the overtly sexualized roles in which society had cast them to create a platform for female lyricists and patrons alike.
"Bodak Yellow" is to millennial women what "U.N.I.T.Y." was to the women of 90's.
These songs weren't just a couple of sick bars strung together for a cute video, they were anthems for women of color that were previously voiceless. Though the songs carry two completely different vibes, their message is the same. I am powerful woman, my p*ssy is mine, and you will respect that. Doesn't that sh*t just make you want to burn a bra or something? It's empowering, and it further solidifies the cultural significance of female rap artists and their impact on a larger culture.
Cardi B, Queen Latifah, Nicki Minaj, Trina, and a number of other women in the rap industry have taken the initiative to reclaim the overtly sexualized narrative surrounding black women, triggering the feminist progression of an entire culture. These women say:
"I am a sexual being but my sexuality is not yours. I have a right to my privacy, my agency. I'm not a boss b*tch. I'm a boss, b*tch. My agency is mine."
Cardi herself stressed the importance of that agency in an interview with Vibe:
"I may not be your typical. Who's to say that I can't inspire a woman who works at a Fortune 500 company as much as she inspires me? I think that's important to know."
Cardi's album includes features from superstars like SZA, Kehlani, Chance The Rapper, YG, and 21 Savage. I've had the album on repeat since last night. Coming from the resident Hip Hop head at xoNecole, I can confirm that issa bop! She told Beats 1:
"I am so grateful for everybody that decided to be on my album because as an artist, I know how busy artists are. For them to take the time and do it exactly right. Everything came out how I wanted it to come out. Perfect hooks, perfect verses. It was just like 'Jesus loves me, I must have done something right in my life.'"
Even if you don't particularly love Cardi's style of music, you cannot deny her power.
She gave us some dope ass captions for the summer and she is symbolic of the influence that women of color have on millennial culture, and honey we are here for it.
Featured image by Giphy
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Here are some of my favorite takeaways from three standout panels featuring Jordan Chiles, Marsai Martin, and Kandi Burruss.
Leveling Up Your A-Game with Jordan Chiles, Morgan Shaw Parker, Chelsea Fishman, Laura Correnti, and Tabitha Turner-Wilkins
Jordan Chiles
Paras Griffin/ Getty Images for Power Play
Olympic gymnast Jordan may have medals and magazine covers to her name, but her mindset is refreshingly grounded. “The day I finally feel pressure,” she said, “will be the day I know there’s still more for me to learn.” For her, joy—not pressure—is the fuel. Her confidence isn’t performative; it’s rooted in family, self-worth, and authenticity.
“Everything I’ve done in my career—tattoos, long nails, rocking my crew at the Olympics—that’s all me. It’s not because someone told me to do it. It’s because I felt confident doing it. And that’s where my ambition comes from: being my authentic self.”
For Morgan Shaw Parker, President & COO of the Atlanta Dream, the conversation around pressure went even deeper. “Legacy work” is how she described her mission—navigating male-dominated spaces, sometimes pregnant and pumping on NFL team planes. “After COVID and George Floyd,” she shared, “it became clear to me: vulnerability is power. You don’t have to show up perfect to lead.”
Chelsea Fishman, founder of Atlanta's first bar dedicated to women’s sports, Jolene Jolene, shared how the haters (especially the Reddit kind) were her confirmation: “All those comments saying it would fail—those were the signs that I was doing something right.” She’s hosted 25+ watch parties already and is building the very community they said would never come.
This panel also touched on ambition, authenticity, and owning your power—both in sneakers and in suits. One of the best mic-drop moments came when the moderator flipped the question: “What if we stopped making ‘power’ a bad word for women?” A nod-worthy reminder that we’re not here to play small.
Making Your Voice Heard with Marsai Martin, Carol Martin, Miss Milan, and Heather McMahan
Marsai Martin
Paras Griffin/ Getty Images for Power Play
This panel was a masterclass in staying grounded while growing up—or glamming up—on the global stage. Actress and producer Marsai talked about what it’s like to show up in high-pressure moments when your confidence is low but the world is still watching. From red carpets to long shoot days, she reminded us that even when you’re not at 100%, you still find a way to push through.
“There have been days where I wasn’t feeling the best, but I still had to show up on this carpet. Or it was that time of the month, but I still had to go on set. I just didn’t feel as confident—but it’s about how you take care of yourself in those moments and still keep pushing.”
Her mom and business partner Carol Martin dropped gems about motherhood and mentorship: “It’s like teaching your kid to ride a bike over and over again. Now the bike is a movie or a brand.” That balance between guiding and letting go? Not easy—but essential when you’re raising a mogul and running a company.
“There have been days where I wasn’t feeling the best, but I still had to show up on this carpet. Or it was that time of the month, but I still had to go on set. I just didn’t feel as confident—but it’s about how you take care of yourself in those moments and still keep pushing.”
Miss Milan, Grammy Award-winning DJ and Doechii’s right-hand woman, lit the crowd up with her no-nonsense energy. “I built my own table,” she said. “When you build it, they can’t tell you you can’t sit.” From journaling her dreams to manifesting Grammys, her story is one of resilience and intention—and a whole lot of faith in her own vision.
This panel didn’t shy away from hard truths either: the sadness that can come with success, the fear of fading relevance, the criticism that hits differently when it’s personal. But Marsai said it best: know your why. And let it evolve with you.
The Cost of Starting Your Own Business with Kandi Burruss and Nikki Ogunnaike
Kandi Burruss
Carol Lee Rose/ Getty Images for Marie ClaireKandi doesn’t sugarcoat the grind. From chart-topping songwriter to multi-business entrepreneur, she’s built her empire one risk—and one reinvention—at a time.
“Fear equals failure. If you don’t even try, you’ve failed automatically —and you did it to yourself. I’d rather take a risk and lose money than play it safe and never know what could’ve happened.”
She broke down the real costs of entrepreneurship: money, time, and emotional bandwidth. “You think you’re going to work less when you work for yourself?” she laughed. “You’re going to work more.” For Kandi, mommy guilt and financial setbacks are part of the package—but so is the satisfaction of seeing an idea through.
She opened up about scaling back on her clothing store and temporarily closing the original Old Lady Gang location. “It felt like failure,” she admitted, “but sometimes you have to step back to make things better.” Still, she’s not one to quit. She just pivots—with precision.
One of her most memorable reflections? How her music career hiccup led her to songwriting—ultimately writing the mega-hit “No Scrubs.” That song became the key to a new lane and legacy. “You may think you’re working on one dream,” she said, “but it could open the door to another.”
Also? Kandi wants you to stop emailing her from a Gmail. “You’re doing million-dollar business on a bootleg budget,” she joked. “Invest in yourself. Start with a domain name!”
The Marie Claire Power Play Summit was a powerful reminder that ambition, authenticity, and vulnerability aren’t separate traits—they work in tandem. Whether you’re building a bar, a brand, or a business from scratch, the key is to stay rooted in your voice, your story, and your why.
And if you need a sign to go for it? Consider this your green light.
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Feature image by Paras Griffin/ Getty Images for Power Play