Cardi B had a lot going on this week — and she handled it all in peak Cardi fashion.
The Grammy-winning rapper made a memorable debut as a guest judge on the Season 18 premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race, proudly dubbing herself the episode’s “villain judge” as she delivered some of the bluntest critiques the runway has seen in recent seasons.
Her no-nonsense judging arrived at the same time her name was circulating in sports headlines due to ongoing legal drama involving New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who also happens to be the father of her child.
On Drag Race, Cardi didn’t ease into the role. The premiere’s first challenge tasked 14 new queens with creating runway looks using unconventional materials inspired by iconic designs from past seasons. Some contestants impressed immediately. Others, not so much — and Cardi didn’t sugarcoat her reactions.
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Kenya Pleaser was on the receiving end of the harshest feedback. “The skirt is terrible,” Cardi said flatly, before adding, “If you know your outfit is not great, you just gotta go nice up here. Glam is very important… If the outfit ain’t great, the glam gotta give.” The moment became instantly viral when cameras cut to Kenya’s stunned reaction.
Cardi also called out Juicy Love Dion’s look, saying, “Girl, what was you thinking with that skirt? I really hate that skirt,” while Mandy Mango’s design earned an equally unfiltered response. “Oh my God, I hate it. It’s bad, but you’re so pretty,” Cardi said, later joking that the outfit “looked like she had a time at Michael’s.”
Still, Cardi made it clear her critiques came from a place of respect for the craft. Speaking to the queens in the Werk Room, she explained, “I might be the sweetest girl in the world, but I am a very tough judge.” She referenced her longtime collaborators, makeup artist Erika La’ Pearl and wig stylist Tokyo Stylez, adding, “Don’t get discouraged from it. Learn from it.”
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While Cardi was lighting up reality TV, her child's father Diggs was addressing reporters for the first time since news broke that he’s facing strangulation and other criminal charges related to a dispute with a former private chef.
According to KATV, Diggs declined to discuss the case, saying, “It’s definitely an open case so I can’t even say anything about it,” while emphasizing his focus on football.
Back on the runway, Nini Coco and Vita VonTesse Starr emerged as the top queens of the week, lip-syncing to Cardi’s own “Enough (Miami).” Nini ultimately took the win, prompting Cardi to joke to RuPaul, “Can I be a judge forever, like permanently?”