Nicki Minaj's VMA Performance Look Was Epic

So far, 2015 has been a crucial year for my relationship with The Queen of Barbz. And no, it's not just Nicki Minaj's 2015 VMA performance (which was amazing) that has earned my undying love. It's the entire year that we've shared together. It wasn't always this way. After Pink Friday, things got a little weird between us. I didn't love the album as a whole, and her cartoonish red carpet sartorial choices weren't my favorite. I was also perpetually confused by the fact that she seemed to insist on speaking with a British accent. As someone who had been following her career since 2007's "Jump Off," I missed the more intense version of my favorite female rapper.

Then, like a phoenix rising from the ashes of my heart, she released "Anaconda." She performed it at the 2014 VMAs, reminding everyone exactly who she is and why we love her. Then, she and Jessie J, and Ariana Grande performed "Bang Bang." The woman knows how to do the hell out of her job. And while, in my book, her official comeback started at the 2014 VMA's, her 2015 VMA's performance officially cemented her return.

Nicki is back, and her outfits during her killer opening performance for the 2015 VMAs were better than ever.

Above was the first time we saw her, sitting in a power pose, proudly displaying some Carnival-inspired clothing and looking insanely regal. She started the performance with "Trini Dem Girls," which is exactly what you wanted her to do. Look how gorgeous and bold she looks, head-to-toe, in this stunning red costume.

I have died and then been resurrected by the power of Nicki's headdress to write this post. After "Trini," Nicki transitioned to "The Night Is Still Young," gracefully moving across the stage to welcome her surprise guest: former Twitter beef and pop powerhouse Taylor Swift.

As much as I'd loved to have kept this moment for Nicki and Nicki alone, it was cool to see her invite Taylor onstage. Their performance was pretty great and totally made it look like they're cool with working together — even if their awkward finale side-hug still says "we have unresolved issues."

No matter what was really going on there, Nicki looked like a truly magnificent crimson queen, and I can't wait to see her at the 2016 VMAs.