It’s all happening! Nicki Minaj has revealed the actress who's portraying her in ABC Family’s upcoming sitcom, Nicki, which is based on the rapper’s early life.
“Ariana Neal,” the “Truffle Butter” singer, 32, captioned a pic on Instagram on Friday, December 18, of the young actress who will be playing her as a child.
"I literally cried watching her taped audition," Minaj wrote. "I demanded to meet her! Sat in a room with her teaching her how to rap by doing a beat on the table & forcing her to stay on beat! Lol. Then pulled out all the attitude she had in her lil body. Haha! She's tough! And so sweet & cute."
Neal, 11, has also starred in the 2015 film Get Hard, alongside Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart, as well as numerous TV films.
Nicki — which will star and be produced by Minaj — is also set to feature Selita Ebanks, Wesley Jonathan and McCarrie McCausland. Whoopi Goldberg will be a recurring guest star.
The half-hour comedy show will be based on the “Super Bass” singer’s move to the U.S. from Trinidad in the early 1990s with her family. It will also focus on her upbringing in Queens, New York, and her subsequent rise to fame.
"This is one of the more unique adventures I’ve ever embarked on,” Minaj said in a statement in September, shortly after tweeting the news of the show. “I couldn’t be more proud and excited to team up with an amazing group of people to give the world something really special.”