Nicki Minaj is the cat who got the cream in V Magazine’s new issue, where she poses on all-fours in a booty-hugging dress, with a leopard print cat ear-adorned hat atop her head.

‘Her Royal Minajesty Returns’, screams the cover, an ode to our 2014 MTV EMA host. Her cover look is another figure-enhancer: a red mini dress with matching heels, flat cap and leather gloves. Undoubtedly, Nicki looks every inch the rap queen.

“I love women who take control, who set standards, and who believe in themselves enough to lead the way in terms of their career,” she tells Patrik Sandberg.

“I’ve done that. When I win and when I lose, I take ownership of it, because I really am in charge of what I do. There are a lot of strong male rappers, who’ve influenced me a great deal in terms of my skill, my flow, and my business-savvy side. But at the end of the day, I still want to inspire women."

Shot by Mario Testino and styled by Robbie Spencer, there’s no denying who the boss is in a third image, which shows Nicki perched against a pillar in a black bodysuit and heels. She reveals that her favourite designer is Versace, paying homage to another lady of power, Donatella.

“I’m so in love with Donatella. What I love about Donatella and what I love about Versace is that it’s so rich. It’s not afraid to be rich and braggadocious,” says Nicki. [related]

“There are attitudes in fashion and in hip-hop that match each other…it’s an almost snobby type of feeling. It’s fun! It’s like showing off! I think rap is a lot of showing off, and fashion is too. Versace is like, Look at me, b***h. I’m here.”

She most certainly is, and she’s here to stay, with new upcoming album The Pinkprint only cementing Her Minajesty’s reign. But what should we expect from Nicki’s third solo studio album?

“You can expect a great intro piece that really walks you through where my mind has been the past two years, and there’s a strong love and relationship section that has been lacking lately on the radio,” she says. “

It’s not the glossy stuff, but the nitty-gritty, the fights, the heart- breaking things that people don’t really touch on in rap. And for my core, I have the hard s**t. It’s the stuff that makes everyone excited and gives them the stink face in the room, and makes people bop super hard.”

And, as ever, the artist formerly known as Onika is breaking down barriers with her music. “I always push the envelope because I’m Nicki Minaj. I have to. No matter who I’m on a song with, I feel like I have to say at least one thing that no one else is willing to say. Whether it’s Madonna or Britney or Beyoncé, they always tell me, ‘YES. Be yourself. Talk your s**t.’”

Tune in to MTV at 9pm on Sunday night to hear Nicki talk her s**t as the host of the 2014 MTV EMA!

V magazine issue 92 is released on November 13th.