Cardi B Reveals Her Journey to Fame
Cardi B Admits That Stripping Boosted Her Career

Before the fame, platinum records, and Grammy wins, Cardi B was just a young woman in New York trying to survive. Long before “Bodak Yellow” put her on the map, she was working at the Amish Market in Manhattan, struggling to make ends meet.
In a recent reflection shared via Koimoi.com, Cardi revealed that her financial situation was dire during those early days. Working at the market didn’t pay enough, and the stress of barely scraping by pushed her to consider other options. It was her Turkish manager at the time who suggested something unexpected: working at a strip club.
At first, Cardi was hesitant. The stigma surrounding stripping—especially for a young woman trying to build a future—gave her pause. “I felt a lot of guilt in the beginning,” she admitted. But when she finally made the leap, she quickly discovered the financial freedom it offered. In just one night, she could make up to $2,000—money that completely changed her outlook and gave her control over her life for the first time.
Still, she kept her new job a secret from her family, telling her parents she was working as a nanny. The fear of judgment weighed heavily, but Cardi knew she was doing what she had to do to survive.
Looking back, she doesn’t glamorize the path she took. “I don’t encourage anyone to do what I did,” she said. “But I acknowledge that stripping was a turning point for me. It helped me get on my feet.”
Today, Cardi B is one of the most recognizable names in music, but her story is a reminder that success often comes from resilience, tough choices, and unrelenting determination. Her journey—raw, real, and unapologetic—is part of what makes her the icon she is today.