On October 11, 2025, Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, better known as Cardi B, turned 33, capping a year of seismic shifts and unrelenting ambition. From her days as a stripper in the Bronx to becoming a Grammy-winning rapper, global fashion icon, and mother of three, Cardi’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, raw talent, and reinvention. As she celebrates her birthday amid a new album, a high-profile divorce, and a fresh romance, the world watches a woman who refuses to be boxed in. Here’s how Cardi B, at 33, continues to dominate the cultural landscape.

Born in 1992 to a Dominican father and Trinidadian mother, Cardi grew up in the Highbridge neighborhood of the Bronx, a place that shaped her unapologetic edge. Her parents’ split left her navigating a fractured family, moving between relatives while dreaming big. Nicknamed “Bacardi” after the rum—her sister got “Hennessy”—she later adopted “Cardi B,” a nod to her bold persona. High school at Renaissance School for Musical Theater & Technology sparked her performance itch, but financial struggles pushed her to exotic dancing at 19. It was survival, not glamour, but Cardi turned it into a springboard, using her earnings to escape an abusive relationship and support her family.

Her ascent began on social media, where her candid, profanity-laced Instagram videos about life as a dancer went viral. By 2015, she was a standout on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: New York, her quick wit and fiery feuds making her a fan favorite. But Cardi wasn’t content with reality TV fame. In 2016, she dropped Gangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 1, a mixtape blending street swagger with sharp lyricism. Tracks like “Foreva” showcased her hunger, but it was 2017’s “Bodak Yellow” that changed everything. The single, inspired by Kodak Black, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Cardi the first solo female rapper to top the chart since Lauryn Hill in 1998. Certified diamond, it was a cultural earthquake, proving a stripper could outrap the industry’s heavyweights.

In 2018, Cardi’s debut album Invasion of Privacy solidified her as a powerhouse. The project, raw and revelatory, spawned hits like “I Like It” with Bad Bunny and J Balvin, and “Be Careful,” a vulnerable take on love. It won a Grammy for Best Rap Album, a historic first for a solo female rapper, and went multi-platinum. Collaborations followed—Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You” hit No. 1, and she joined forces with Bruno Mars, City Girls, and Chance the Rapper. By year’s end, she held three top-10 Hot 100 singles simultaneously, a feat only The Beatles and Ashanti had matched. Her trophy case grew: six American Music Awards, eight Billboard Music Awards, and 14 BET Hip Hop Awards, plus eight Guinness World Records.

Motherhood arrived with daughter Kulture in 2018, born to Cardi and rapper Offset of Migos, whom she married in a secret 2017 ceremony. Son Wave followed in 2021, and daughter Blossom in September 2024, just weeks after Cardi filed for divorce from Offset. Their relationship, a tabloid fixture, weathered public infidelities—Offset’s 2018 scandal prompted a tearful Cardi to forgive him—and a 2020 divorce filing she later withdrew. This time, the split seems final, with court documents citing irreconcilable differences. Cardi’s request for primary custody of their three children and Offset’s push for joint custody signal a contentious road ahead, though both have vowed to co-parent amicably.

Professionally, 2024 was a whirlwind. Cardi starred in NYX Cosmetics’ provocative Super Bowl LVIII ad, “Lips Only,” which stirred buzz with its risqué humor. She dropped “Like What (Freestyle),” her first solo single since 2021’s “Up,” and hopped on remixes with Flo Milli and SZA, plus Shakira’s “Puntería.” Live performances were electric: a cameo with Madonna in Inglewood, a co-headlining slot at TikTok’s In the Mix festival, and a New Year’s Eve set at Miami’s Fontainebleau, broadcast on ABC. Offstage, she and Offset launched a McDonald’s meal campaign, and she strutted Balenciaga’s Fall 2024 runway, cementing her fashion cred. Her SKIMS campaign for Kim Kardashian’s brand generated millions in media value.

Her 32nd birthday bash in October 2024 at NYC’s The Duke was peak Cardi: a pink gown, twerking behind the bar, and A-list guests like Lola Brooke. Offset’s absence fueled gossip, but Cardi stole the show, serving drinks and soaking up love from Lizzo’s flowers and her kids’ handmade cards. The hangover was brutal—she swore off Hennessy on Instagram Stories, joking it should be “banned.” Fans rallied, turning her rant into a meme fest.

In 2025, Cardi’s second album, Am I the Drama?, arrived after years of delays. Released in fall, it’s a lyrical middle finger to doubters, with tracks tackling her divorce (“Last time you messed up, I said I was done”), rivalries, and her relentless drive. Lead single “Outside” blends braggadocio with betrayal, earning praise for its “witty, brutal” delivery from critics like The Guardian. The album’s personal yet universal, with Cardi teasing features but keeping details under wraps. It’s tracking to match Invasion of Privacy’s impact, with streams already in the billions.

Romantically, Cardi’s moved on with NFL star Stefon Diggs. Their relationship, sparked in late 2024, is rooted in mutual ambition—she calls him “the greatest” in football, mirroring her own goals. In a September 2025 CBS Mornings interview, she announced their pregnancy, her fourth, and gushed about Diggs’ charm: “He said, ‘Let me heal you,’ and I felt that.” Courtside at NBA games, their chemistry’s undeniable, though paternity suit rumors (which she debunked) keep the rumor mill spinning.

Cardi’s influence stretches beyond music. She’s a political voice—backing Kamala Harris in 2024—and a fashion disruptor, from Balenciaga to SKIMS. Her candor about body image (“This body ain’t meant for a size two”) and mental health resonates with fans, as does her love for her kids, who see her as “Camilla,” her stripper alias. Critics call her too brash or commercial, but her stats—165 million Instagram followers, $80 million net worth—silence them. Feuds, like her ongoing spat with Nicki Minaj, fuel debates about women in hip-hop, yet Cardi’s authenticity cuts through.

At 33, Cardi B is a paradox: a global superstar who’s still the Bronx girl next door. Her birthday marks not just a year older but a legacy louder than ever. From strip clubs to stadiums, she’s rewritten the rules of fame, proving that thriving isn’t about perfection—it’s about power, passion, and never backing down. Happy birthday, Cardi. The world’s still catching up.