Cardi B spotlighted her transgender glam squad after appearing as a guest judge on the January 2 premiere of Season 18 of RuPauls Drag Race.These are the dolls. I cant live without them literally, she said on Untucked, a spinoff showcasing what happens on Drag Race behind-the-scenes. Related Cardi B says that homophobes are just ugly Cardi lavished praise on her hairstylist, Tokyo Stylez, and makeup artist, Erika LaPearl, while the three of them sat with the Drag Race contestants. She said she has learned a lot from both the drag and trans community. I dont care if people feel uncomfortable or whatever, she emphasized. Like, I do not care. These are my dolls, and dont ever get it twisted. The men be looking. Im not going to spill tea, you know what Im saying? Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Stylez said watching Drag Race in part helped her career blossom. She said the show taught her how to do makeup when she first began her transition. Just seeing all the looks and stuff, it always inspires me, she said. Even with [Cardi], Ill be like, We should do this, recreate this and do it a different way. You know, sometimes we bring the culture into a more mainstream, hip-hop field.The Drag Race contestants thanked Cardi for celebrating trans women of color. To have an artist of your caliber incorporating our community into what you do, thank you, one said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by RuPaul's Drag Race (@rupaulsdragrace) On social media, contestant Jane Dont called the moment major. There are not a lot of women let alone women in hip hop who would take an opportunity to give credit to the dolls for their undeniable cultural impact, she said.I do have to take a sec to say that @iamcardib taking a moment to highlight two trans women of color is SO major. There are not a lot of women let alone women in hip hop who would take an opportunity to give credit to the dolls for their undeniable cultural impact Jane Dont (@Heyjanedont) January 3, 2026 She followed up in two more posts, adding, Cardi admitting that the dolls are her teachers is so refreshing and important SORRY.Drag comes from the dolls! Period point blank!The moment came as another rapper who was also once a guest judge on RuPauls Drag Race, Nicki Minaj, continues her abrupt public pivot toward MAGA, including making anti-trans comments.In a recent sit-down with Erika Kirk, Turning Point USAs new CEO and the widow of the conservative youth organizations founder, late right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, Minajshared her advicefor Americas young men.Boys, be boys, she said. Its okay, be boys. Its nothing wrong with being a boy. How about that? How powerful is that? How profound is that? Boys will be boys, and theres nothing wrong with that.Minaj didnt elaborate further. Nonetheless, many have interpreted her comment as transphobic.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.