After conquering the charts, Nicki Minaj’s next frontier may be television. The Young Money raptress is reportedly in talks with Simon Cowell to be a judge on the U.S. edition of his talent competition “The X Factor.”


The Harajuku Barbie met with Cowell in Los Angeles a few weeks ago, according to Page Six. “Simon thinks Nicki is fantastic. She’s sassy, she looks great, and she has bags of personality,” says a source.

The hip-hop diva’s casting as a judge would help the show appeal to a younger and more diverse audience. “Nicki has a large following and she fits well with the ethos of the show, which plans to usher in a new generation of musical talent,” adds the source. “‘X Factor’ is aiming for a younger audience. Those aged 12 and over can audition, and [the English version has] launched successful artists from other genres of music than pop.”

She is currently touring the country with Lil Wayne and nothing has been finalized. “This isn’t a done deal yet, but Nicki would be great for the show. She fits the ideal that ‘X Factor’ will be exciting, vibrant, and different. And the show would also be great for her career.”

Former Island Def Jam CEO and Chairman L.A. Reid was officially announced as one of the judges for the singing competition, set to premiere this fall on Fox.