Plans to produce Minaj-branded clothes are well under way, but the rapper – renowned as much for her abominable dress sense as her platinum-selling musical offerings – has been in the headlines for a very different reason. As you might expect from someone whose childhood was toughened by poverty and abuse, Minaj isn't shy of expressing her political views. But her fans and admirers aren't particularly comfortable with them.

Pro guns?

Along the right lines! In a verse on label-mate Lil Wayne's Dedication 4 mixtape, Minaj raps: "I'm a Republican voting for Mitt Romney, You lazy bitches are ******* up the economy." It seems to be a pretty clear endorsement, but then Minaj is renowned for taking on different personalities in her songs. This year, she tweeted Barack Obama, saying: "Just give free health care to all. Why should a poor person struggle to pay for meds sir?".

Could this harm her credibility?

The coolest celebrities vote Democrat. Beyoncé, Lady GaGa, Anna Wintour, Jay-Z – all Obama fans. The Republican side can lay claim to Clint Eastwood, but otherwise it's pretty barren, with sometime rocker and full-time gun enthusiast Ted Nugent and the puzzlingly-haired Donald Trump.

Could it swing the election?

Analysts are expecting a close fight, and Minaj does have 14 million Twitter followers. However, many aren't keen on Romney, and Minaj probably won't be voting: US website Gawker found she is not a registered voter.