Purple is the color of royalty, so Cardi B marked her return to the MTV VMA red carpet in a custom velvet purple gown by Nicolas Jebron.

2018 MTV Video Music Awards - Red Carpetpinterest
Kevin Mazur//Getty Images
2018 MTV Video Music Awards - Red Carpetpinterest
Kevin Mazur//Getty Images

It's the first red carpet appearance the rapper has made since giving birth to her daughter Kulture Kiari Cephus on July 11.

Cardi B is also wearing a cool four million dollars worth of jewelry from Lorraine Schwartz, including a pair of 100 carat emerald earrings. She was rumored to be performing at tonight's awards show, but TMZ is reporting that she will open the show with a monologue or skit instead.

No matter, Cardi B's red carpet appearance is a performance unto itself.

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ANGELA WEISS//Getty Images
US-MUSIC-MTV-VIDEO-AWARDSpinterest
ANGELA WEISS//Getty Images
2018 MTV Video Music Awards - Red Carpetpinterest
John Shearer//Getty Images
2018 MTV Video Music Awards - Red Carpetpinterest
John Shearer//Getty Images
All the Looks From the 2018 MTV VMAs
Red carpet, Clothing, Carpet, Flooring, Black hair, Long hair, Leg, Thigh, Muscle, Competition,
All the Looks From the 2018 MTV VMAs
Red carpet, Clothing, Carpet, Flooring, Black hair, Long hair, Leg, Thigh, Muscle, Competition,