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BARBIE WARS: Zendaya Coleman and Nicki Minaj

TRINIDADIAN-BORN rapper Nicki Minaj has been slammed on social media after her odd way of congratulating actress Zendaya Coleman on her one-of-a-kind Barbie doll.

Last week, Barbie announced that they would be honouring the 19-year-old Disney star with her very own, one-of-a-kind doll for encouraging girls to “raise their voices.”

In a congratulatory Instagram post on Sunday (Sept 27), Minaj felt the need to mentioned that she, herself, was honoured by Barbie back in 2011.

“Congrats on your doll, Zendaya! Did u know Barbie made me one a cpl years back?” the rapper wrote. “It was such an honour & a HUGE surprise. Anyway, I love your doll’s hair! I love what it means for other little girls who will identify with it & be empowered. Continue to be proud of yourself girls!!!!! #Barbie.”

BRAGGING: Nicki Minaj was also honoured with a Barbie doll

Instagramers wasted no time sounding off in the comments section, calling the rapper “self-centered,” “shady” and “petty".

“This was a corny and petty a** congratulations,” one commenter vented. “Posting a pic of her own doll and then with the btw they made me one years ago bit was so unnecessary. You aren’t an appropriate role model for CHILDREN so there’s a huge difference. This post was more about ego than anything else. Smh.”

Another commented: "That's like someone graduating and you post your diploma talking about 'congrats, look I graduated too.' Did anyone ask you?"

Zenday's special Barbie doll was inspired by her 2015 Oscar look - which sparked a race row earlier this year after Fashion Police host Giuliana Rancic, made distasteful comments about her faux dreadlocks she rocked during the ceremony.

The doll honours Coleman’s 2015 Oscars getup – faux dreadlocks and all – in which she took a stand and inspired individuals to be themselves.

Upon hearing that E! presenter Rancic had claimed she looks like she "smells like patchouli oil or maybe weed", Zendaya took to Instagram to stand up for herself and her decision to wear dreadlocks.

She wrote in a post: "There is a fine line between what is funny and disrespectful.

"Not because I was relishing in rave outfit reviews, but because I was hit with ignorant slurs and pure disrespect. To say than an 18-year-old young woman with locs must smell of patchouli oil or 'weed' is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive.

"I'll have you know that my father, brother, best childhood friend and little cousins all have locs. Do you want to know what Ava DuVernay (director of the Oscar nominated film Selma), Ledisi (9 time Grammy nominated singer/songwriter and actress), Terry McMilan (author) [and] Vincent Brown (Professor of African and African American studies at Harvard University) have in common? Locs. None of which smell of marijuana."

She added: “There is already harsh criticism of African American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair. My wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of colour that our hair is good enough.”

Upon receiving her Barbie, the Zapped actress wrote on Instagram: "When I was little I couldn't find a Barbia that looked me, my...how times have changed. Thank you Barbie for this honour and for allowing me to be apart of your diversification and expansion of the definition of beauty. Can't wait to keep doing amazing things with you."

SMOOCH: Zendaya with her doll