It's Cardi B's world, we're just living in it.

The Bronx's Cinderella story just got its happily ever after - her debut major label effort is getting stellar reviews left right and centre. She became the first co-host of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (and the first non-white man to host late night at that, she herself quipped).

She's been nominated for two Grammys, and won five BET Awards. She's engaged to one third of hip-hop's biggest rap group (for better or for worse). To top it all off, she's just announced she's expecting her first child.

Cardi was dogged with pregnancy rumours as early as January this year. At that point, the existence of 'Invasion Of Privacy' wasn't public knowledge. She was on the cusp of transitioning from next best thing to the best thing.

A public pregnancy with Offset - a man who had only recently been caught cheating on her - would have ultimately marked the death knell of her career. (Who remembers when pop's hot young thing of 2012 got pregnant right before the release of her debut album?)

"Like why she doing that in the height of her career, and it's just like why can't I have both?" she told Rolling Stone referring to the effect the rumours had on her.

"I'm gonna say this in the most humblest way, I'm a millionaire. I'm established ... The industry is never promised, but I know that if I make the right money move, I'm gonna always have money."

Cardi was faced with many questions and challenges that career-orientated men - in any industry - simply do not have to face to the same extent. For starters, there's a long-standing misconception when it comes to women - in the industry or otherwise - that a woman has no identity beyond motherhood following birth.

Being a mother becomes a defining characteristic. Though it's true that some women can experience a feeling of loss of self, that doesn't mean a woman's sell-by date coincides with the day she gives birth. Society's default viewpoint of women and mothers has yet to move beyond just that.

Cardi wanted to silence speculation and interpretation, releasing the album she wanted to, on her terms. Cardi was seen putting in the hours her Instagram Story, documenting what seemed like endless nights in the booth recording to ensure she'd make the release date.

It went from the album seeming like it would never be released, to fans and critics alike stroking their chins as to whether 'Invasion Of Privacy' was going to end up being a rushed hatchet job. But why she should have had to hit 'pause' on her burgeoning career? Cardi not only knew she had to strike while the iron was hot, but wanted to, pregnant or not.

Ok, then why not just come out with it before the release? Let's call a spade a spade - because the focus of the reviews would have been on the celebrity narrative, or at the very least skewed towards it. (No doubt it was re-examined following the announcement with laser-precision for references and lyrics hinting at the big life change).

Cardi B's iron clench on her story; her refusal to compromise on the image and brand she's spent the last four years building; and her devotion to her unquestionable work ethic should be nothing but admired.

The dumb broad (heavy on the New York accent) act she's played up on social media that we've laughing at is just that - but perhaps the joke has been us this whole time.