Cardi B has an unwelcome gap in her designer handbag collection. The rapper revealed that her beloved Hermès Birkin, affectionately named Esmeralda, has gone missing, and she suspects she may have left it behind during a hotel stay.
The revelation came on Wednesday, October 14, after a fan on X shared an older video of Cardi showing off the brown handbag and suggested it was time for another appearance. Instead, the rapper delivered an update the fan probably wasn’t expecting.
© Backgrid/The Grosby Group“I fuvkin lost her,” Cardi wrote. She explained that Esmeralda is the only bag missing from her collection, adding, “I think I left her in a hotel and I’m so sad about it.”
For now, the circumstances remain unclear. Her post did not identify the hotel or specify when she last had the bag, leaving the story of Esmeralda’s disappearance with a few unanswered questions.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupA handbag with her own personality:
The fan’s post included a throwback clip of Cardi introducing the accessory with the enthusiasm she usually reserves for a particularly good fashion find. “She’s exotic. She’s the moment,” she said while posing with the Birkin. “Her name is Esmeralda.”
© Splash News/The Grosby GroupThe introduction helps explain why this particular bag’s absence has left an impression. Cardi had given Esmeralda a name and a personality, making her more than an anonymous accessory in an extensive wardrobe.
Although Hermès bags can command substantial prices, a verified purchase price for Esmeralda has not been revealed.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupInside Cardi’s love of designer bags:
Followers have had plenty of opportunities to see Cardi’s enthusiasm for collecting. In August, she shared a haul of purchases accumulated over several weeks, featuring pieces from Chanel, Hermès and Bottega Veneta.
© Backgrid/The Grosby GroupThe selection also included a gray Birkin with suede detailing, alongside other distinctive finds. Cardi's videos often come with stories about the shopping process, what caught her eye, and how she plans to wear each piece.
That approach turns a luxury haul into something closer to a wardrobe catch-up with fans, complete with favorites and accessories she handles with particular care.
© Splash News/The Grosby GroupStill, Cardi has drawn a boundary around how much of her collection she is willing to reveal. Earlier this month, she told a fan she was hesitant to share a full closet tour, citing “security purposes.”
For all the new additions to her wardrobe, it was a fan’s request to revisit an old favorite that brought the missing Birkin to light. And Cardi’s response made her feelings clear. She would very much like Esmeralda back.
