Artisan could become empress (7)
I believe the answer is:
tsarina
'empress' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'artisan could become' is the wordplay.
'could become' indicates an anagram.
'artisan' with letters rearranged gives 'TSARINA'.
(Other definitions for tsarina that I've seen before include "Russian noblewoman" , "Wife of former Russian ruler" , "Nicholas's wife" , "Monarch" , "queen" .)