Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and performance artist, almost as well-known for her fashion experimentation and provocative style as she is for her musical talent. She has won many accolades including Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Grammy Awards, and recognition from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. She has accomplished more in the last fifteen years than many have achieved in their entire careers and is overall known for her work ethic and studiousness which started from a young age.
Lady Gaga was raised in an ostensibly ordinary upper-middle-class family. Almost from the start, her single-minded ambition set her apart from the other kids. Her years at the prestigious all-girls private school Convent of the Sacred Heart, during which she was bullied, forever cemented her identification with outsiders and made her escape into her dreams of stardom. She started pursuing music at an early age and as a teenager, began performing at local bars.
She enrolled in New York University’s well-regarded Tisch School of the Arts, but dropped out after a year. Luckily, her father proposed his financial support for one year as she made a grab for stardom.
It was then that she began transforming herself into Lady Gaga, with her eccentric style and glam rock. In 2009, she rose to fame with her debut album titled ‘The Fame’, and since then, she has been riding waves of success.
However, despite her prolific career, she too has had to face many challenges along the way, including mental health, addiction, and chronic pain. But the work ethic that has driven her career in her professional life, has driven her to overcome obstacles in her personal life as well.
“I have been traumatized in a variety of ways by my career over the years from many different things, but I survived, and I’ve kept going,” she said.
Beloved for her tenacity, alongside her radical fashion and publicity decisions, she has amassed a dedicated fan base, which she lovingly refers to as her “little monsters.” And in return, Lady Gaga has dedicated her time and fortune to uplifting others as well.
Although she started as a musician, her work has extended beyond into film, fashion, and philanthropy. For instance, she created her own non-profit organization called the Born This Way Foundation. She is also known for her activism around LGBTQI+ issues and uses social media as a powerful platform to raise public awareness about mental health and social injustice.
“I’m just trying to change the world, one sequin at a time,” she said.