Go-go danced in bars until her musical career took off.
Went to the same school with Paris Hilton: they were classmates at Convent of the Sacred Heart.
She has been influenced by Madonna, David Bowie, Judy Garland, Grace Jones, Cyndi Lauper, Freddie Mercury, Bjork, Liza Minnelli, Yoko Ono, Britney Spears and Michael Jackson.
Her stage name, Lady Gaga, is a reference to the song "Radio Ga-Ga" by Queen.
Her song "Boys, Boys, Boys" was inspired by Motley Crue's hit "Girls, Girls, Girls".
She learned how to play the piano at the age of 4, wrote her first piano ballad at 13, and began performing at open mic nights by the age of 14.
On February 20, 2009, she donated tickets and a meet and greet, for any show on her Fame Ball tour, in the US or Canada, to raise money for Odyssey Charter School and elementary schools in Los Angeles affected by budget cuts.
Her song "Telephone" was originally written for Britney Spears's sixth album Circus. However, after it failed to make the album's final track listing, Gaga recorded the song as a collaboration with Beyonce Knowles for her second album, The Fame Monster.
Ranked #99 in the 2011 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women". Ranked #92 in the 2010 FHM list of "100 Sexiest Women".
Launched, with her mother Cynthia Germanotta, "Born This Way Foundation", a non-profit organization to help people, worldwide, develop a new standard of care towards one another.
Voted #18 on Ask men's top 99 'most desirable' women of 2012 list.
Famously attended the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards with Kermit the Frog.
Suffers from hair loss due to years of dyeing her hair.
Is a practitioner of Capoeira, Boxing, Jeet Kune Do, Shaolin Kung-Fu, Krav Maga & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Served as godmother to Zachary and Elijah, sons of Elton John and David Furnish.
She has an interest in the art of belly dance.
Quotes[]
Some artists are working to buy the mansion or whatever the element of fame must bear, but I spend all my money on my show.
I was the arty girl, the theatre chick. I dressed differently and I came from a different social class from the other girls. I was more of an average schoolgirl with a cork.
You must never ever let a guy know how much you like him, because then he'll run in the other direction ... Well, I just sign that when you don't play hard to get, if you're too easy or you come off too eager, they run away so you gotta keep your poker face on.
Writing a record is like dating a few men at once. You take them to the same restaurants to see if they measure up, and at some point you decide who you like best. When you make music or write or create, it's really your job to have mind-blowing, irresponsible, condomless sex with whatever idea it is you're writing about at the time.
My album covers are not sexual at all, which was an issue at my record label. I fought for months, and I cried at meetings. They didn't think the photos were commercial enough... In my opinion, the last thing a young woman needs is another picture of a sexy pop star writhing in sand, covered in grease, touching herself.
Britney's a real class act in terms of the way she handles herself in the media and embraces new artists. She's always really kind, I've always admired that about her.
I am not sexy in the way that Britney Spears is sexy - which is a compliment to her because she's deliciously good-looking.
Britney certainly doesn't need any freaking tips from me! Britney Spears is the queen of pop. I was learning from her.
Be yourself and love who you are and be proud. Because you were born this way, baby.
First thing in the morning, try to think compassionate thoughts about yourself for five minutes. I don't always do it, but I try to.
My mother and I have initiated a passion project. Together we hope to establish a standard of Bravery and Kindness, as well as a community worldwide that protects and nurtures others in the face of bullying and abandonment.
Don't you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can't be exactly who you are.
There's a sort of stigma around doing good deeds that's maybe not so cool. I'm doing everything that I can, working with experts, really studying the statistics to figure out a way we can make it cool or normal to be kind and loving.
The performer ages and the music ages and so do the things that we create. But at the end of the day, I will still always live for the applause - even when I'm an old lady and no one knows who I am anymore.
The purest and most wonderful experience that you can have with music or art is that you don't think about it before you listen to it or look at it. You just breathe and you feel.
Sending bravery to LGBTs in Russia. The rise in government abuse is archaic. Hosing teenagers with pepper spray? Beatings? Mother Russia? The Russian government is criminal. Oppression will be met with revolution. Russian LGBTs you are not alone. We will fight for your freedom.
Acceptance, tolerance, bravery, compassion. These are the things my mom taught me!
Sex is an inspiration for everyone and I don't think there is one song that's ever been written that sex wasn't part of. That's what makes the world go round.
Social media, quite frankly, is the toilet of the internet. And what it has done to pop culture is abysmal.
