Lady Gaga
With “Born This Way” she gave a generation of queer kids an anthem – and has spoken openly about being bisexual.
Lady Gaga, born Stefani Germanotta, grew up in Manhattan and played the piano from the age of four. She studied briefly at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, then performed in clubs on the Lower East Side.
Her debut album “The Fame” (2008), with hits such as “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”, made her a global star. Her extravagant costumes – including a dress made of raw meat – and her theatrical performances made her an icon. Her song “Born This Way” (2011) became an anthem for LGBTQ people around the world.
Gaga has spoken publicly about being bisexual since 2009. She campaigned against the US military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which barred openly gay soldiers, and founded the Born This Way Foundation, which supports the mental health of young people.
Her career has spanned dance pop, jazz with Tony Bennett and film: for the song “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born” she won an Academy Award in 2019. In 2025 more than two million people attended her free concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.