Close Ad

lady gaga

14 Celebrity Encounters That Will Change the Way You See Your Favorite Stars
Celebrities

14 Celebrity Encounters That Will Change the Way You See Your Favorite Stars

Celebrities sometimes get a bad rap from fans, and are often accused of being rude, self-centered, or entitled. RELATED: 10 Celebrities You Won’t Believe Set Guinness World RecordsWe often forget that not only are these folks extremely busy, they also deal with fans (whether calm and collected or obnoxious and aggravating) on a daily basis. However, not all celebrities are created equal and there are many who go above and beyond to please their fans. Many times, folks on Twitter will make a call for other members to share their best experiences with Hollywood stars; thankfully, there are plenty of people who are quick to answer with some truly incredibly and heartwarming stories.Jason Momoa Pushed Me Around in My Wheelchairvia SolidSnake“I went to a con and caught an elevator one day to get to a panel on another floor. I was in a wheelchair. When the elevator opened its doors, there was Jason Momoa! "He was a sweetheart and insisted on pulling me in. He also insisted on pushing me out on my floor, even though he was heading for an entirely different floor, and took a picture with me. Great guy, very sweet and funny, and BTW, HUGE.”Mo'Nique Scolded My Boss and Gave Me $100 Dollarsvia STOPFLEXING"I used to work at a sporting goods store, and I was sweeping up before closing, Monique walked in and told me to stop sweeping. Then [she] went off on my manager and said, “You got this beautiful black brother in here sweeping floors?!” She even gave me $100."Keenan Thompson FaceTimed My Momvia bougiegentleman"Keenan Thompson was at the comedy club auditioning people. He allowed people to come to meet him, and we talked."I told him how much my mother loved him, and he said let’s FaceTime her right now; he then had a whole conversation with my mom."Ed Sheeran Borrowed a Phone So I Could Get a Selfievia Leesa Catalano"After a show in Atlanta, at about 1 am, [Sheeran] took a group shot with all of us and then said he would do individual selfies. "My phone was dead, so I thought I was going to miss out. He asked to use another friend’s phone, so I could still get a picture with him."Hugh Jackman Takes a Roadside Photo With a Strangervia Lola Veux"My friend’s dad met a 'very nice man' at a roadside produce stand in 2011, and he couldn’t figure out why the man looked so familiar, so he asked him. RELATED: Hugh Jackman and His Wife’s Secret to a 26-Year Marriage – Despite One “Big” Issue"The man laughed and asked if he had any kids, to which my friend's dad said yes. The man said, 'Let’s take a picture and you can show your kids later, they’ll know.'" It was Hugh Jackman.Anthony Davis Refused to Let Me Be a Terrible Teenagervia TaylorrKiara"The man literally got in my mom’s minivan and asked to take a picture with me because I was being a 'lame' teenager and didn’t want to get out after my mom stopped in the middle of the street to ask him for a picture. What a cool guy!"Bella Hadid Told Me I Was Beautifulvia ahitofsarah"She told me I was beautiful and was easy to talk to. I was shocked when I got a kiss on the cheek so soon after meeting her. For a model so successful and stunning, it was nice to feel I wasn’t an ugly peasant in her presence."I Had a Drink With Paul Ruddvia Zak Edwards"I worked at a trendy spot in NYC, and we got our fair share of celebs. I was pleasantly surprised by how nice many of them were, but the best was Paul Rudd. He even stuck around and had a drink with staff members. Absolutely delightful."Kobe Bryant (Rest in Peace) Signed My Kobe Shoesvia Luis"The two times I met him and got to talk to him was so awesome. Told him I was an original kb24 member and he stopped and we talked a bit, signed two pairs of my Kobe’s. RELATED: 25 Kobe Bryant Quotes to Help You Overcome Every Challenge"I can say it’s a great memory I will never forget."Andre The Giant Helped Me Find My Mom When I Was Lostvia elliejoan, Image via WWE.com"Andre the Giant [...] helped me when I was a lost little kid at a cat show. Put me on his shoulders to find my mom."Jody Watley Spent 20 Minutes Talking to Me and My Sistervia Akil Wingate"I met [Watley] at a grocery store. She talked to me for 20 minutes and even talked to my little sister on the phone right there when I asked her. My sister screamed into the phone like a crazed fan. Ms. Watley is the most gracious celeb I’ve ever met." James Earl Jones Told me, "May the Force Be With You"via Buzzfeed“I sat by James Earl Jones on a plane when I was a little kid. He was so nice. I asked him to say famous lines from the Star Wars movie, and he happily obliged. At the end of the trip, he shook my little hand and said, ‘May the Force be with you!’ What a kind gentleman.”Lady Gagavia SolidSnake"My dad met Lady Gaga at a restaurant in NYC and said she was one of the most genuinely sweet human beings he has ever met in his entire life. He called her 'enchanting' and actually became a fan of hers after that!"David Cross Paid for a Stranger's Life-Saving Treatment via Disco Bald“I was at the doctor and saw David Cross cover the full cost of a life-saving medical treatment for this guy* who’d been following Cross’s career from the beginning.”KEEP READING:These Celebrities Have a ‘Weird’ Approach to Social Media – And It Might Save Your Life

Lady Gaga Tells Oprah How She Made It Through Her "Psychotic Break"
Mental Health

Lady Gaga Tells Oprah How She Made It Through Her "Psychotic Break"

Lady Gaga has never been one to shy away from the tough topics, and she got seriously intimate and real this past week when she was interviewed by Oprah during the kickoff event of her wellness tour, 2020 Vision: Your Life In Focus. Gaga, who is now sporting shocking pink hair, cut short her own vacation to join Oprah and open up about mental health. The pop star, who first rose to fame with her wild pop music and fashion, explained her new perspective: "The most shocking thing I can possibly do is be completely vulnerable and honest with you about my life, what I’ve been through, the struggles that I’ve seen that I have also been a part of, and share that with the world so that I can help other people who are suffering.”Gaga opened up about her mental health struggles In conversation with Oprah, Lady Gaga confessed to having suffered a psychotic break in the past due to PTSD that stepped from a serious trauma she experienced at the age of 19.She was starkly honest about what that felt like: "This part of the brain where you stay centered and you don’t disassociate, right? It slammed down... It’s very difficult to describe what it feels like other than that you first are completely tingling from head to toe and then you go numb, but what is essentially happening is that the brain goes, 'That’s enough. I don’t want to think about this anymore. I don’t want to feel this anymore.' Boom. You break from reality as we know it."Gaga shared her experiences in an effort to destigmatize mental health struggles and to encourage those who are suffering to seek medical treatment.Where her PTSD came fromShe gave a birds-eye view into how she experiences PTSD and how she mistook her chronic illness, fibromyalgia, which afflicts her with frequent, agonizing physical pain for a symptom of that trauma.Gaga told Oprah, "I was raped repeatedly when I was 19 years old, and I also developed PTSD as a result of being raped and not processing that trauma." She explained, "I did not have a therapist, I did not have a psychiatrist, I did not have a doctor help me through it. All of a sudden, I started to experience this incredible, intense pain throughout my entire body that mimicked, actually, the illness that I felt after I was raped."How she handles it allLady Gaga says she wouldn't be where she is today without truly addressing the pain and illness she was experiencing.She credits, "Medicine, therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), cognitive therapy,” as well as transcendental meditation, daily exercise, and “radical acceptance."It's also about accepting there’s something bigger than yourself. "I consider myself a spiritual, religious woman. I don’t go to church every Sunday but I do pray every day,” she said."All the things I’ve been through, I think they were supposed to happen. I was supposed to go through this. "I think it happened because God was saying to me, ‘I’m going to show you pain, and then you’re going to help other people who are in pain because you’re going to understand it.’ Now when I see someone in pain, I can’t look away."Lady Gaga's courage in sharing her story and her struggles is a powerful reminder that we can get through all kinds of suffering if only we are able to seek help. Once we get healthier and grow even stronger, we'll be in the best position possible not just to achieve our dreams but to help others in pain as well. More inspiring celebrities:How Emma Stone’s Mom Turned Her Daughter’s Crippling Anxiety Into Her SuperpowerJim Carrey Inspired Ariana Grande to Be Unashamed of Her Mental Health StrugglesZachary Levi’s Heroic Mental Health Victory Made Him the Perfect Shazam!

22 Lady Gaga Quotes that Will Encourage You to Always Be Yourself
Musicians

22 Lady Gaga Quotes that Will Encourage You to Always Be Yourself

Weird outfits, high fashion and an incredible voice – these aresome of the ingredients Lady Gaga used to take over the world.She shocked, impressed and inspired and continues to do so.Lady Gaga is one of those entertainers that seem to have unlimited resources. As a child she learn classical piano, took vocal and acting lessons,then, as a teenager, she began performing, singing at open mic nights andacting in school plays. Despite her talent, Lady Gaga was constantly bullied for herappearance and eccentric behaviors - she was actually thrown in a trash canonce. But while many tried to dim her light, she never doubted that one day she’llbe a superstar. Gaga is a force to be reckoned with – she managed to dodge allcriticisms and she rebuilt her confidence whenever someone tried to put herdown. Gaga admitted her flaws, kept it real and that’s how shebecame an inspiration, not just a pop icon. She is a vocal supporter of humanrights, well-known for her philanthropy and for being an LGBT advocate.In 2011, she founded the Born This Way Foundation - anon-profit organization that focuses on youth empowerment, self-confidence andanti-bullying, Here are 22 Lady Gaga quotes that will encourage you to alwaysbe yourself.You have to be unique and different and shine in your own way.We need fantasy to survive because reality is too difficult.You define beauty yourself, society doesn’t define your beauty.You have to be the antithesis of the status quo. You have to work against it. It’s not about a reaction. You don’t need to react to anything. We need to be proactive in our own movement of positivity.Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses, cuz we were born this way!Don’t be insecure if your heart is pure.You have to be careful about how much you reveal to people that look up to you so much.Don’t you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can’t be exactly who you are.I used to be so delusional. I always imagined I could be more than I was, and eventually I grew and evolved into that person. We have set a standard where it’s not OK to act without morality and values and human respect. No person is better than another.If you don’t have any shadows you’re not in the light.Ignore all hatred and criticism. Live for what you create, and die protecting it.I feel like if you’re a really good human being, you can try to find something beautiful in every single person, no matter what.I allow myself to fail. I allow myself to break. I’m not afraid of my flaws.Why spend your whole life trying to be somebody that you’re not? It’s so much more fun to be yourself.Even if the whole world turns their back on you, you’ll always have yourself. It's always wrong to hate, but it's never wrong to love.Whether I’m wearing lots of makeup or no makeup, I’m always the same person inside.Fight and push harder for what you believe in, you'd be surprised, you are much stronger than you think.I am my own sanctuary and I can be reborn as many times as I choose throughout my life.No matter how much success you have — no matter how many opportunities, fame, fortune, no matter how many people accept you to your face — the person that really needs to accept you is you.You have to stop crying, and you have to go kick some ass.

5 Daily Habits to Steal from Lady Gaga, Including the Creative 'Healer' She Swears By
Self-Development

5 Daily Habits to Steal from Lady Gaga, Including the Creative 'Healer' She Swears By

Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, you know her best as the one-and-only Lady Gaga. This iconic American performer, songwriter and actress has been captivating audiences with her unique approach to music and life. With gorgeous, creative concert stages, Oscar-worthy Hollywood acting and dedicated support of the LGBT community and anti-bullying campaigns, she’s not only talented but kind.Growing up in New York City proper, she juggled many gigs around the Big Apple, taking advantage of open mic nights and opportunities to study through the legandary Tisch School of the Arts. Like many great success stories, her path to fame was complete with hiccups, including dropping out of school, being dropped by Def Jam and eventually, writing for Sony. This experience introduced her to Akon, who helped her sign a deal and land her first album. ‘Just Dance’ and ‘Poker Face’ quickly jumped the charts -- and off she went.Her still-expanding career has reaped her several Guinness world records, nine Grammy awards, an Oscar, a BAFTA award, two Golden Globes and many others. VH1 and Billboard have shouted her praises, as well as the acting community, for her recent performance in the beloved ‘A Star is Born.’ In addition to professional accolades, she’s also a philanthropist, creating the Born This Way Foundation, named after her hit song, which prevents bullying and raises up teenagers.With an astounding net worth of $275 million, Lady Gaga lead an inspiring, provocative life. Here, a few rituals she swears by:1-She’s inspired by “the next” You know how the saying goes -- or at least what your best friend says when you’re hung up on an ex -- nothing is waiting for you in the past. Those who are among the happiest and most successful do themselves a favor by never looking in the past, and focusing on today and tomorrow. For Lady Gaga, a deep fountain of inspiration comes from visualizing what’s ahead of her. During an Oprah interview, she shared: “I know it’s there but can I open it? It’s not the same as just writing as song; it’s writing the next. It’s writing the next chapter of whatever lobe is in my brain that’s waiting to be unlocked.”And though Gaga has been making music for a decade (and counting), she’s often reminded that legends aren’t made overnight and she still has a lengthy career ahead of herself. This, of course, is good news. “I’ve making music now with Tony Bennett for a couple years. Elton John is one of my closest friends... and his husband David. They’ve just showed me that I’m a baby in my artistry so I have to keep making music and keep going,” she shared during a 95.5 interview.2-Her day — and life — is fuelled by creativity and hard workEven if singing and writing are innate gifts, Gaga is quick to remind aspiring musicians and actors that it doesn’t come without work. In addition to practicing and perfecting your craft, Gaga is a big believer in allowing the you-that-makes-you-you shine through, no matter the naysayers. “What an artist needs more than discipline or talent is perspective. If you are always changing what you do based on what other people say, you completely lose yourself and become something that’s constantly affected by what’s around you as opposed to stable, and your own, and autonomous in your identity,” she shared on the Elvis Duran Show.And if you want to earn praise and standing ovations? Gaga knows grit will be the secret sauce that gets you there. “The other way to earn applause is to earn it — hard work, discipline, and rehearsal. That’s the most thrilling way to earn applause. Everything you’ve seen me day, I’ve always rehearsed a lot for it so there’s a lot of passion behind it,” she told CBC News.3-She owns fame Fakin’ it until you make it is part of every entrepreneur’s game, especially if they want to attract attention and build their companies. Though this might require a bit of bravado, it can help keep your mindset positive and your groove strong. If you aren’t exactly a fan of this phrase, consider Gaga’s approach: “I’ve always been famous. It’s just now that everyone knows about it.” Much like the fine art of manifestation, Gaga saw herself as a success story, and therefore, was able to create the runway that allowed her career to take flight. “I’ve always felt famous -- that’s what my first album was really about that fame comes from inside of you and it’s not something that you obtain,” she shared in Gaga by Gaultier.4-She doesn’t conform to other’s ideas. Everyone will have something to say about everything -- and if you let them, they could impact how you see yourself. Or how you approach day-to-day life. Or make choices in your career or relationships. For Gaga, taking advice isn’t something she does lightly, but rather, vets whoever is shouting out wisdom. “‘Only value the opinion of those that you respect. Anyone that you don’t respect, pay no mind to their opinion about you or anyone else,’” she told CNN. “That’s how I live my life. If I worried about everything that everyone said, I would not be a good artist.”Part of the reason she’s loved by so many is that she refused to be normal, and instead, she took the stage as herself, flaws and all. “I just remember feeling so irritated at the thought that I had to conform to being ‘normal,’ or less of whatever I was already born as. And so I took such radical enjoyment in expressing who I am in the most grandiose of ways.” she shared with Vogue. “It was sort of like a very polite ‘Fuck off.’ It was never about looking perfect -- it was always about just being myself. And I think that’s what it’s always been about for my fans, too. It was a form of protection, and a secret -- like a wink from afar. I’m a monster, and you’re a monster too.”5-She seeks solace in her art.For anyone who really loves what they do -- no matter the industry -- work doesn’t quite feel like work. Gaga falls into this category of thinking, calling her music her healer and her addiction, comparing it to heroin in an interview with Rolling Stone. “When you work as hard as I do, or you resign your life to something like music or art or writing, you have to commit yourself to this struggle and commit yourself to the pain. And I commit myself to my heartbreak wholeheartedly. It’s something that I will never let go. But that heartbreak, in a way, is my feature. It’s a representation of the process of my work. As artists, we are eternally heartbroken,” she continued.More inspiring celebrities:Why Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith Felt Like They Didn’t Know Each Other After 22 YearsKelly Clarkson Had Never Felt Attracted To Anyone Until She Met Her HusbandKate Winslet Suffered Two Major Heartbreaks Before Finding ‘The One’How Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton Navigated Divorce and Falling In Love As Coworkers

Lady Gaga's Relatable Oscar Acceptance Speech Offers a Powerful Lesson in Authenticity
Celebrities

Lady Gaga's Relatable Oscar Acceptance Speech Offers a Powerful Lesson in Authenticity

Everyone is talking today about the very intimate performance by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper at the Academy Awards last night, but something else amazing happened shortly after -- Gaga won an Oscar!Lady Gaga won the Oscar for Best Original Song, for the song “Shallow” from A Star Is Born, and her speech left not a single dry eye in the house. “If you are at home and you’re sitting on yourcouch and you’re watching this right now, all I have to say is this is hardwork,” she began, with tears beginning to fall . “I have worked hard for a longtime and it’s not about winning. What it’s about is not giving up. If you havea dream, fight for it. There’s a discipline for passion: it’s not about howmany times you get rejected or you fall down and get beaten up, but how manytimes you stand up, and are brave and you keep on going.”As for her on-screen love Bradley Cooper? She had special words for him as well. “There is not a single person on the planet that could have sang this song with me but you,” she gushed. “Thank you for believing in us, thank you so much.”During the red carpet, Gaga told Giuliana Rancic on the red carpet before the show that she would call up both of her grandmas if she won and "conference call with grandmas" about her victory. She shared family, and spreading love, is "all that you can hope for."Gaga has come a long way to get to this point. “I used to wrap myself in an Afghan or my grandmother’s knitted blanket and stand on a podium while I watched the Oscars,” Gaga told Variety in 2018. “I had big dreams as a child.”We love you,Gaga. Thank you for keeping it real!

Lady Gaga Reveals She Was Bankrupt After Her Monster Ball Tour - and She Was at Peace with It for This Inspiring Reason
Finance

Lady Gaga Reveals She Was Bankrupt After Her Monster Ball Tour - and She Was at Peace with It for This Inspiring Reason

Lady Gaga is on top of the world. She's received several Oscar nominations for her role in A Star Is Born, she's just begun a residency at Park MGM in Las Vegas, and she has countless hit albums. But, just a few years ago, she was actually bankrupt!"I actually went bankrupt after the first extension of The Monster Ball," she told the Financial Times, of her second worldwide concert tour, which ran from 2009 to 2011. "And it was funny because I didn't know!""And I remember I called everybody andsaid, 'Why is every­one saying I have no money? This is ridiculous, I have fiveNo. 1 singles.' And they said, 'Well, you're $3 million in debt.'"RELATED: Lady Gaga Gets Real About Mental Health Struggles, Inspires Us with Her Raw HonestyGaga is, of course, doing just fine now, she made enough money to pull herself out of debt because of "the sheer quality and popularity" of her work, the FT reported. And now, she has more than turned it all around. In 2018, Gaga had already earned $50 million as of July, Forbes reports.But, money has never been her motivation, she told FT, "The beauty for me about being an artist is that the dream will never die, because I'm not obsessed with material things and don't care about the money and don't care about the attention of the public, but only the love of my fans, so for me it's about how much more devoted, how much better an artist can I become."Inshort, she said, "it's honestly true that money means nothing to me."Gaga does appreciate having money when it comes to important expenses though -- and that includes her concerts, she said, "The only big things I've purchased are my dad's heart valve and a Rolls-Royce for my parents, for their anniversary. Other than that, I put everything in the show."For Gaga, money is a reward for her hard work, but it's not the only or most important reward. Her success, and getting to share her art, is the greatest reward, and it's such an important lesson we can all learn from.RELATED READING:Tony Robbins Says Everyone Should Do This with Their Money Before Turning 30This Devastating Financial Mistake Shaped Kevin O’Leary’s Future Relationship with MoneyWhy It’s Actually Better to Have No Money When Starting a Business

Lady Gaga Reveals How Bradley Cooper Helped Her Become More Present, Inspires Us to Get Vulnerable
Friends

Lady Gaga Reveals How Bradley Cooper Helped Her Become More Present, Inspires Us to Get Vulnerable

Sometimes, no matter how famous and successful we are, we need a reminder to take a moment to be present and appreciate a meaningful moment. This happened to Lady Gaga while filming A Star Is Born, from the very first day, she shared on the red carpet at the Golden Globes.“My very first scene with Bradley, I was in my head. Something was going on,” she told Ryan Seacrest, who conducted the red carpet interview. “[After I said my line,] he said something back to me that wasn’t the line I thought was he was going to say, and I just said my same line again. Then he said something else, and I just said the same line again.” “I started crying, I couldn’t let it go … Thescene happened as written, and it happened in a much more organic way. Bradleytaught me how to be present, had to work really hard to be this character.She’s nothing like me,” she said. Lady Gaga, who wore a gorgeous blue Valentino dress which matched her hair to the Globes, was also very emotional on the press tour for the film. For example, when cast members Cooper, Gaga, Anthony Ramos and Sam Elliott appeared on Good Morning America for a teary interview in which they praised each other for their work on the highly-anticipated movie.“I’m just so glad God gave her the talent that she has and he chose her, because that’s quite a vessel to go through,” said Cooper. “Because it’s really what you do with it, and she’s such a beautiful human being.”Gaga felt the same way. “We had instant chemistry when I met him,” she said. “As soon as I opened the door to my house and saw him, it was like, ‘You hungry?’ We’re both Italian and from the East Coast and before I knew it, I was heating up some leftovers for him and we were eating together.”Sometimes life's most important events leave us overwhelmed, and so caught up we don't get to feel and appreciate the experience. Lady Gaga teaches us it's important to take a moment to take stock and really feel everything around you. Don't let that moment pass -- make an effort to be present.RELATED READING:Lady Gaga’s Mom Shared Important Tips for Overcoming Mental Health Issues and Asking for HelpLady Gaga’s Life Story: The Outcast Who Rose to Become The Queen Of Pop

Lady Gaga Gets Real About Mental Health Struggles, Inspires Us with Her Raw Honesty
Mental Health

Lady Gaga Gets Real About Mental Health Struggles, Inspires Us with Her Raw Honesty

Lady Gaga may be an inspiration for millions, but that doesn’t change the fact she has a lot of her own demons she continuously struggles with. Some know Gaga was sexually assaulted at 19 by a music producer and according to a recent interview with Vogue, she says that the trauma she suffered when she was a teenager still impacts her to this day, where she continues to suffer from PTSD and related health struggles. Saying she’s "on a roller coaster,” she shared: “I feel stunned. Or stunted. You know that feeling when you’re on a roller coaster and you’re just about to go down the really steep slope? That fear and the drop in your stomach? My diaphragm seizes up. Then I have a hard time breathing, and my whole body goes into a spasm. And I begin to cry," Gaga described. "That’s what it feels like for trauma victims every day, and it’s...miserable. I always say that trauma has a brain. And it works its way into everything that you do.” Even if something happened years ago, it doesn’t stop haunting you, and Gaga continues to feel the pain. She’s physically in pain as well, suffering from fibromyalgia and she believes that her current chronic pain and her sexual trauma are connected. She may be right: A 2005 study in the Clinical Journey of Pain showed that women with fibromyalgia were 3.1 times more likely to have been raped and more likely to have a PTSD diagnosis than women without fibromyalgia. “I get so irritated with people who don’t believe fibromyalgia is real," Gaga admitted. "For me, and I think for many others, it’s really a cyclone of anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, and panic disorder, all of which sends the nervous system into overdrive, and then you have nerve pain as a result. People need to be more compassionate. Chronic pain is no joke. And it’s every day waking up not knowing how you’re going to feel.” Posted by Goalcast Gaga, we are with you as you've been with all of us through so much. And to anyone out there who is struggling with private, personal pain, know there's people out there who want to be there for you. Let them, and let yourself start to heal.

Lady Gaga's Mom Shared Important Tips for Overcoming Mental Health Issues and Asking for Help
Mental Health

Lady Gaga's Mom Shared Important Tips for Overcoming Mental Health Issues and Asking for Help

When it comes to mental health awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness, we've made major strides over the past few years. But it's still difficult to talk about the topic openly.Whether mental illness affects you, a loved one or a casual acquaintance, starting a discussion about mental health can be difficult, scary, and may very well put you in a vulnerable position.But Cynthia Germanotta, Lady Gaga's mother, shared a few crucial tips with Mashable to help you start these difficult conversations, which are necessary for kickstarting the process of recovery.Germanotta is the co-founder of the Born This Way Foundation, an organization that provides mental health resources, empowers youth and works to create a kinder and more accepting society.1. Talk about itFor many families, mental health is still a taboo subject, especially when there is a significant generational gap.After all, no other generation has been so open and so adamant about the need for emotional and mental wellness. If the people around you – whether they are your friends or family – avoid the subject, Cynthia Germanotta advises to bring it up yourself. Maybe those around you don’t realize the importance or need to discuss the subject or feel just as much – if not more – awkwardness and unease.Starting small, like mentioning an article or one of the many celebrities opening up about the issue, can become a major catalyst in making mental health discussions and emotional wellness check-ins a part of regular family life or friend hangouts. This way, if the time ever comes that a loved one is struggling, there will be a safe environment and already established method of communication to help them through it.2. Ask for helpRealizing that you need professional help to get through a rough patch is already a major breakthrough. However, asking for the actual help you need is often the most difficult part of your journey, especially in environment that hasn’t approached the subject.According to Germanotta, whether we are afraid of being judged as weak, dramatic or disappointing, until we take that leap, we can never know how someone will actually react. Those fears may very well be based on internalized shame, guilt, or a direct product of the illness, rather than how our loved ones will react.

Lady Gaga's Life Story: The Outcast Who Rose to Become The Queen Of Pop
Success Stories

Lady Gaga's Life Story: The Outcast Who Rose to Become The Queen Of Pop

Lady Gaga has been disrupting the music and fashion scenes since she first stepped into the spotlight. From her outrageous attires to her flamboyant live performances and powerful activism, she is one of the world's most successful contemporary artists. While her songs have often been marked as wildly controversial, there is a sense of vulnerability in her latest albums where she reveals a softer, more emotional side of herself. RELATED: Sia’s Life Story: The Pop Star Who Doesn’t Want to Be Famous This artistic revelation is deeply rooted in her lifelong struggle with depression, insecurity, and her journey of overcoming trauma. However, her songs only scratch the surface of this surreal pop icon. This is her story. Posted by Goalcast Born with a gift for music Lady Gaga was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28, 1986, in Manhattan, New York, to a Catholic family with Italian and French Canadian roots. Growing up in a middle-class duplex, Stefani was quickly recognized as a creative child with a unique personality. At four years old, her mother introduced her to the piano so she could become a "cultured young woman." Stefani felt like she was meant to play the piano, easily creating music by ear. At 11, she began taking weekend acting classes, opening up her imagination to a future career as an actress. Stefani attended a private, girls-only Catholic school where she was a notedly diligent student. But her social life wasn't quite as accomplished. Her unusual quirks and interests made her different from her peers, and the other children started bullying her over trivial things like her "big nose" and "rabbit teeth." Young Stefani became insecure, anxious, depressed, and knew far too well how it felt to be humiliated and isolated. She escaped into the musical world where her artistic oddities were welcomed. She learned how to sing and intently studied her father's classic rock albums. Music was everything to Stefani. College and a traumatic experience During high school, Stefani immersed herself in acting and songwriting. She won every lead in the school plays, earning jealous taunts from the popular girls who called her "the Germ" and "dirty." Regardless, Stefani remained kind to everyone and was known for her random acts of kindness. Thanks to her father's albums, her interest in classic rock grew, drawing creative inspiration from Queen and Elton John. She soon formed a band and they jammed out to covers of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin at open-mic nights. After graduating, at age 17, she enrolled in the Collaborative Arts Project 21 -- a music school at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She worked as a waitress and at downtown cabaret clubs as a singer and pianist. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, but at age 19, Stefani was raped by a man 20 years older than her. For seven long years, she didn't tell a soul and often blamed herself for the sexual assault. By the second semester of her sophomore year, she dropped out to focus on healing herself through her music. She found the cheapest apartment in NY, using a futon as a couch, and dreamt about getting a record deal by the time she was 21. Searching for her big break Without college to worry about, Stefani took on three jobs to make ends meet, including a stint as a go-go dancer. She auditioned for shows all over New York in a desperate attempt to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming an actress. Performing on stage was the only time Stefani truly felt alive. In 2001, she finally won a small role as a high-school student on an episode of The Sopranos, although it wasn't very memorable. She got back into singing and formed a band called the Stefani Germanotta Band with some NYU friends, recording ballads underneath a liquor store. After one particular performance, Stefani was approached by talent scout Wendy Starland, who told her, "I'm about to change your life!" They rushed out of the club and Wendy called up music producer Rob Fusari. Stefani soon met the producer in his New Jersey studio for an audition. Rob wasn't impressed by Stefani's physique and had low hopes for her musical abilities -- until she sang while playing the piano. He was in awe and called her a "female John Lennon" with the "oddest talent." From then on, Stefani traveled daily to New Jersey to work with him, composing electro-pop tracks to send out to industry executives. Fusari pushed her to dress and act like a "sexy dance star," and renamed her "Lady Gaga" -- courtesy of Queen's song "Radio Ga Ga." Struggling with her identity At 20 years old, Lady Gaga was invited to join Island Def Jam after the record label liked one of the tracks sent by Fusari. They signed her on, but they wanted a puppet, not an artist. They tried to mold her into a mainstream pop star. Whatever they told her to do, Gaga would do the opposite to feel like she was still in control. Exasperated, the label dropped her after just three months. Depression set in. She couldn't even talk to Fusari because she was crying so hard. But she also had a revelation: A record deal doesn't make an artist, she could make herself an artist. So she set out again, singing at burlesque rock shows and experimenting with fashion to find her own style. She sang at the Lollapalooza music festival with performance artist Lady Starlight, who helped Gaga define her onstage persona. At 21 years old, Fusari introduced her to producer RedOne, who later signed her to Streamline Records. Gaga was worried they wouldn't think she was "pretty enough" to become a performer. The record label hired her to write songs for Britney Spears, Fergie, and the Pussycat Dolls. Gaga began dieting with pills and eating one meal a day to lose weight. The label asked her to dye her hair blonde to look "more like a pop star." Once again, she had fallen into the trap of pleasing her label over herself. Sometimes in life you don't always feel like a winner, but that doesn't mean you're not a winner. -- Lady Gaga Flooding the mainstream After being told by her boyfriend that she wasn't going to make it, Gaga moved to L.A. and bought books on Andy Warhol to help her make sense of her own journey. The books became her bible and freed her to re-invent herself. She began writing dancier songs and wearing space-age disco outfits. She drew inspiration from Madonna, Cher, and drag queens. Famous R&B artist Akon heard one of her new party tracks and insisted she sign on with his own label. She spent all of 2007 recording her debut album, The Fame. When it released the following year, it shot to number one in eight countries. The single "Poker Face" later became the world's best-selling single of 2009. Lady Gaga had finally made it. RELATED: Rihanna’s Life Story: From Island Tomboy to Platinum Pop Sensation She began touring and performing on increasingly bigger stages. She was receiving acting roles and collaborating with other song artists. Album after album, Gaga reached number one and became the "most downloaded female act in a year" in the U.S. The people who had dismissed her before were now pleading for free passes to her shows. She changed her number and cut them off, staying close only to her family and her creative team called Haus of Gaga -- a concept inspired by Andy Warhol's Factory. Finding success and herself In 2012, Gaga suffered a gruesome hip injury during her Born This Way tour. She was forced to drop out of the spotlight for six months. During that time, she reflected on her life and got to work on a new album, ARTPOP, where she aimed to make sense of the chaos in her past. The album marked the birth of a whole new Lady Gaga. It set an artistic and individual tone that was passionate, colorful, emotional, and theatrical. She opened herself up to her fans and the world on controversial subjects like addiction, feminism, and sexuality -- channeling her past traumas with powerful vocals. She also spoke up about her battle with depression and a chronic pain condition called fibromyalgia. Gaga gave an even deeper look into her personal and family life during her own Netflix documentary. She has become a strong advocate for LGBT youth, survivors of sexual assault, and sufferers of chronic illnesses. She eventually created her own charity for mental health support, appropriately called the Born This Way Foundation. After years of struggling with her identity and going through a great deal to find her true creative and artistic self, Lady Gaga is finally the person she had always wanted to become. She now uses her unconventional music to deliver wholehearted messages, inviting you to hold your struggles close to your heart and be proud of who you are, to fight for what you truly believe in and not let others influence you, and to find the courage to access the parts of yourself that are truly great. Fight and push harder for what you believe in, you'd be surprised, you are much stronger than you think. -- Lady Gaga