Lady Gaga was not always such a ‘Fame Monster’. Before Gaga, there was Stefani Germanotta.

Born in 1986, in Yonkers, NY, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta is the child of Italian American parents. Having been introduce to music at an early age, her talents grew significantly. She was given the opportunity to attend The Juilliard School at just 11 years old, but instead attend Convent of the Sacred Heart. She’s known piano by ear since the age of 4, wrote her first ballad at 13, and gained early admissions to Tisch School of the Arts at 17, but later withdrew to fulfill her music career.

As Stefani Germanotta, and just 19 she was signed with Def Jam Records, but was dropped 3 months later. Then…well lets just say, I now fully understand what influences made Stefani Germanotta become the Lady Gaga we know.

After the Def Jam fallout, she started performing in clubs in the Lower East Side with bands Mackin, Pulsifer and SGBand. It is reported that she started experimenting with drugs and performed at burlesque shows. “I went against all I was brought up to be; I moved out of home, wouldn’t take any help from my parents (both internet entrepreneurs) and supported myself with waitressing jobs and stripping,” said the soon to be Gaga. “I discovered a real personal freedom through it.” The drug experimenting didn’t last long though, thanks to her dad. “My dad thought I’d lost it. It was his reaction that pulled me back.”

She continued to collaborate with various bands and performed frequently at local clubs. Here is a video of her performing Led Zeppelin’s ‘D’yer Maker’ in January 2006.

So, whats with the name “Lady Gaga”? Well if you are among the many who admire the extravagant art that the group Queen produced, then you might recall the hit “Radio Ga Ga”. Her early producer, Rob Fusari, compared her flamboyant style and voice to that of Queen’s lead singer, Freddie Mercury, and gave her the nickname after the this. Hence, the birth of “Lady Gaga”.

Lady Starlight & Lady Gaga

In 2007, now Lady Gaga worked with Lady Starlight (left) who helped her piece together her onstage attire. Together they took on the club scene and established “The Ultimate Pop Burlesque Rockshow” known as “Lady Gaga and the Starlight Revue.” It wound up critically acclaimed with positive reviews.

However, the rest of the world was not quite ready for Gaga. “A lot of record labels thought I was too theatrical, then, when I auditioned for stage musicals, the producers said I was too pop.”

In 2007, Gaga started writing for artists at Akon’s Konvict Label, like Fergie, PCD, Britney Spears and NKOTB. It was then that Akon convinced Interscope Records chairman to sign Gaga with a joint Deal with his label.

She describes her style as electro-glam, influenced by idols such as David Bowie and Queen. Which has been mirrored in her chart topping hits, “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”.

What influenced her outrageous attire? Well Gaga says she’s “very into fashion” and that it is “everything” to her and that it began with none other than Mama Germanotta who was “always very well kept and beautiful.”

In an interview with MTV she explained, “When I’m writing music, I’m thinking about the clothes I want to wear on stage. It’s all about everything altogether—performance art, pop performance art, fashion. For me, it’s everything coming together and being a real story that will bring back the super-fan. I want to bring that back. I want the imagery to be so strong that fans will want to eat and taste and lick every part of us.”

She personally runs her own production team called the Haus of Gaga, that creates many of her clothes, stage props, and hairdos. Maybe this is all in spite of the catholic school uniforms of red-and-white checked pinafores, blue shorts and kilts. She ditched the brunette locks for platinum blond and even had some work done to complete the Lady Gaga look.

Her Gaga-ness has truly become a fashion symbol worldwide. With her looks, her eclectic music and her ‘never give up’ attitude, Gaga has truly earned her place as one of the hottest new artists.