Lady Gaga

"I've always been a weirdo," Lady Gaga once said. Born Stefani Germanotta in New York City, the singer attended Catholic school before her musical gifts led to work as a songwriter for stars like Britney Spears and New Kids on the Block. Hand in hand with the hooks that fill her two albums, The Fame and Fame Monster, is a look so outrageous it amounts to performance art. "I spend all my money on wardrobe and props," she has said. The star works with a collective of stylists and artists called Haus of Gaga and, when all else fails, "I design, I hand-make, I borrow—whatever it takes." But just don't accuse her of being a part-time diva. "I'm not a character," she told People. "I really am all the things that you see."

2005: The fresh-faced student at Convent of the Sacred Heart wrote that her dream was "headlining at Madison Square Garden." (SplashNewsOnline.com)

2007: As a songwriter and up-and-coming artist, Lady Gaga was mistaken for another strong-willed singer: "Actually the reason I dyed my hair blonde is because I used to get Amy Winehouse all the time. I don't mind being compared to Amy, but I wanted my own image." (Retna)

2008: She released The Fame and accented her bone-straight bangs with a geometric headpiece. "I go onstage in origami dresses," she told People. "I'm inspired by that '70s glamour and decadence." (Retna)

2009: The creative star whipped up her style-setting hair bow from inexpensive extensions—and wore it 24/7. "Me and my hair bow, we go to bed together," she told reporters. "She sleeps where I sleep." (Landov)

2009: For the Much Music Awards in Toronto, Lady Gaga wore a coronet of braids atop a bowl-cut wig. (George Pimentel/WireImage)

2009: During a visit to Berlin, she wore her hair in a voluminous wedge cut. (Florian Seefried/Getty Images)

2009: "My fashion is my freedom," Gaga said. She played up her platinum Marilyn Monroe curls with a black lace mask. (Retna)

2009: At the MTV Video Music Awards she covered half her face with a House of Blue Eyes mask and added a spectacular blond and pink coiffure. (WireImage)

2009: After releasing her second album, The Fame Monster, Gaga went to Blackpool, England to perform for Queen Elizabeth II. Her, uh, restrained look included lipstick and eye-framing crystals that matched her rubber ruff. (Startraks Photo)

from In Style