Lady Gaga, singer/actress/songwriter/fashion force, covers Harper’s Bazaar’s December/January issue, which officially enters its 150th year in 2017. The cover, an homage to the milestone birthday, was shot by Inez and Vinoodh. Inside, Gaga writes an essay on topics that range the gamut—fame, her latest album, the definition of being a lady in a modern world, and more. We’ve rounded up a few gems…
On the highs and lows of fame, and what truly matters…
“Fame is the best drug that’s ever existed. But once you realize who you are and what you care about, that need for more, more, more just goes away. What matters is that I have a great family, I work hard, I take care of those around me, I provide jobs for people I love very much, and I make music that I hope sends a good message into the world. I turned 30 this year, and I’m a fully formed woman. I have a clear perspective on what I want. That, for me, is success. I want to be somebody who is fighting for what’s true—not for more attention, more fame, more accolades.”
On why she took a step back from the spotlight until now, with the release of her new album Joanne, honoring her aunt who she is named for…
“Before I made Joanne, I took some time off… I was able to get off the train of endless work I’d been on, which was quite abusive to my body and my mind, and have some silence and some space around me. I wanted to experience music again the way I did when I was younger, when I just had to make it, instead of worrying what everybody things or being obsessed with things that aren’t important.”
On what it means to be a lady today…
“Being a lady today means being a fighter. It means being a survivor. It means letting yourself be vulnerable and acknowledging your shame or that you’re sad or you’re angry. It takes great strength to do that… Health, happiness, love—these are the things that are at the heart of a great lady, I think. That’s the kind of lady I want to be. You know, I never thought I’d say this, but isn’t it time to take off the corsets? As someone who loves them, I think it’s time to take them off.”
The issue hits newsstands November 22; read Lady Gaga’s complete essay HERE.
