The evolution of Gaga's star image is prominent here, from an immature, sexually-charged persona to a sophisticated, elegant performance with a focus solely on her vocal talent.

Indeed, Gaga diversified into the world of acting, constructing a more commodifiable star image and opening up new opportunities as a well-rounded star.

"television programmes feature guest appearances from celebrities to build their audiences"

"the individual star has a highly identifiable, even iconic, physical image, a specific history for the circulation of this image, and accrues psychological and semiotic depth over time" (De Cordova, 1990: 9).

Gaga is put into an extremely vulnerable position, exposing her fantasies about sexual relations with women.

Gaga also discusses her father's open heart surgeries.

Such in-depth, personal interviews like this one here blurs the boundaries between audience and star, incorporating values of closeness, authenticity, relatability and often sympathy for a star, as oppose to feelings of distance, hierarchy and fame.

The 'Gaga' persona was then constructed with the influence of the flamboyant, unique star personas such as Freddie Mercury and David Bowie, with an emphasis on sexual liberation, eccentricity, bold fashion and individualistic style.

Audiences question the difference between Stefani and Lady Gaga. Is 'Gaga' a carefully constructed professional persona made solely for the stage? Or is there aspects of Stefani's private personality that shine through this perfect portrayal of the star image of 'Gaga'.

Gaga presents an authentic star image in a personal rather than professional setting of a car.

The name Lady Gaga, and all that the name entails, is presented as a commodified star persona. She is a full experience that audiences can buy into.

She describes her experience of being starstruck seeing Al Pacino on set.

"I really love to make the public smile and that's why I do what I do"

She discusses the darkness in her life, she hated being famous. She feels used up by the "very entity she created". Her real name was left behind. "My biggest enemy is Lady Gaga"

Lady Gaga was exhausted trying to keep up with her ever-changing star persona. She opens up about her mental health issues and self-harming. Audiences can feel a sense of relatability to this star image, hating yourself and suffering with mental health issues and suicide whilst being alone.

From statement pieces to sophistication and elegance, coinciding with her professional endeavours.

This displays Gaga's authenticity and genuine kindness, selflessness and thoughtfullness.

"Little Monsters were cultivated in a way we hadn't seen before."

"She would talk about feeling like an outsider, sharing personal stories and preaching about tolerance and the importance of equality, consistently vocalising a system of beliefs that she stood for. And so, the Little Monsters had both a name, an ideology and a universal symbol to unite them"

"I just love Gaga. So genuine"

"Wow, she seems so genuine...so rare to see in Celebs nowadays"

"Very few celebrities have surprised me (rather, touched me) with their genuine humaneness and humility"

Gaga displays a persona which is incredibly dedicated to the music industry. She is not interested in the money or valuables that coincide with fame, yet she uses her popularity to give back to others. She presents a certain kind of authenticity and genuineness that can't be seen through the darkness of Gaga's songs. She puts every penny she earns back into her shows to provide fans with the best possible experience. She lives for music and she lives for her audiences, anything else is not necessary for her. fame doesnt mean money, fame means the joy to do what she loves to the best standard she can and to provide fans with a role model and inspirational symbol of freedom.

She is bold, confident and a powerful personality. Indeed, "I've always been famous its just now everybody knows about it".

Gaga: "I'm gypsy"

In describing her concert, the reviewer states "just being you was a running theme" "The Monster Ball will set you free" "I want you to leave loving yourself more"

"the final catchy dance beat left fans in a state of pure Gaga"

Audiences are presented with an iconic star image, questioning if Gaga is a real person, or if the 'Gaga' experience is a symbol of acceptance and liberation, as her confidence illuminates the stage.

"Lady Gaga is a corporate media creation and a cleverly marked commodity"

Gaga was also able to advertise her new album, singing a stripped down version of "A Sine From Above". Harper's Bazaar writes:

The film's message "My Voice, My Strength" is meant to invite "people to use their voice to share their values, diversity and beliefs," according to the brand. “My voice is what I am standing for, what makes me heard, it’s the statement of my individuality. The voice is alive. It has its own life. It’s a force of nature. Nature is powerful. It’s important how you use it," Gaga says in the release.

This brand identity of individuality coincides with Gaga's star image, promoting authenticity and continuity of values associated with the Gaga persona.

Gaga's star image remains genuine and authentic, utilising her brand endorsements for good, unlike other celebrities who use advertisements to excel their money and fame.

"Brand partnerships with Lady Gaga have also been set up with a variety of media outlets to ensure distribution of her music and videos."

"It is critical to observe that what comes to mind when we speak of Lady Gaga are not merely the catchy pop tunes and dance beats she and her producers have created but also the strong visual images and fashion styles the performer has become known for. In view of the construction of her fame, in particular, the image of Lady Gaga is at least as, if not more important than her music"

"the singer’s public persona also involves her perceived to be shocking fashion choices, her look and her vision, as well as, on a more content-oriented level, her activism, her outspokenness, her sense of being different, and, more generally, her involvement in establishing outreach toward her fans and those she perceives to be deserving of special consideration."

"I see the celebrity metronome beating across all of time and space, bringing to the world the ‘everywhere’ of celebrity culture."

"Celebrity culture involves the transmission of power relations, is connected to identity formation and notions of shared belonging"

This extract discusses the authenticity of Lady Gaga, in particular how "notions of authenticity are combined inorder to construct a ‘real’ Gaga, the one behind the stylish and media-exposed star". Varialle(2012) also notes the "'rags to riches' path she walked to achieve fame".

"Lady Gaga is the stage persona of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta.’ Before becoming a pop singer/songwriter, she was a performance artist, and performance art is still at the core of her self-presentation. Gaga borrows (if “borrows” is the right word) freely and unabashedly-from Madonna, Michael Jackson, Cher, Cyndi Lauper."

“I consider myself to be a performance artist.. . . My whole life is performance.”

Sexuality:

Knowing that Gaga is bisexual, we can, in retrospect, see that many of her songs deal with the toll that hiding one’s sexuality can take on a person

"As fashion offered salvation to a young Stefani Germanotta, her creation, Lady Gaga, has proved to be an incendiary force both within the fashion world and as a performer who uses fashion and dress in highly inventive ways."

Gaga draws on her own experience of feeling like a ‘freak’ and encourages fans to “use me as an escape. ... I am the excuse to explore your identity. To be exactly who you are and to feel unafraid”

“Stars are involved in making themselves into commodities”

"Celebrities are a central part of the way media commodities are sold"

Several other Lady Gaga songs likewise explicitly deal with sex, such as: “Monster” and “G.U.Y.” (an acronym for girl under you) about sexual desires involving dominance and submission; “Alejandro” about casual sex; “Teeth” about the joys of pain and sex; “Sexxx Dreams” about sexual attraction toward men; and the thematically obvious, but musically oddly romantic sounding “I Like It Rough.”