Finally, Lady Gaga weighs in. I’ll admit, I’ve always had my reservations about the meat-wearing pop star for a number of reasons. Mostly because I don’t trust people who casually show up to places in eggs, but that’s neither here nor there.
However, her recent launching of “A Body Revolution 2013” has given me a new appreciation for her “bare-all, tell-all” attitude — just maybe not at concerts.
For a long time, I couldn’t quite understand the mixed messages Gaga was giving to impressionable fans. For someone who preaches self-love and acceptance, she was constantly talking about her strict workouts and dieting regimes.
It was hard to take Gaga’s “Born This Way” façade seriously when she’s rarely seen without ten pounds of makeup, a wig, and fake eyelashes … and that’s on a normal day.
No, Gaga, you weren’t “born that way.” Technically, you were born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, but apparently none of those four names were good enough.
Everything down to her name was fake — until now.
Recently, Gaga launched “A Body Revolution 2013,” on her Little Monsters site, urging fans to share their stories about body-conscious issues and eating disorders.
The Mother Monster also did some sharing of her own, uploading four photos of herself completely stripped down to nothing but her bra and underwear.
The revealing, un-Photoshopped (that we know of) pictures were captioned: “Bulimia and anorexia since I was 15,” followed by “but today I join the BODY REVOLUTION.”
I don’t revere Gaga for sharing that she had an eating disorder, I commend her for sharing that she has an eating disorder.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen celebrities open up about eating disorders. Ashlee Simpson, Demi Lovato, Jessica Alba, Elton John and Lucy Hale are just a few of Hollywood’s elite that have opened up about their struggles with weight.
Whatever their reasoning, publicity or public service announcement, one trend seems to be the same: these public figures have already “overcome” the obstacle they were facing.
They’re healthy, they’re happy, they’re sober … but what about when they weren’t? Where were the cameras and magazine spreads during their struggles?
Too often, these public figures want exposure, but they don’t want the vulnerability.
Lady Gaga is one of the first celebrities who I’ve seen fighting alongside fans rather than for fans.
She’s being vulnerable, honest, but most importantly — inspiring.
Does Gaga have an amazing publicist? Probably. But the thing is — I don’t care.
I would much rather see time, money and energy go into launching something that can actually make a difference in the lives of men and women everywhere.
So here’s to you, Stefani Germanotta — the real, un-Photoshopped, vulnerable version of yourself — I think it’s the most beautiful one.
Casey Compernolle is a junior studying journalism and a columnist at The Post. Is Lady Gaga on the right track? Email Casey at cc150709@ohiou.edu.
