Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, is an American singer, songwriter, philanthropist and actress born in 1986 in New York. She began performing at open mic nights at age 14. Lady Gaga has won 11 Grammys and other awards for her music and has also founded the Born This Way Foundation to empower youth and improve mental health. The author is a big fan of Lady Gaga and believes she plays an important role in giving voice to social issues and promoting acceptance of minority groups.