Lady Gaga Skips Makeup Amid Accusations Over-Sexualized Hollywood Harms Teens
Lady Gaga is famous for her outlandish costumes and heavy makeup but the pop star appears bare faced in the October issue of Harper’s Bazaar. The singer is on the cover wearing a natural look that may stun fans accustomed to Gaga’ elaborate meat dresses and alter egos.
“Whether I’m wearing lots of makeup or no makeup, I’m always the same person inside,” she told the magazine.
Gaga seems comfortable in her own skin as she debuts an au natural look in black and white photos. However, the singer says there is nothing natural about the magazine cover.
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“There’s this idea that it’s all natural, but everything’s been staged to look natural,” she said.
“It’s more about just being honest and sincere to the core of what you do,” she said. “I’m very free-spirited. Even when I was a kid, I used to run around naked with the babysitter, driving her crazy.”
The singer has created an extravagant persona many believe is only used to increase album sales and publicity, but Gaga says she does not “put on” for her fans.
“I try not to focus on what people expect from me," she told Harper’s Bazaar. “I think what has been lovely about my relationship with the public is that they expect the unexpected from me.”
Certain critics say her over-the-top image only contributes to an already oversexualized Hollywood. There are some who believe Gaga’s sexualized image has a negative influence on young female fans.
A scientific report in February by the American Psychological Association (APA) said advertising and media images lower a woman’s overall health. Researchers in the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls found the sexualization of young girls can cause low self-esteem, image problems and lower mental health, which can increase the likelihood of eating disorders and depression.
According to the report, sexualized images of women have increased over the years, especially in the music industry.
“As a society, we need to replace all of these sexualized images with ones showing girls in positive settings, ones that show the uniqueness and competence of girls,” stated Zurbriggen in a statement. “The goal should be to deliver messages to all adolescents, boys and girls, that lead to healthy sexual development.”
