The Blog of Awesome Women/ Madonna: The Cultural Chameleon

Has there been anyone in American culture who has remade herself as often—or as well—as Madonna? Truly an artist of her own physical form and image, Madonna has been a vamp, tramp, scamp; been a Brooke Shields look-alike, a Marilyn Monroe look-alike, an Evita look-alike and a Madonna (the original) look-alike. Her well publicized romances with Sean Penn, Warren Beatty, and her trainer Carlos Leon; the Material Girl; Girlie Show; and Sex Kitten—these incarnations almost seem like different women’s lives. And in each of them, Madonna has evoked controversy.

She’s been a target for her open approach to sex and the presence of eroticism in her work. Her sheroism as a gay rights and AIDS activist received much less press than her pointy bras did. Madonna was threatened with jail on several occasions for her pro-gay stance; she took the challenge and remained steadfast in her solidarity with the gay community.

Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was born into a staunchly Catholic home in Michigan in 1958. Her mother was extremely Puritanical; before she died when Madonna was six, she taught her that pants that zip up the front were sinful. By the time Madonna was a teen, she had fame on the brain and escaped to New York City as soon as possible to make it happen. Struggling as a dancer, she lived as a squatter until she hit the big time with “Lucky Star” in 1984. Since then, she has sold more than 100 million records, has appeared in fifteen films, had dozens of top ten hits, and penned a very controversial book, Sex.

Now on the right side of forty, Madonna has matured into her full glory. Beautiful, powerful, and unflinchingly honest, Madonna has come into her own, removed the many masks, and dared to reveal her heart. Motherhood suits her well, and she has flourished as a businesswoman with her successful Maverick Records. After her highly praised performance as Evita in the musical drama, Madonna no longer has to prove herself in any arena and is relaxed, confident, and grounded. She is also more vibrant than ever, looking back over her Manhattan days as a starving squatter, her hard-earned stardom and musing at the changes daughter Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon brought her to life. “Becoming a mother, I just have a whole new outlook on life. I see the world as a much more hopeful place.” She has adopted several children from Africa and has recently been a voice for the Trump Resistance. What is next in store for the former Material Girl? Stay tuned.

“I knew every word to Court and Spark; I worshipped her when I was in high school. Blue is amazing. I would have to say of all the women I’ve heard, she had the most profound effect on me from a lyrical point of view.”—Madonna on pensive poetess and musical shero Joni Mitchell

This bio of Madonna was taken from The Book of Awesome Women by Becca Anderson, which is available now through Amazon and Mango Media.