Although I never expected to fall for Gaga, I must say that she has won me over somehow.  I’m not the only one who is somewhat mystified by just how she charms us, but the following quotes are a window into what pushed me over the edge.

1. She’s a strong individual, and she wants you to be, too.

“When I say to you, there is nobody like me, and there never was, that is a statement I want every woman to feel and make about themselves… I know my greatness is individual. And I want every woman to be able to say that.”

2. She knows who she is and is proud of it.

“There is never a moment that you see me that I’m not working towards something creatively. For me, it’s very simple: I’m not going to allow you to portray me in a way that is your idea of what you think I am. I know who I am and — praise the Lord! — I’m a real artist. Why is this a bad thing?”

3. She’s an outspoken ally of the LGBT community (who spoke at a Washington rally) and is open about her own sexuality as well.

“I don’t think being gay or being bisexual or being sexually free is anything that should be hidden. Everybody has a right to their secrecy, of course, but I don’t feel particularly shy about it. It is who I am.”

4. She’s known for her fashion choices, but she really knows how to accessorize.

“I think we must all remember that the ultimate accessory is the condom.”

5. She’s on a mission.

“I want to make it fashionable to have safe sex. You must be safe.”

6. She can identify with the outsiders and freaks.

“I didn’t fit in in high school and I felt like a freak…  So I like to create this atmosphere for my fans where they feel like they have a freak in me to hang out with and they don’t feel alone.”

7. A lot of us were these kids, or at least knew them.

“I was kind of darker, theatre-obsessed, always doing music, whereas other girls were kind of having a nice time and enjoying their high-school years.”

8. She’s clearly a sexual icon, but she wanted to leave that out of her album covers.

“My album covers are not sexual at all, which was an issue at my record label. I fought for months, and I cried at meetings. They didn’t think the photos were commercial enough…The last thing a young woman needs is another picture of a sexy pop star writhing in sand, covered in grease, touching herself.”

9. She’s sick of being treated like an airhead.

“I guess it’s because at this point we don’t expect much of blonde pop singers. And when I came out it was, ‘Oh, she’s attention-seeking!’ Or, ‘She’s trying too hard’, or ‘She wants to be noticed’, whereas the very nature of performance art is that it wants to be noticed, so everyone’s kind of missing the point.”

10. She knows she doesn’t have it all wrapped up yet.

“My true legacy will be the test of time, and whether I can sustain a space in pop culture and really make stuff that will have a genuine impact.”

I, for one, and pulling for her.  If you’re still not convinced, check out this analysis over at Emily’s Vital Vinyl Records.

Quotes from here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.