Celebrities have the power to influence style choices as well as social movements. Lady Gaga has been making headlines for years, but most recently sparked conversation through her empowering fashion choices during Elle’s Women in Hollywood Awards. Instead of opting for her usual out-of-the-box, glamorous fashion choices with glitter and themes, she chose to wear an oversized men’s suit and a sleek, low-bun. This outfit represented much more than just a simple choice. After being presented with a Women in Hollywood Award, Gaga opened up in her speech about the pressure on women in Hollywood and elaborated on experiences she has had with sexual assault, PTSD, and more. In an inspiring, tearful speech at the awards show, Gaga claimed she was taking the power back, not just for herself, but for women everywhere.
Women face oppression in many forms, and by using her platform to inspire a societal shift, Gaga draws light to that oppression and helps steer the conversation in the right direction. Her speech covered sexual assault, mental health, and what it means to be a woman in today’s society. However, her speech branches beyond what she said. She sparked a conversation about how we can change for the better in the future, and what we need to do right now to provoke that change. Acknowledging that she has a platform and a voice for major influence, Gaga isn’t afraid to be bold both in her fashion choices and in her brave, public outcries for change. We're proud of her for being so vulnerable, open, and authentic and hope that her boldness can help shape positive change for women everywhere.
