I think Madonna is incredible. Sexy, individualistic, creative, strong, and captivating. I have been in love with her for years! I can’t believe she is 60 years old today — still looking incredible, reinventing herself, pushing boundaries, and having fun!
Celebration of Madonna’s birthday
Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone is the best-selling female recording artist of all time, according to Guinness World Records. Madonna has curated a fabulous career, leaving behind a powerful music and film legacy, as well as one that has become philanthropic. She remains the figurehead for other women, calling out misogyny and sexism and being a trailblazer for other women. In a time of # MeToo, Madonna has always led the way in owning her sexuality, standing up for other women, and forging many successful careers.
Madonna – a woman who celebrates other women
In a very powerful acceptance speech at the Billboard Awards, Madonna said, “I stand before you as a doormat. Oh, I mean, as a female entertainer,” Madonna told the audience at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Billboard reports. “Thank you for acknowledging my ability to continue my career for 34 years in the face of blatant sexism and misogyny and constant bullying and relentless abuse.”
A very powerful message which is incredibly relevant today, Madonna went on to say, “As women, we have to start appreciating our own worth and each other’s worth. Seek out strong women to befriend, to align yourself with, to learn from, to collaborate with, to be inspired by, to support, and be enlightened by.”
Street Artist Pegasus dedicates mural in Shoreditch to birthday queen Madonna
Looks like we are not the only fans of Madonna. Street artist Pegasus has dedicated a mural to Madonna on her birthday! Looks sensational — I am off to find it this weekend. Original story: Evening Standard
New York, New York
Madonna moved to New York in 1977, where she studied dance and worked as a model. She went on to record demos with her boyfriend Stephen Bray. Yet another broke girl making her way in the city, Madonna went on to become an iconic and celebrated superstar. A trailblazer.
Madonna as a song-artist
In 1984, this song reached the charts, followed soon by Like A Virgin and Material Girl. On tour with her Like a Virgin tour, Madonna also featured at Live Aid.
In 1986 came True Blue, where she changed her look, cut off her hair, and adopted a more 1950s look.
In 1989, she released Like a Prayer, releasing a video with crucifixes and kissing a black priest, which caused so much controversy at the time.
Vogue and the Blonde Ambition Tour resurrected the powerful platinum blonde, reinforcing female power and sexuality as key messages. The conical bra, which was designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier, was such an iconic image of Madonna during this era.
1998, with her album Ray of Light, she went for more of a hippie, relaxed look. Although this was my least favourite album, it was incredibly beautiful and proves how versatile an artist she really is.
In 2004, Madonna hit the road again with her Re-invention World Tour followed by her Sticky & Sweet Tour, then Confessions, which is where I finally saw her with my best friend Tracy! Just incredible on stage.
Film Career
In 1985, Madonna starred in Desperately Seeking Susan alongside Rosanna Arquette, who spots a personal ad in the paper entitled ‘Desperately Seeking Susan’ and heads to NY to find her. What made this film was that it seemed that Madonna just played herself, and the character was written about her. Into the Groove has been my favourite song for years.
Madonna went on to star alongside Sean Penn in Shanghai Surprise, set in China during the Japanese occupation in 1938. Madonna had married him the previous year, in 1985.
In 1996, Madonna starred in Evita, playing Eva Duarte Perón, the wife of Argentine president Juan Perón, who rose from poverty to become an Argentinian actress and the wife of powerful President Juan Perón. This has to be her greatest film to date and a role she pursued with steely ambition. The film went on to win numerous awards.
In Swept Away, Madonna was directed by her then-husband Guy Ritchie, with co-Italian actor Adriano Giannini, which unfortunately didn’t do too well at the Box Office. I don’t think I ever got to see this one.
Shock Factor
Madonna released her coffee table book ‘Sex’, which featured Madonna in a number of sexually explicit poses along with other celebrated figures. Again, Madonna was the subject of much controversy, which she courted through her long career.
Madonna kissed Britney and Christina Aguilera when they performed together at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1983, which shocked the world. Not that many people could be shocked by Madonna anymore — although I am sure she could find a way!
Love for her family
Madonna married Guy Ritchie, with whom she had two children: Rocco and Lourdes. They were married for 8 years before parting ways. Madonna went on to adopt Ben from Malawi, then twins Esther and Stella. Her work in Malawi has become a massive focus, which shows an incredible side to Madonna as a mother. A recent pic of them all in Lisbon.
Raise Malawi in Honour of Madonna’s Birthday!
Madonna announced a partnership with Facebook and global payments company Ripple to celebrate her birthday and raise funds for orphans and vulnerable children in Malawi. The fundraiser, which benefits Madonna’s foundation,, Raising Malawi, is hosted on her Facebook page and will run for the month from July 30 through August 31.
