Whether you like her or not, at the very least, you have to give Madonna a little respect. After all, is there really anyone else like her? Lady Gaga still has about 30 years to prove she’s got what it takes.
Compelled by sadness and responsibility, Madonna made her Ellen debut on Tuesday to give her two cents on bullying and recently related suicides. Of course, in true Madonna fashion, she adds a bit of drama by likening the bullying epidemic to the Holocaust or lynching. Too dramatic, or is this current problem also simply un-American?
“To hear that teenagers are taking their lives because they’re being bullied in schools and dormitories, what have you, is kind of unfathomable,” said Madonna. “The gay community has been incredibly supportive of me — I wouldn’t have a career if it weren’t for the gay community.”
She goes on to share her own insecurities as a teen, and how she addresses bullying with her own children. She closes by offering a simple solution: Don’t gossip for one day… Can you do it?
The interview got us thinking about about the pop queen and all the ways she’s become a positive influence –– conventionally or not. So here are five reasons why Madge still rocks our socks.
She Admires Uniqueness
You don’t become an icon by fitting in; that means Madonna knows a thing or two about bullying. So Miss M joined Ellen on her show to speak out against bullying. She shared her social troubles and explained why kids today should embrace their unique qualities. “I was incredibly lonely as a child, as a teenager,” she said. “I have to say I never felt like I fit in at school. I wasn’t a jock. I wasn’t an intellectual. There was no group I felt a part of. I just felt like a weirdo.” Madonna is the perfect example of what being weird can bring you in life.
She Teaches the Power of Reinvention
Most of us have had bad days, bad years, bad 80′s hair dos. Madge has had her share, but she never fails to turn every head when she comes back into the spotlight. She’s got some serious chameleonesque qualities that we all could learn from. Why get stuck in a rut when you can just whip off that fingerless lace glove and try something else? Need to make a change? Dare to reach beyond your comfort zone. Same-old is boring and won’t bring you different results.
She Proves Being in Your 50′s Can Be Hot
Hello, have you seen her body? She just keeps getting more buff! She started out as a dancer, but her devotion to yoga and healthy living in her later years is definitely paying off. Meno … what? She’s now bringing fitness –– her way –– to the masses with her latest venture, Hard Candy Fitness. Knowing a thing or to about working out, she’s just opened what she considers to be the ultimate gym-meets-entertainment experience; the perfect place to get your fit on.
She Gets Real About Giving Back
Though Madonna’s life seems about as far from poverty as possible, she hasn’t closed herself off from the real world. With the creation of Raising Malawi, a nonprofit organization dedicated to lifting up one of the poorest countries in the world, she’s working to end troubles in the world, not turning a blind eye.
She’s Not a Media Addict
It’s soooo easy to get immersed in our television shows, news banter, gossip mags and Twitter feeds. Though she’s a regular subject of media outlets, Madonna stays away from the endless shower of info-nuggets pouring down on us constantly. Ever tried a media detox? You’re shaking by noon! Madge seems to resist the temptation and doesn’t let her children become all-consumed either. Does that mean she doesn’t read Tonic? OK, so maybe she’s not perfect! But that’s all right, she’s Madonna.
Photo by Tony Barton via Wikipedia Commons. Video courtesy of The Ellen DeGeneres Show via YouTube.