UK. Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper made a high-voltage personal appearance in London earlier this week, in their role as spokespeople for this year’s MAC Viva Glam Campaign, “From Our Lips”.
The stars were interviewed by Sharon Osbourne about “pleasure, peril and passion”, at Il Bottaccio in Belgravia, London.
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The Estée Lauder Companies’ Per Neuman and John Demsey, with Lady Gaga and MAC’s Nancy Mahon |
The event was introduced by John Demsey, Group President, Estée Lauder Companies and Chairman, MAC AIDS Fund. “We are absolutely thrilled to be here in London today, for the international launch of our new Viva Glam spokespersons, Cyndi Lauder and Lady Gaga,” he declared.
“Both women are here today to unveil the new MAC Viva Glam campaign. To date that fundraising campaign has helped raise over US$160 million for men, women and children affected by HIV and AIDS.”
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Never knowingly underdressed: MAC’s ultra-glam trinity of Lady Gaga, Sharon Osbourne and Cyndi Lauper |
As previously reported, MAC has created a special lipstick shade for both Lauper and Lady Gaga; 100% of the selling price of these lipsticks worldwide will be donated to the MAC AIDS Fund.
Demsey described Lauder and Lady Gaga as “amazing, iconic woman: forces of nature and forces of the music industry”. He then ceded the floor to his new spokespeople, who were subsequently interviewed on stage by Sharon Osbourne.
“I can’t tell you how flattered I am that MAC has asked me to be the moderator for this conversation today,” noted Osbourne. “I guess they needed someone quite loud and very proud – and I think I fit that bill. But you have to be loud and proud to get your view across with something as important as HIV and AIDS,” she continued. “No use in being quiet and subtle, you have to be as outgoing as you can to get your message across.”
Hence the selection of Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauder as this year’s vessels of communication. They swept in to the launch venue, attired in trademark flamboyant dress, to spread the safe sex message via answers to questions submitted by fans.
“What is your message to women around the world about sex?” was the opener. “Wrap it up,” shot back Lauper. “Use a condom”¦.I find the fact that lipstick can be used as a tool to spread the word about this very exciting, because whatever their age, a woman will always buy lipstick.”
“Right now, women are at the highest rate of infection; and Cyndi and I represent two demographics, aged 17-24 and 39-60, which are particularly affected,” added Lady Gaga.
“A lipstick is a symbol of strength and inner confidence. Cyndi and I want to help inspire our fans to be confident in the bedroom and during the condom negotiation, so women will be strong enough and secure enough to say, “˜I have safe sex or no sex at all’.”
Lauper acknowledged that not all women felt they could say no. “There are so many women around the world who are not afforded that negotiation,” she explained. “And so for those women, the MAC AIDS Fund is working with a pharmaceutical company that is developing a female condom. So no longer is there a need for negotiation. It will be within a woman’s power to protect herself.”
Lauper continued: “I am thrilled to be part of this campaign knowing that the complete US$15 from each lipstick will go to the MAC AIDS Fund, which is serving the hardest hit areas first, which are parts of Africa, the Caribbean, the Bronx New York and Washington DC.”
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Loud and proud: moderator Sharon Osbourne quizzed Lauper and Lady Gaga about “pleasure, peril and passion” |
Osbourne asked the women whether they thought the present-day awareness of HIV and AIDS was as high as in the 1980s.
“Absolutely not,” replied Lady Gaga. “The statistics in the UK alone are that 72% of sexually-active women have never been tested for HIV – that’s virtually three-quarters. And 82% of those women who are in committed and monogamous relationships say that they also do not practise safe sex. But we read about it every day, people are unfaithful, so it’s important to continue to get tested with your partner. It’s delusional not to. This is a disease that affects everyone, not just the gay community, and right now it”˜s mostly affecting women.”
Lady Gaga also emphasised that there was nothing wrong with abstaining. “I am single, through choice, because I’m on the road so much I can’t get to know anybody. Even Lady Gaga can be celibate,” she declared. “It’s OK not to have sex. You don’t have to have sex to feel loved.”
“What do you see as the biggest sexual challenge for women right now?”, was the next question asked by Osbourne. “The fact that you have to negotiate for someone else to wear a condom – that’s huge,” underlined Lauper.
Lady Gaga injected a note of humour into the proceedings by dead-panning: “The orgasm.”
Osbourne then moved on to discussing the new MAC Viva Glam lipsticks themselves, asking the artists how they felt the shades represented them.
“I wanted a deep red,” replied Lauper honestly, laughing. “But MAC said, it’s not going to sell. So I told them, fine, make one that’ll sell. And actually what they’ve created is a great tool for your [make-up] kit. It’s sheer, you can put it over other lipsticks to make new colours, it’s so versatile it’s just great.”
Lady Gaga said she had reminisced about a lipstick shade she used to wear before she became famous, called Pink Nouveau. “I asked MAC to make a more accessible version of that colour.”
Osbourne concluded by asking the artists why they chose to participate in the MAC Viva Glam campaign. “I lost a lot of people close to me in the 1980s, and to be able to step up and help others now is important; you can’t ignore the people,” replied Lauper. “The truth is, if you buy this lipstick, you help save a life. And I feel honoured and privileged to be a part of that.”
“I have no house, I live on the road, and I joke that my fans are my room-mates, because I see them every day,” added Lady Gaga. “What keeps me warm at night is my identity and my sense of self, and that’s what MAC represents for me. When I go on stage, I realise every night how much my fans protect me and how much they mean to me, and I would be doing a real disservice to them, I would be a truly heartless and irresponsible person if I didn’t protect them too.”
She continued: “I believe so much in the philosophy of teaching young people how to empower themselves through self-expression – and that’s what MAC means to me. In turn I hope I can help someone feel good about themselves, to love themselves, and by wearing this lipstick remind themselves how valuable they are.
“Too many people think that HIV/AIDS is not affecting women, that it is still, somehow, a gay disease”¦What era are they living in?! It affects everyone and so women need to be smarter about having sex.”
“Everyone needs to be smarter about having sex,” interjected Lauper. “That’s what this whole thing is about. And this lipstick can help people remember that. Don’t be a knucklehead – spread the word, not the disease”¦Viva Life. Viva Glam.”
“Love yourself; protect yourself,” echoed Lady Gaga. “Help us to make a difference.”
*All photo credits: Dave Bennett