Lady Gaga: How Her Alter-ego, Jo Calderone, Became Her ‘Boyfriend’

Lady Gaga has her “Ronnie” drag persona, as seen on RuPaul’s Drag Race. The artist also created a “boyfriend” persona, as seen by fans during the “You and I” music video and the MTV VMA Awards.

Here’s what the “Bad Romance” singer said about this character and some of the inspiration behind him. 

Lady Gaga is the Grammy Award-winning artist behind ‘Born This Way,’ ‘Bad Romance,’ and other songs

Her “Little Monsters” often share their love for this creative and unique singer. Lady Gaga is the performer behind songs like “Born This Way,” “Shallow,” and “Rain On Me.” She collaborated with Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, and BLACKPINK, earning several Grammy Awards in the process. 

Lady Gaga appeared in several films, including the Academy Award-winning production of A Star is Born and the 2021 release House of Gucci. Additionally, this performer created a male alter-ego named Jo Calderone, complete with a “dirty” persona and several public appearances. 

In honor of the end of Britney Spear’s conservatorship, Lady Gaga posted a picture with the pop star, dressed as Jo Calderone. This persona made an appearance on several occasions, with Lady Gaga even offering insight regarding the creation of this character.

Lady Gaga has a ‘boyfriend’ alter-ego, named Jo Calderone

From her bulletproof Inauguration dress to her meat outfit, the “Born This Way” artist has had several memorable fashion moments. In 2011, Lady Gaga attended the MTV Video Music Awards as this character, later elaborating on her choice to make a drag persona. 

“ At this time I was actually going through a breakup, so I actually created this character that was my boyfriend,” Lady Gaga said during an interview with British Vogue. “I inhabited this character, Jo Calderone, so it was representative of relationship, representative of my father as well. 

“But everything about this was just meant to be kind of a jersey boy greaser…,” she continued. “It’s a feeling and I wanted him to be dirty and I rehearsal a lot with the boys.”

This character made an appearance in the “You and I” music video, earning millions of YouTube views in the process. Lady Gaga isn’t the only celebrity with a famous alter-ego. Beyoncé released her album Sasha Fierce, introducing the world to her stage persona. 

Lady Gaga appeared as New Jersey’s best Lady Gaga impersonator on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ season 9

Lady Gaga is also a longtime supporter of the drag community. When she appeared on the reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race as the season 9 contestant “Ronnie,” from Newark, New Jersey, it didn’t take the contestants long to figure out it was actually Lady Gaga under her drag persona. 

Music by Lady Gaga is available for streaming on most major platforms. House of Gucci, starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver is available in theaters.