Lady Gaga’s ARTPOP Drops: Check Out Mama Monster’s Origins

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta childhood kid photo before famous young

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Baby Gaga aka Stefani Germanotta

Once a little monster, always a little monster.

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta rollerskating grade school photo childhood kid young before famous

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Gaga for Skates!

Little Stefani (left) is just like the rest of us. Even she has embarrassing photos wearing bad fashion and hanging out at the roller rink. Good times.

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta first communion young grade school childhood photo kid before famous

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At Her First Communion

Before she hatched from an egg as Lady Gaga, little Stefani Germanotta was a good little Catholic girl who looked adorable in her puffy white First Communion dress. What do you bet some incarnation of this look shows up in a future Gaga video?

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta childhood photo kid young before famous

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Gaga Growing Up

Some stars are made, but everyone knows that young Stefani Germanotta was “Born This Way,” baby.

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta high school yearbook photo young before famous convent of the sacred heart 2004

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Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta) in Her Senior Year of High School (2004)

Gaga grew up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart private, all-girls, Catholic School.

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta high school yearbook photo young before famous 2004

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Messing Around in High School (2004)

Stefani wasn’t always able to keep up her “Poker Face” at school. Gaga has said repeatedly that she felt like a freak and had to tone down her true self to fit in better.

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Getting Cozy with a Friend (2004)

Classmates say that she was a serious student, but also liked boys a lot. Singing was her top priority. Is this gentleman an early “Bad Romance”?

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta high school yearbook photo with friends before famous 2004

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Out with a Friend (2004)

By the time she was 16-years-old, Stefani was already dreaming of Gaga. She started singing at open mic nights and started auditioning for shows around New York City.

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta high school yearbook photo young dancing with father before famous 2004

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Dancing with Her Father (2004)

Stefani and her father “Just Dance.”

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Giving Her Friend a Squeeze (2004)

Despite feeling like a freak, Stefani had a core group of friends that she stuck with through her time at Sacred Heart.

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Gorgeous and Blonde (2004)

If the Convent of the Sacred Heart didn’t know Stefani was destined for greatness at first, they must have when they saw this picture. Tyra, eat your heart out.

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Showing Off Her Silly Side (2004)

Always the drama queen, Gaga starred in her high school productions of Guys and Dolls and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta high school yearbook photo young before famous with friends 2004

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All Dolled Up (2004)

When she was 16, she had a small part in an episode of The Sopranos. It didn’t make her a child star, but that’s a good thing for us. We like her better as a singer!

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Looking a Tad Jersey Shore (2004)

After high school Gaga worked on her songwriting, but dropped out of college during her sophomore year because she was sure that she could make it in the music biz. Risky or brilliant? 14 million Twitter followers (and counting) say, "brilliant!"

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta high school yearbook group photo young before famous 2004

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Rocking an A&F Sweatshirt (2004)

This was clearly taken before her vow to never wear pants. Abercrombie and Fitch definitely doesn’t sell dresses made of giant bubbles.

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta high school yearbook photo young with friends before famous 2004

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Gaga Sure Loves Her Classmates (2004)

The word on the street is that Stefani became Gaga because of the song “Radio Ga Ga” by Queen. And of course, in her early years, she looks nothing less than regal.

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta high school yearbook photo young 2004 before famous

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Having a Slight Kardashian Posing Moment (2004)

This was just practice for her later performances. Although, we will admit that it’s a little unsettling to see her dancing normally and not with blood all over her face.

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta Senior Year 2004 high school yearbook picture before famous

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Keeping Up with Lady Gaga (2004)

“The Germ” graduated from Sacred Heart in 2004. She may still miss the reunion in 2014, but we’re guessing it’s because she’s headlining at Madison Square Garden.

Lady Gaga Stefani Germanotta high school yearbook photo young 2004

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Looking Serious, But Stunning (2004)

This must have been during her Lilith-Fair, Joan Osbourne phase.

Lady Gaga Before They Were Stars before famous young

Photo Courtesy of Gene Bolan

The Mama Monster Next Door (2006)

Check out Gaga's grown up and sleek look during a night out on the town at NYC's The Cutting Room.

Marina Bay Sands via Getty Images

Gaga Goes Green

It's not easy being green. Gaga must have a headache from this epic green beehive as she performs at the ArtScience Museum on June 7, 2011 in Singapore.

Lady gaga black dress iHeart Radio Music Festival

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Lady Gaga Goes Glam

Lady Gaga poses in her best Breakfast at Tiffany-style duds backstage at the iHeartRadio Music Festival held at the MGM Grand September 24, 2011 in Las Vegas.

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Lady Gaga Becomes... Jo Calderone?

Confusing most of the audience in the theater and at home, Lady Gaga/Jo Calderone accepts the Best Female Video award during the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards on August 28, 2011 in Los Angeles.