We’re as Fearless as Fireworks Because We Were Born This Way

When you turn on the radio, chances are you’re hearing sweet sounding Taylor Swift’s new hit “Back to December.” Then, later on in the shower, as you’re brushing your conditioner through your hair and using the bottle as a microphone, you simply can’t help but burst out singing Katy Perry’s “Firework.”
But it was Lady Gaga who shocked us once again at the Grammy awards, when she emerged from an egg to perform her new single “Born This Way.”
 
So what makes Taylor Swift so “Fearless,” Katy Perry such a “Teenage Dream” and Lady Gaga such a “Monster?” These ladies are not only gorgeous style icons with amazing vocals and chart topping songs, they’re role models who inspire women all over the world to be who they are and not worry what anyone has to say about it. (Much like many of the strong and independent women here at JMU.) Therefore, I went asking around the JMU campus to find out which one of these phenomenal women was liked most!
 
“Lady Gaga is such an inspiration for me!” says Kate*, a sophomore here at JMU. “She shows girls that you don’t have to fit the mold of society in the way you dress and act. All you need to do is be comfortable within your own skin and people will respect and admire you for it.” With everything college girls have to deal with on a day-to-day basis (school, boys, friends, family, self-esteem issues, etc.), it’s important that we have someone like Lady Gaga to look up to help us remember that we were “born this way” for a reason; and instead of rejecting it, we should be embracing it! Katharine Donohoe of the Her Campus JMU teams says she “loves Lady Gaga and is obsessed with her new song ‘Born This Way.'”
 
“Katy Perry inspires me because she’s wildly famous yet still manages to be humble and classy and stays pretty much out of the negative limelight,” says Jessica Morin, a senior in high school who happens to be my younger sister! (Not to mention she has had a girl crush on Katy Perry since before most people even knew who she was.)  Katy is undeniably a superstar and most people can agree that she seems like someone who you could kick back in your sweats with to watch a movie.
 
Her recent songs, “Firework,” “Teenage Dream,” and “California Girls,” have all topped the charts and been blasted on nearly every radio, party, and iPod nationwide.
Katy Perry’s style is dynamic and fresh. She somehow manages to dress scandalously but in a way that is still classy and feminine. There’s no doubt she’s a positive role model for women of all ages.
 
After watching the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show where Katy Perry performed, Lauren*, a junior at JMU said, “If I had to choose between being a Victoria’s Secret Angel or Katy Perry, I’d pick Katy Perry.” Katy is in amazing shape and it’s obvious that she doesn’t starve herself. She serves as a great role model for body conscious girls to see, which another reason why Katy Perry truly rocks!
 
Although Taylor Swift is a lot different than Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, she still has a lot of influence over girls, young and old. Most of the songs she writes have tremendous personal meaning and inspire girls to stay true to themselves and remember that someday they’ll find their prince charming. Molly Patton, a sophomore at JMU, says that she likes Taylor Swift because she’s “down to earth.” There’s definitely something about Taylor Swift that makes her seem like she could be your best friend.
 

Her songs prove that even though she has fame and fortune, she still shares the same struggles with relationships and self-esteem that we all do. Taylor consequently wrote her song, “Stay Beautiful,” when she was still very young about a boy in her class who she liked who didn’t like her back! It’s a feeling many of us have experienced, especially since boys are pretty much a minority group here at James Madison! So until we find our very own prince charming, we’re just going to have to turn to Taylor Swift to remind us that we’re not alone in our quest to live out our very own fairytale.
 
In this day and age, it’s getting harder and harder to find people to admire and aspire to be like. With all our many life struggles, wants, and goals, knowing that there are celebrities who share our same struggles, wants, and goals is truly part of the teenage dream. So remember, you’re a firework, always be fearless, and never forget that you were born this way!