Madonna turns 66: The life of the “Queen of Pop” in pictures

In 1978, Madonna came to New York with just 30 dollars to become a dancer. Almost five years later, the whole world knows her: Madonna became an overnight star of the 80s, a symbol of feminism, a sex symbol, a style icon and a world changer.

Madonna hit like a bomb

With her music, her often scandalous performances and her unconditional fighting spirit, the “Queen of Pop” shaped and changed the cultural world of the 80s and 90s. She campaigned against discrimination against minorities, always packed a social message into her music videos and performances and was an unconditional advocate of strong women. Madonna hit like a bomb. She shook up entrenched standards, became a role model of revolutionary, self-determined femininity, an advocate of the gay scene and a fighter for justice.

This is particularly remarkable given her background. As a diligent student at a Catholic convent – Madonna was always one of the most intelligent of her year – the childhood of today’s pop icon was marked by discipline and obedience. But even then Madonna knew what she really wanted in life. She took dance and music lessons, moved to New York alone at the age of just 20 and realized her dream of the big stage with enormous ambition and professionalism. In 1985, 1986 and 1987 no musician was able to sell more records than her, and in 1984 and 1989 Madonna had more top five hits in the USA and England than Elvis or the Beatles before her.

A symbol of change: musically, stylistically and socially

And even today, Madonna is still a brand. A symbol of change. She once said in an interview: “I want to be like Gandhi and like Martin Luther King and John Lennon. But I want to stay alive.” And that’s exactly what she’s doing to this day: staying alive, making history and changing the world – even if just a tiny bit.