Madonna

    Born in Michigan in 1958, Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was raised in a strict Catholic family. The death of her mother when Madonna was only five years old brought about many changes in the Ciccone family, including a stepmother whom Madonna hated and many strict rules and chores for Madonna and her five siblings. As she grew into an adolescent, Madonna began to rebel against her strict religious upbringing. In her youth, she frequented gay night clubs and wore revealing clothing. Despite her rebellion, Madonna was a straight-A student and disciplined cheerleader and dancer. Her passion for performance lead her to a full scholarship to the dance program at the University of Michigan.

    At the urging of her dance instructor, Madonna dropped out of college in her second year to pursue her performance career in New York City. Madonna performed a number of odd jobs during this time period that lead her to Paris for a year where she worked as a showgirl. It was then that Madonna fell in love with the combination of singing and dancing, and joined various bands back in New York. In 1981 Madonna hired a manager to help her succeed as a solo artist. She quickly skyrocketed to fame. Madonna's distinct fashion and mannerisms became the pinnacle of style in the 1980's. She released numerous hit singles, including the iconic "Like a Prayer".