Grammy award winning singer, Lady Gaga took the stage here in a bid to raise funds money to combat HIV/AIDS in India through MAC AIDS, the philanthropic initiative of the Estee Lauder-owned MAC Cosmetics.
Dressed in her signature provocative style and spouting audacious lyrics, the young artist performed at a gala organised by the international non-profit organisation, amFar
that works on HIV/AIDS research and prevention.
The event was attended by celebrities like Oscar-winning Hollywood actress Meryl Streep, Sigourney Weaver, Vanessa Redgrave and Cynthia Nixon. Streep received a standing ovation
for spontaneously bursting into an Irish folk song.
Gaga picked up an award honouring Sir Elton John for his efforts in combating HIV/AIDS through his foundation.
Along with another iconic star, Cindy Lauper, Gaga have become the ambassadors of the VIVA Glam, a campaign launched by the fund, which has so far raised over USD 150 million.
The campaign requests people to buy lipsticks named after the pop stars, which cost USD 14 and Rs 920 in India.
"My new VIVA Glam lipstick colour is amazing. Its very me- a bluish pink, great for everyday, a little bits 80s. I hope that women buy this lipstick, and honour themselves and
honour the cause," Gaga said.
"We have been doing a lot of grant-making in India and India as a country is so important in terms of AIDS epidemic and honestly in terms of global economy," Nancy Mahon, chief of the Funds, told PTI.
"India is seen by many companies including ours as an important expansion market for our work," Mahon,also the senior vice president of the MAC cosmetics added, noting the viability of Indian market.
She said the Fund was still figuring out how to best bring the message of Viva Glam to the people in India.
"This really get us an opportunity to go into countries like India and say we've been doing grant-making here ... we can still learn a lot more about India and do some very good
work here," she said.
"With Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper, we're literally and figuratively grabbing the microphone and saying women are at risk."
So far, MAC Fund has given USD 1.5 million in funds to initiatives in India in organisations like the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW), and a towards YR Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education, headed by Suniti
Solomon in Mumbai.
A program called STEP, which is a HIV prevention program for 8th and 9th graders in Indian schools, has also received funds.
Other spokespersons for MAC were Fergie, RuPaul, Pam Anderson, Boy George and Dita Von Teese.