By Jill Alphonso

NEW York-based singer-songwriter Lady Gaga may have just broken into the mainstream this year, but she has already had brushes with notoriety.

The singer - whose real name is Stefani Germanotta and who seems to style herself after characters from 1980s cartoon Jem - was given a police warning for indecent exposure last year.

"This is me," she says now of the incident. "I'm a lady all the time, but I do love my fashion and I'm very theatrical about it."

The 22-year-old with a shock of platinum-blonde hair also draws comparisons to pop diva Christina Aguilera. Last month, Aguilera was even asked if she had stolen Germanotta's style.

Aguilera told the LA Times then that she had only recently heard of Germanotta.

She added that, from pictures and videos, she could not tell if Germanotta was a man or a woman.

"I'm not bothered by that," said Germanotta, who spoke to my paper over the phone from her tour bus as it travelled through Omaha, Nebraska.

"My performances and music are intended to be provocative, to push sexual boundaries. If anything, I was excited that she (Aguilera) picked up on that undertone in my work."

She added: "I would so love to work with her. I think she's amazing. I listened to her when I was a little girl."

Currently a songwriter under R&B singer Akon's Konvict label, Germanotta broke out with her debut record The Fame in August. Her hit single from that album, Just Dance, has just received a Grammy nomination this month. She has penned tracks for the likes of Britney Spears and New Kids On The Block, and will tour with the Pussycat Dolls next year in Australia.

"It's a dream come true to be working with artistes like them," she said.

What's next for the rising starlet? She is "writing new songs every day". "I'm currently writing with other artistes in mind," she said.

Which artistes, she wouldn't say, but it looks like the sky's the limit when it comes to this lady.

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