Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World - Ann Shen (2016)

Madonna

For many followers of pop music in recent decades, its timeline can be readily divided into pre-Madonna and Madonna. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of all time, Madonna (1958-) can claim many industry chart achievements: bestselling female recording artist of all time, most Top 10 singles, most successful female solo artist of all time, and greatest number of image reinventions. Since her first number one single, “Like a Virgin,” hit the U.S. airwaves in 1984, Madonna has been an entertainment juggernaut. All thirteen of her albums have been made it to the Top 10 Billboard charts. She founded her own record company, Maverick Records, in 1992. At age thirty-eight she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her leading role in Evita. She fearlessly tackles subjects of sexuality, nudity, religion, and feminism in a way that no one else in music has, and for that she has been both persecuted and celebrated. As famous for her wild personal life as for her music, Madonna was one of the first artists to invite her audience behind the scenes through her tour documentary Madonna: Truth or Dare. Her unapologetic and defiant attitude, combined with her fashion trendsetting and exquisite showmanship, make Madonna one serious bad girl.