Features
Lady Gaga & Cyndi Lauper Go Viva Glam
Between Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper and both singers’ outrageous, experimental stage get-ups, you could say the duo know a thing or two about makeup. The stars have teamed up to promote two new MAC lipsticks – but these $14 products represents much more than just another cosmetic item.
Gaga and Lauper are working together as part of the Spring 2010 MAC Viva Glam Campaign with proceeds from the new lipsticks going towards MAC Cosmetics’ nonprofit MAC AIDS Fund.
Viva Glam was first launched in 1994 to help support men, woman and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS globally. The campaign is currently working to raise awareness about HIV’s deadly threat to women.
Photo: Courtesy of MAC Cosmetics
Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga team up for Spring 2010 MAC Viva Glam Campaign.
Nancy Mahon, executive director of the MAC AIDS Fund, told HealthDay that there is still a perception that AIDS is “a gay disease. While it’s true that men who have sex with men remain the highest risk group, women are close behind.”
She added that “the number of women living with HIV in the country has tripled since 1985 and it’s the leading cause of death for black women ages 18 to 35.”
Lauper, who launched her True Colors Tour and the True Colors Fund in support of GLBT equality, told HealthDay that “Fighting HIV/AIDS is not a one-woman job.
“Lady Gaga and I are using our voices as a call to action for women all over the world. I lost a lot of friends to AIDS before we even knew what it was. Today, across the world, women are more likely to become infected with HIV than men. Each one of us needs to do our part to fight for women impacted by HIV and AIDS.”
In an interview with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Gaga and Lauper noted that AIDS is especially detrimental to women in their own age groups – respectively, ages 17-24 and 39-60.
“There’s so many young people that really don’t know enough about AIDS. How easy it is to get it, how many people have it,” Lady Gaga told Diane Sawyer. “We’re here to promote this lipstick as a reminder of safe sex as well as loving and monogamous relationships.”
MAC will offer the limited edition Viva Glam Gaga lipstick and Viva Glam Cydi lipstick for the next 12 months. Each lipstick retails for $14.
Viva Glam Gaga is described as featuring “a high lustre finish and cool blue-pink shade.” Viva Glam Cydni features “a high-lustre finish and a light coral-red colour.”
MAC’s site notes that every cent raised through the purchase of Viva Glam products goes to support the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Lady Gaga gave HealthDay a few tips for her fans: “Use protection, and be selective and strong about those you love,” she said. “Your body is sacred, and it’s OK to say no. Make your partners get tested, go together: it will only make your relationship stronger and healthier.”
Click here for the HealthDay article.
Click here for MAC’s Viva Glam page.