Lady Gaga's mother Cynthia Germanotta has shared an insight into the bullying her superstar daughter reportedly faced during her teen years in New York City.
Despite her privileged upbringing in the city's swanky Upper West Side, the singer, 35, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, was said to have faced oppression from her peers because of her 'uniqueness'.
Cynthia, 67, who is among a slew of stars honoured on Hello! Magazine's annual Kind List for World Kindness Day, said: 'My oldest daughter Stefani began struggling with mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety, at a young age.
Awful: Lady Gaga's mother Cynthia Germanotta (left) has divulged into the bullying her superstar daughter (right) reportedly faced during her teen years in New York City (pictured in 2018)
'These issues – that she still admits are part of her journey – were largely a result of the unkindness and bullying she faced from her peers because of her uniqueness.'
Cynthia went on to explain the Grammy winner noticed an 'absence of kindness and sense of understanding', which would have helped her during 'the very important development period of middle school'.
Proving her tormentors wrong, Gaga used her experiences to connect with fans through the Born This Way foundation, a non-profit organisation which supports the wellness of young people.
Mean: Despite her privileged upbringing in the city's Upper West Side, the singer, 35, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, was said to have faced oppression from her peers (pictured in 2021)
Hard: 'My oldest daughter Stefani began struggling with mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety, at a young age,' Cynthia said (teenage Gaga pictured with sister Natali)
A former student of the exclusive high school, Convent Of The Sacred Heart, the Stupid Love songstress counted none other than socialite Nicky Hilton as one of her classmates.
Cynthia previously told NBC's Today Show how Gaga's depression started as early as middle school, when the future star began getting bullied by her peers - but it took a while for her family to understand.
She said: 'I knew some of it, but there's some of it that she didn't share because
