Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper was born on June 22, 1953, and raised Roman Catholic in Queens, N.Y. Her mother, Catrine Gallo, is an Italian American whose family is from Sicily. “I come from a line of great Sicilian women, and their mentality is to endure and push through to the other side,” said Lauper. She began her career singing in local cover bands and working odd jobs to make ends meet.

In 1983, Cyndi released her first solo album: She’s So Unusual. The album became an international hit, selling more than 5 million copies in the United States alone and snagging a Grammy for new solo artist. She also became the first female artist to have four Top 5 singles on a debut album with “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Time After Time,” “She Bop,” and “All Through the Night.”

With her hits and personality, Cyndi Lauper has become one of the most celebrated icons of pop music. Following her success in the 1980s, Cyndi branched out into acting. In 1995, Cyndi won an Emmy Award for her role in the television series “Mad About You.”

Most recently, Cyndi wrote the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical “Kinky Boots.” In 2013, the musical won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. She has also co-founded several charities and regularly works with nonprofits.