Over two and a half million people flocked to Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend Lady Gaga’s free concert, the grandest and most significant of her career as an Italian-American artist. This is most likely the most attended concert by a female artist ever, surpassing even Madonna’s performance in Rio, which drew 1.5 million people.

"We made history," said the pop star, reading a thank-you message directed to the Brazilian people, who, according to her, made her “shine like the sun and the moon.” Welcomed by an overwhelming energy, Lady Gaga set her “little monsters” – as she affectionately calls her fans – on fire. They had waited for hours on the beach, singing, dancing, and surrounded by vibrant colors.

However, many were not content just to wait for the concert. For days, hundreds of fans had camped out in front of the Copacabana Palace, the hotel where the singer was staying, in an attempt to get a glimpse of her and thank her for what many called "the best day of their lives."

During the concert, from “Poker Face” to “Alejandro,” Lady Gaga revisited key moments in her career, culminating in an epic performance of “Born This Way,” which has become a true anthem for freedom, love without borders, and self-acceptance. Perfectly in sync with the audience from the “tropical country,” as she herself sang, Gaga performed hits like “Marry The Night,” “Paparazzi,” and tracks from her latest album "Mayhem," opening the show in a dazzling fire-red dress to the notes of “Abracadabra,” one of the album’s standout tracks.

Amid electric guitars, explosive choreography, and intense emotional moments at the piano with “Shallow,” the pop star reaffirmed her chameleon-like, out-of-the-box talent. The repeated cry of “I love you!” sealed a visceral connection with the Brazilian audience.

With a show that surpassed all expectations, Lady Gaga not only wrote a memorable chapter in her career but also reinforced Rio de Janeiro's role as the world capital of music events: another triumph following Madonna’s concert last year, on the same iconic beach of the “Cidade Maravilhosa.”