“I grew up in what I would consider a very small town - like 800 people - in West Virginia.”

American philanthropist, activist and entrepreneur

Cynthia Louise Germanotta is an American philanthropist, activist, and entrepreneur. She is best known as the president of the Born This Way Foundation, which she co-founded in 2012 with her daughter, singer Lady Gaga. Her public work centers on the foundation and its mission, which has made her a visible advocate for youth and community support. She is identified with philanthropy and activism, and her name is often associated with that work through her leadership of the organization.