AS ONE of the most popular figures on Social media and in the world of pop music, Katy Perry is a global phenomenon of the 21st century. Her tally of more than 100m record sales makes her one of history’s best-selling musical artists, while her social media platforms have a combined following in excess of 223m (including 19m YouTube subscribers; 70.4m Facebook Likes; 90.6m followers on Twitter and 52.4m on Instagram).

Musically, Katy Perry is the real deal. Born in Santa Barbara, California to Pastors Mary Christine and Maurice Keith Hudson, she grew up listening to gospel music, and sang in church from an early age. Of course, it’s her more secular direction that has help her to win five American Music Awards, 14 People’s Choice Awards, and four Guinness World Records.

Among her achievements are spending a record-breaking 69 consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100; producing the second album (and first by a female artist) to produce five Number One Billboard Hot 100 singles (an achievement that’s second only to Michael Jackson’s Bad). She’s had nine Number One singles on the Hot 100, while her video for the single Dark Horse in June 2015 became the first by a female artist to reach 1bn views on Vevo. One month later, her video for Roar broke the billion barrier also, making Perry the first person with more than one ‘billion-views’ video.

What makes Perry such a richly fascinating pop culture phenomenon is her all-round character, altruism and social awareness, reflected in her support of a number of charities, and her political and social activism. Just as her musical talent has its roots in gospel authenticity, Perry’s popularity derives much of its authentic potency from her tireless work in aid of breast cancer and HIV/AIDS research, animal rights, children’s rights, and gay rights.

UNICEF

IN JUNE 2016, Perry was presented with the Audrey Hepburn Humanitarian Award for her work with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). Her involvement with the agency dates back to April 2013, when she travelled to Madagascar with UNICEF to highlight the plight of children in the poverty-stricken tropical island country. Later that year, she was named as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, with a special focus on engaging young people with UNICEF‘s work to help improve the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children and teenagers. Proceeds from Perry’s Prismatic world tour were donated to UNICEF, and in May 2016, she worked with the agency on a project aimed at improving the welfare of children in Vietnam.

Children’s Charities

KATY Perry’s interest in children’s education and well-being extends beyond her activities with UNICEF. In 2014, she joined a group of other artists recorded a version of Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two). Not only was the recording for an album to be used at painter Mark Ryden’s ‘The Gay 90s’ art exhibition: but all profits from album sales were donated to the Little Kids Rock charity, which supports musical education programmes in schools in underprivileged areas.

In June 2014, she and US office supplies chain Staples Inc unveiled the Make Roar Happen project, which helped to raise $1m for DonorsChoose, a charity that funds classroom resources and aids teachers in US public schools.

Her California Dreams tour raised a total in excess of $175,000 for three charities: the Children’s Health Fund, Generosity Water, and The Humane Society of the United States.

Cancer & HIV/AIDS Research

PERRY is also a vocal supporter of organisations that help people suffering from cancer and HIV/AIDS. During her 2008 Warped tour, she had a cast made of her breasts in order to raise money for the Keep A Breast Foundation. In 2009, she was one of a number of celebrities who designed clothing for H&M’s Fashion Against AIDS campaign, which raised money for HIV/AIDS in June 2009. In October 2013, she hosted and performed at the We Can Survive concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, which raised money for the Young Survival Coalition, a charity that supports young women with breast cancer.

Political & Social Activism

MOST recently, Perry has emphatically nailed her political colours to the mast through her support for the US Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, donating $2,700 to her campaign, and performing at a number of Clinton’s rallies.

The singer is an advocate for the LGBT community, and a committed activist for gay rights through her work with the Stonewall It Gets Better… Today campaign to highlight and prevent homophobic bullying. She dedicated the video for her song Firework to the It Gets Better Project.

Perry also identifies as a feminist, and in April 2013 appeared in a video for the female empowerment campaign, Chime For Change. Perry has also spoken out about the lack of free healthcare in the US, and has pleaded for more work done on gun control laws.

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