Speaking of Harper’s Bazaar, here’s this month’s US issue, starring a bare-faced Lady Gaga. You might be surprised – disappointed, even – to see her without spiked cheekbones and wigs, but this, she says, stripped back and natural, is as much her as her 12-inch platforms.

“I don’t really view it as ‘natural,'” she says of the Inez & Vinoodh lensed shoot. ” Whether I’m wearing lots of makeup or no makeup, I’m always the same person inside.”

All the same, it’s not what her monsters would expect. Though that, she says – expectation – is the driving force between her and her fans.

“I think what has been lovely about my relationship with the public is that they expect something unexpected from me.”

She’s right, of course. Though her love for Mugler, impossible heels and vintage Versace are well documented – “I’ve been dreaming of seeing those outfits my whole life,” she says of having access to the latter’s archives – her support of young, undiscovered designers is just as strong.

“There are some amazing emerging kids from Parsons. I’ve been wearing a lot of young designers,” she says, adding that without McQueen, “I’d be naked.”

And whilst she’s not being literal, she may as well be – her sense of ease over her body is really quite refreshing.

“I’m very free-spirited,” says Gaga. “Even when I was a kid, I used to run around naked with the babysitter, driving her crazy. I do yoga, I do Bikram and I run, and I eat really healthy. You know, my work sort of feeds me. I keep in shape by working hard.”

Harper’s Bazaar‘s October issue hits shelves on September 27th, but in the meantime, check out the full interview here and click through our gallery below for more images.

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