The country’s Daily Expressen newspaper said: "She’s a superstar, a style icon, and controversial. Madonna could be H&M’s next clothing model." The 47-year-old mum of two will be the latest in a long line of stunning star women to front ad campaigns for the popular high-street chain.
Previously, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Anna Nicole Smith have all advertised the brand. The firm also boasts successful collaborations with high-profile designers such as Madonna’s close friend Stella McCartney - her capsule collection sold out in minutes and caused chaos as fans scrambled for cheap off-the-hanger pieces.
H&M have recently announced they will launch a special collection created by Dutch design duo Viktor + Rolf in November. It is believed Madonna appear in the accompanying advertising campaign. Company spokeswoman, Kristina Stenvinkel, would neither confirm nor deny the reports, saying: "Our policy is to never comment on such speculation."
Madonna defended her crucifixion stage stunt - May 26, 2020
Madonna has defended her crucifixion stage stunt, saying Jesus would not mind. The Queen Of Pop claims her performance - which outraged Christian groups worldwide - was an appeal to her fans to help Aids charities. She said: "I don’t think Jesus would be mad at me and the message I’m trying to send. Jesus taught that we should love they neighbour."
The 47-year-old singer posed on a giant cross wearing a crown of thorns for her performance of the ballad ’Live To Tell’ as images of Third World poverty flashed up on screens during the opening night of her world tour in Los Angeles on Sunday (21.05.06). A Church of England spokesman said: "Is Madonna prepared to take on everything else that goes with wearing a crown of thorns?" In the US, the Catholic League said: "Poor Madonna keeps trying to shock, but all she is succeeds in doing is coming across as a boring bigot."
Madonna angered religious leaders - May 23, 2020
Madonna has angered religious leaders by being ’crucified’ on stage on the opening night of her world tour. The pop diva was ’nailed’ to a 20ft glittering cross before singing her hit, ’Live to Tell’, to a 20,000-strong audience in Los Angeles on Sunday (21.05.06).
A Church of England spokesman is quoted on the BBC website as saying: "Why would someone with so much talent seem to feel the need to promote herself by offending so many people?" David Muir, of the Evangelical Alliance, said the pop diva’s use of Christian imagery "is an abuse and it is dangerous". He added: "She should drop it from the tour and people need to find their own means of expressing their disapproval."
Elsewhere in the Confessions show, the 47-year-old star proved she is still the undisputed Queen of Pop. Fans went wild when she burst onstage from a giant glitter ball and launched into ’Future Lovers’. The sexy singer - who was wearing tight jodhpurs and black riding boots - then treated the crowd to an erotic pole-dance as she balanced in a large black saddle suspended from the ceiling. As she performed, gigantic images of her broken bones - from when she fell from her horse last year - where displayed on the stage.
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The following year Madonna broke away from Kamins and recorded Holiday which went straight in to the American top 20 and was a hit across Europe. She cemented her raunchy image with Like A Virgin, her first US number one, and Material Girl with it’s iconic video. By this time Madonna was becoming one of the most emulated and best loved artists in the world and she became even more popular thanks to her part in Live Aid and a high profile marriage to Sean Penn.
The pop diva followed up her success with several singles from the True Blue album and turned her hand to acting for the first time in the poorly received A Certain Sacrifice and of course, Desperately Seeking Susan. Her first real flop was alongside her husband in the laughable Shanghai Surprise. Her failure’s in the film department didn’t stop David Mamet from casting her in a Broadway production of Speed the Plow - by this time talent or no, Madonna’s was name that guaranteed attention.
1989 saw the singer court controversy with the video for Like A Prayer, featuring a black Jesus, which outraged and shocked the Catholic church and caused Pepsi to cancel a sponsorship deal. But far from ruining her career, this stunt saw her become the icon that we know today. The 1990s were the pinnacle of Madonna’s success, her divorce from Sean Penn pushing her further in to the lime light, beginning with a part in Dick Tracy opposite Warren Beatty and a fantastic soundtrack album alongside featuring hit song Vogue. Documentary film Truth or Dare and her Blonde Ambition tour (with that pointy bra) followed with further controversy.
In 1992 she signed a multi million pound deal with Time Warner guaranteeing the release of music, films and books through her own record label, Maverick. She made the most of the deal with picture book Sex, which caused another controversy but rocketed up the bestsellers charts nonetheless. Erotica was her first album for years though not to generate a US number one. People thought that perhaps Madonna had gone too far with her need to shock, and perhaps she had realised it too as her next album was far mellower and a part in Evita in 1996 made her bankable again.
Later that year she fell pregnant with Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon, daughter of her personal trainer. But far from slowing her work, having a child only seemed to spur Madonna on, she released the runaway success, Ray of Light which produced hit after hit and recorded Beautiful Stranger for the second Austin Powers movie. she also starred alongside Rupert Everett in romantic comedy The Next Best Thing.
It was around this time that Madonna met British director Guy Ritchie - the man who would change her life. They had son Rocco in 2000 and they married in 2002 after Madonna moved permanently to England, took to wearing flat caps and drinking tea. The title track of her album Music gave her a transatlantic number one hit. Collaborations with Ritchie, especially their film Swept Away, have generally been unsuccessful but Madonna’s music career continues to go from strength to strength, her latest album American Life has been a worldwide hit and she has even found time to pen a children’s book, The English Roses. Now, an honorary Brit and devout follower of Kaballah, Madonna lives with her family in Marylebone and Wiltshire. She also owns a ?4 million Spanish-style villa in Beverly Hills, a house in Miami and a duplex overlooking Central Park in New York.
(Updated April 04)
December 2007