by Courtney Mead

Created on: June 16, 2009

Madonna. Few, perhaps none, can trump her. She is her own woman. A provacative, sensual, brazen and cheeky mastermind, she pushes envelopes and buttons all the while daring people not to pay attention. Madonna is the bad girl, the Dita, the mistress, the tease, the Rizzo, the Pin-Up, the Ringleader, the Queen of Pop. She is a one-woman show. A chameleon. A trend-setter of both musical style and theatrical concert style, (later to be emulated by countless artists), Madonna is about one person only: herself. And we love her for it.

Then there's the notoriusly decadent Gwen Stefani. This bold, yet delicate, creature is not just a one-woman show, but front-woman of what has become one of the most popular and iconic pop bands over the last 15 years. She's a delicate confection of sugary-sweet pop goodness crossed with bad-ass tomboy. More often than Madonna, she emits the glamour and style of old Hollywood and is consistent in her image and character portrayal. She has, like Madonna, empowered countless young women, (although not in so much a sexual way). She is one of a great team of brothers, bold enough to venture out on her own from time to time, but always eager to return to home base where they march onward triumphantly as No Doubt.

The obvious similarities between these two women are the blond hair and the red lipstick. (Got it.) They are both strong women, unafraid, and leaders to separate (with some crossover) generations of young women. Gwen, however, is, primarily The Good Girl. A family woman. A more tender flower who has shown her vulnerable side much more than the "kiss my ass if you don't like it" Material Girl. (Even now, the SEX book would still shock, especially released by Gwen Stefani.) That doesn't mean Ms. Stefani doesn't ever exhibit slight cases of Potty-Mouth, but her playful tomboy side is much less dark than Ms. Ciccone's. However, both women play wonderful caricatures of themselves for glorious audiences who enjoy bathing in every delicious moment of it.

Having been fans of both super-women and having followed both of their careers extensively over the years, I find it hard to even put them into the same soup. Madonna's followers have been mostly female or gay men. Gwen, on her lonesome, seems to attract the attention of teenage girls, however, No Doubt, on the other hand, has actually become a family act. Like the demo-graph you see at Paul McCartney concerts: The parents that grew up with No Doubt, and their kids. Straight men, gay men, straight women, gay women. The audience No Doubt attracts is much less polarized than Madonna's.

Who will be on top? Again. Hard to say. It's like comparing Marylin Monroe and Liz Taylor. Two different species, both glamorous. Madonna is more political and has started penning children's books. Gwen Stefani has a clothing line and perfume. If I had to bet which one to be more afraid of, I'd guess Madonna. But that's just a guess.

Gwen seems a more legitimate, likeable girl. Most people are surprised to learn that this girl is 40. Madonna is starting to show her age and seems to be entering that caricature stage of celebrity likened to Liza Minelli and Cher. Not that there's anything wrong with that.. It's Gwen turn to take the throne. It's a New Day. But even hers won't last forever.

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