Madonna wannabe

A Madonna wannabe, or Madonnabe, is a person (usually female) who dresses or acts like American singer Madonna. When she emerged into stardom in the mid-1980s, an unusually high number of women, particularly young women and girls, began to dress and do their hair and makeup in the style that Madonna displayed in public. The term was popularized by writer John Skow in a May 1985 Time cover story on the singer.^[1] Numerous sociologists and other academics commented on the Madonna influence in her wannabes.

The term was officially recognized by the Webster's Dictionary in May 1991.^[2] Following the disappearance of the trend, critics and journalists refer to female pop stars who emulate Madonna's clothing or musical style as Madonna wannabes. The term is also used as a nickname for her fandom, mainly to refer to her female fans, especially young ones.