Katy Perry was just a sheltered daughter of strict Christian ministers before taking the music world by storm with her campy, doll-like looks and penchant for kissing girls.

The cheeky singer's road to fame has been full of disappointments: Perry released a little-known gospel album, got dropped from numerous labels and was broke by the age of 22. Now, thanks to her infectious hits ("I Kissed a Girl," "Hot 'N Cold" and "California Gurls"), the Grammy-nominated songstress counts Madonna as a fan and British comedian Russell Brand as her husband