A slew of sexy, black and white photos of Lady Gaga before she was famous (and not of the “She was young and needed the money” sort) have surfaced online. It’s safe to see that these photos mark the genesis of Stefani Germanotta transforming into her Gaga alter ego. Here, long, dark brown locks tumble down her back and she’s much less descript with her natural hair hue. Once she embraced blonde ambition, she stood out more. But one thing has not changed during the transition from Stefani to Gaga, as evidenced by the photos: her love of heels!

In these images, which were taken in 2005 and are sexy in a subtle way since they forsake the cheesecake factor, Gaga wears heels. No, they’re not the six inch platform pairs she usually favors and towers over everyone in, but it’s clear that Gaga loved heels in the early phase of her career. She’s also only 19 in these shots.

Wearing little more than a white slip dress, Gaga looks very much like her baby sister Natali. She also drapes her body over a piano, her instrument of choice. That come hither stare is striking and beguiling.

According to CNN, the shots were taking by Polish photographer Malgorzata Saniewska, who knew Gaga when she was still Stefani and they both worked at the same West Village eatery. This was one of Saniewska’s first posed photo shoots that involved a live person instead of a static landscape. The shoot took place at Casa Germanotta aka Gaga’s family’s home, on the Upper East Side.

“We were colleagues, we didn’t hang out really heavily, but she’s the nicest girl ever. She’s down-to-earth,” Saniewska said. “At that time, she gave me a CD of her first single, and I listened to it and I was really impressed. And she’s a beautiful girl. Based on her looks and her personality I thought (a photo shoot) would be great fun.”

The snapper recalled the shoot, saying, “The house was empty, it was just the two of us. I knew she was a singer, so our focus was her and her very first piano. We just hung out in her parents’ living room, and the piano was right by the window.”

The ladies had no formal plan in advance and embarked on a course of point and shoot. Gaga did her own makeup and Saniewska snapped away in natural light.

At the end of the day, 200 shots were taken, and Gaga even used some for promotional purposes.

If you like the photos of pre-fame -actually, pre-’The Fame’- Gaga, then check out this footage of her early days as a performer, too.

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