Gwen Stefani by Dusan Reljin for Elle US May 2011

Gwen Renée Stefani (born October 3, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter and fashion designer. Stefani is the lead vocalist for the rock/ska band No Doubt. Stefani recorded and sold out for her first solo album Love. Angel. Music. Baby. in 2004. The album was inspired by music of the 1980s, and was a success with sales of over seven million. The album's third single "Hollaback Girl" was the first U.S. digital download to sell one million copies. Stefani's second solo album, The Sweet Escape (2006), yielded "Wind It Up", "4 in the Morning" and the highest-selling single "The Sweet Escape". Including her work with No Doubt, Stefani has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. She won the World's Best-Selling New Female Artist at the World Music Awards 2005.

In 2003, she debuted her clothing line L.A.M.B. and expanded her collection with the 2005 Harajuku Lovers line, drawing inspiration from Japanese culture and fashion. Stefani performs and makes public appearances with four back-up dancers known as the Harajuku Girls dancers. She married British grunge musician Gavin Rossdale in 2002 and they have two sons: Kingston James McGregor Rossdale, born May 26, 2006, and Zuma Nesta Rock Rossdale, born August 20, 2008. Billboard magazine named Stefani the 54th artist and 37th Hot 100 artist of the 2000–09 decade.