Lady Gaga VMA 2011 Performance: Introducing Jo Calderone [PHOTOS]

Who is Jo Calderone? Lady Gaga's latest reincarnation arrived loud and proud at MTV's 2011 Video Music Awards.

Gaga dropped the lady and went drag for the entire awards show, dressed in a white T-shirt, black pants, boots, and a pompadour a la John Travolta in Grease.

This wasn't Calderone's first public appearance. Gaga created the character for a recent Vogue Japan spread.

In the magazine, Gaga interviews in character as Calderone:

Vogue Hommes Japan: WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
Jo Calderone: Palermo, Sicily

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO / YOUR OCCUPATION?
Jo Calderone: Mechanic for my dad's business. This is the first time I've had my picture taken.

WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER YOU WANTED TO TO THIS?
Jo Calderone: Well, I always helped my dad at work, since I was a kid. I thought it would be fun to have my picture taken.

WHAT ARE YOUR AMBITIONS?
Jo Calderone: I'd love to own my own car shop, I have a bunch of my own 'muscle' cars. Maybe if I take some more pictures I can afford it.

Dressed as Calderone, Gaga kicked off the night with a rambling monologue.

Hey. My name is Jo Calderone and I was an a-hole, Gaga roared, opening the awards show. Gaga? Yeah her. Lady Gaga. She left me. She said it always starts out good and then the guys, meaning me, I'm one of the guys, we get crazy. I did. I got crazy, but she's f---ing crazy too, right?

With that, she dashed across the stage for a rollicking performance of her hit Yoü and I, with rock legend Brian May of Queen.

Gaga danced around the stage with a group of male lookalikes before she jumped atop the piano and drenched the audience with beer.

But, her best moment was yet to come.

When Britney Spears took to the stage to accept the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, Gaga (aka Jo Calderone) went in for the kill, attempting to plant a kiss on the pop princess' face.

Recalling her racy kiss with Madonna at the 2003 VMAs, Spears decided she's not smooching girls - or girls dressed as guys - onstage anymore. Spears shied away from Gaga.

I've done that already, she joked.

Later, as Gaga accepted the Moonman for her equality anthem Born this Way, she reiterated the message from the song.

I feel so blessed to be here, and it's true. It doesn't matter who you are. Gay, straight, bi, lesbian, transgender - you were born this way. God bless you, she said, still dressed in drag.

Have a look at the now infamous kiss attempt from Sunday's show:

Here's a look at Gaga as Jo Calderone: