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At Fashion's 'Oscars,' Gaga Was ... Nervous

Naomi Watts, Kanye West, Jessica Alba present CFDA awards

By Sarah Whitmire,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 7, 2011 10:53 AM CDT

(Newser) – On stage to accept an award as the year's top style icon, a soft-spoken, maybe even teary-eyed Lady Gaga said she was nervous. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and actress Naomi Watts also agreed: The crowd at yesterday evening’s Council of Fashion Designers of America awards felt pretty intimidating. But the music star and style risk-taker got her swagger back as she recalled getting the text message from Anna Wintour that she was picked for the prize. She said she thought the message was from a friend named Anna, and replied with a bleep-worthy response. The text back from the Vogue editor-in-chief said, "How lovely."

"All of you made me feel like a star before I was," Gaga told the audience at Lincoln Center that boasted bold-faced names such as Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg, Donna Karan, and Michael Kors. As emcee for the evening, Cooper also went back to his early days, revealing to the audience photos of him as a preteen model. Watts, dressed in a metallic T-shirt-style gown, even admitted the walk across the long stage was intimidating in her high heels. "Fun doing it in a room full of supermodels," she said.

Model Doutzen Kroes attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Model Doutzen Kroes attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
Actress Ashley Greene attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Actress Ashley Greene attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
Actress Kerry Washington attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Actress Kerry Washington attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
Actress Jessica Alba attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Actress Jessica Alba attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
Actress Chloe Sevigny attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Actress Chloe Sevigny attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
Actress Liv Tyler attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Actress Liv Tyler attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
Actress Naomi Watts attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Actress Naomi Watts attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
Actress Lucy Liu attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Actress Lucy Liu attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
Ashley Olsen, left, and Mary-Kate Olsen attend the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Ashley Olsen, left, and Mary-Kate Olsen attend the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
Singer Lady Gaga attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Singer Lady Gaga attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
Model Alessandra Ambrosio attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Model Alessandra Ambrosio attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
Singer Lady Gaga attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Singer Lady Gaga attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
Actress Miranda Kerr attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.
Actress Miranda Kerr attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, June 6, 2011, in New York.   (Peter Kramer)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 06:  (L-R) Arthur Elgort (L) and Grace Coddington (C)  pose backstage at the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on June 6, 2011 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 06: (L-R) Arthur Elgort (L) and Grace Coddington (C) pose backstage at the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on June 6, 2011 in New York City.   (Getty Images)
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