Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, popularly known as Katy Perry, is an influential figure in the global music industry. Born on October 25, 1984 in Santa Barbara, California to Pentecostal pastors Mary Christine and Maurice Keith Hudson, her upbringing was deeply rooted in faith and gospel music. Despite initial struggles with a first unsuccessful album under her birth name Katy Hudson, she never gave up on her passion for music. Perry's breakthrough came when she signed with Capitol Records Company in 2007. Her second studio album One of the Boys marked a significant shift from gospel to pop rock genre and included hits like I Kissed a Girl and Hot n Cold. The release catapulted Perry into international stardom and established her as one of the leading artists of contemporary pop culture. She further cemented this status with subsequent albums such as Teenage Dream, which became only the second album after Michael Jackson's "Bad" to feature five number-one songs on Billboard Hot 100. Apart from being an iconic singer-songwriter, Perry has also made notable contributions through philanthropy and activism work. She has been involved with numerous charities including UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadorship since December 2013 focusing on improving living conditions for children worldwide. In addition to this commendable humanitarian work, Perry is known for using her platform to advocate for LGBT rights and mental health awareness among other causes close to her heart.