The `Bad Romance` hitmaker - who is known for her bizarre headpieces - feels much safer when she is able to hide behind a big accessory and thinks they help her deal with fame better. She said: "The hat is a nice barrier. The bigger the better. For me, it keeps the devil away. I always like when I have a hat big enough to keep people away at pretentious parties. It`s protection. "Everything happened so quickly for me. Suddenly the whole world is watching you and you just want to put a giant hat on to protect yourself." The outrageous star - whose real name is Stefani Germanotta - also insisted her performing persona is no different to her real-life personality. She explained in an interview with showstudio.com: "The biggest misconception about me is that I`m a character. Or Gaga is separate from Stefani. We are one and the same, there is no difference. "I am exactly who I say I am, and exactly who you say I am." Gaga also spoke about her "responsibility" to lead her fans in a positive way. She explained: "Particularly with my next album, I`m much more self-aware of my spiritual and leadership connection to my little monsters and the world in the way that any artist is a leader in that way. "I am very against judging any particular kind of personal people or thing or idea. I think it is very important to be free and full of non-judgment. I guess I would say that is how I religiously and spiritually lead my fans is in that way. I am OK with that responsibility."