Klarna is the ring-bearer as Lady Gaga says yes… to herself

NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In the ultimate act of female empowerment, pop phenomenon Lady Gaga has put a ring on her own finger to celebrate that we are all free to propose to anyone at any time.

The 'Knight Finger' ring was recently launched by Klarna, together with fashion activist Bea Åkerlund, to give the finger to outdated traditions. This year is a leap year - when tradition says it is acceptable for women to propose to their partner on February 29. Klarna believes that everyone should get what they love, and not have their decisions dictated by rules or outdated traditions.

Lady Gaga responded to Klarna's message of empowerment by saying 'yes' to herself with her 180 million followers on social media as witness.

In an exclusive comment for Klarna, Lady Gaga explains: 

"For my entire career, I've taken pride in using my voice to stand up for what I believe is right. So I am excited to work with my friend B. and Klarna to celebrate how far we've come as a culture, and call out the work we need to continue to do. The idea that a woman can only propose to a man one day every four years is so completely ridiculous! Anyone who knows me knows that I believe any person of any gender identity should be able to express any act of love to anyone else on ANY day of ANY year. So in an act of defiance of this outdated tradition, I decided to say yes to MYSELF! And wear this ring today with pride to remind myself and everyone that the only permission you need to love comes from within you"

Klarna CMO, David Sandström on Lady Gaga's announcement:

"Just like Lady Gaga, we at Klarna believe that if traditions go unchallenged, the status quo prevails. Why should we settle and conform to societal and industry expectations just because? The Knight's Finger ring was created as a symbol to enable everyone to express love on their terms to whom they wish, just like our millions of shoppers can get what they love every day with Klarna"

Comment from the designer of the 'Knight finger' ring, fashion activist Bea Åkerlund:

"The Knight Finger was designed to inspire us all to fearlessly love on our own terms and cast aside traditions of the past to define our own futures," says Åkerlund. Lady Gaga is a knight in shining armor, defeating all that stands in her way.  She is TRULY an inspiration in creating her own rules to express her true self. It's an honor that she chose to put my ring on her finger".

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, better known as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. A true style chameleon, she is one of the world's best-selling and most influential musicians. As well as her groundbreaking accomplishments in music and film, she is a philanthropist and social activist for mental health awareness and LGBT rights.

Klarna is the pioneer and global leader of buy-now-pay-later and the future of shopping. With 85 million+ customers and 200,000+ merchants, Klarna allows consumers to purchase products that enhance their day-to-day lives, while creating a smooother way to shop and pay. For more information, download the app or check out Instagram at @klarna.usa

About the Knight Finger

The 'Knight Finger' ring is made of gold vermeil and features 246 rose pink and four crystal stones in pavé settings. The limited-edition ring is available on hbx-klarna.com as part of an exclusive partnership with HYPEBEAST. 

All proceeds from the sale of the rings will go to Dress for Success, an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and  development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

About fashion activist Bea Åkerlund

Swedish born fashion activist and costume designer, B. Åkerlund, is known for her innovative and over the top style which has influenced the industry for over 20 years. Åkerlund has worked with every A-list celebrity in the industry including Beyoncé, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Britney Spears, to name a few. B is the co-owner and curator of LA's VIP showroom, The Residency Experience. With her creativity, Åkerlund's is able to transform visions into realities and has the power to express personalities through style.

B. works flawlessly and effortlessly between the world of film, fashion and music bringing with her a diverse appreciation for individualism. It is this sensitivity to stylistic individualism that has helped B. become an institution of her own. www.bakerlund.com

About Dress for Success

Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. For more information visit https://dressforsuccess.org

About Klarna

Klarna, the leading global disruptor of online shopping and payments, and provider of smoooth retail services, was founded in Sweden in 2005. Klarna provides merchants with a flexible range of preferred payment alternatives that enable consumers to easily and securely pay when and how they want everywhere - online and in-store. Over 200,000 merchants, including H&M, Adidas, IKEA, Expedia Group, ASOS, Peloton, Abercrombie & Fitch, Michael Kors, Nike, AliExpress, Superdry, Sephora, Spotify, Wayfair, Gymshark, Samsung, Zara, Topshop, The Hut Group, Steve Madden, Boozt, Sonos, Agent Provocateur, Lufthansa, ETSY, Daniel Wellington and many more have enabled Klarna's innovative shopping experience, that stretches beyond the actual transaction and also allows consumers to take control over their personal finances. Klarna currently holds a post money valuation of $5.5 billion, which ranks Klarna as the largest private fintech in Europe and one of the largest private fintechs globally. Klarna investors include Sequoia  Capital, Dragoneer, Bestseller Group, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Permira, Visa and H&M. Klarna has 3,000+ employees and is active in 17 countries. Klarna's North American offices are in Columbus, Ohio, Los Angeles and New York. Klarna Credit is issued by WebBank, member FDIC. For more information, visit klarna.com.

SOURCE Klarna