Lady Gaga has spoken out in praise of Madonna's speech at Billboard's recent Women in Music event, which she says was "inspiring".

The Queen of Pop was given the Woman of the Year prize at the ceremony last week and she opened up about the struggles women in the limelight face. She also said she was raped on a New York rooftop as a teenager in the late 1970s. 

Gaga took to Twitter on Monday (December 12) to congratulate Madonna directly on her speech. She wrote: "@Madonna your speech at the Billboard Music Awards was inspiring. You're so brave & strong. Thanks for being that for us girls we need that."

In her speech, Madonna said: "David Bowie] embodied male and female spirit and that suited me just fine. He made me think there were no rules. But I was wrong. There are no rules - if you're a boy. There are rules if you're a girl.

"Prince was running around with fishnets and high heels and lipstick with his butt hanging out... yes he was. But he was a man. This was the first time I truly understood women do not have the same freedom as men.

"You're allowed to be pretty and cute and sexy. But don't act too smart. Don't have an opinion that's out of line with the status quo, at least. You are allowed to be objectified by men and dress like a slut, but don't own your sluttiness. And do not, I repeat, do not, share your own sexual fantasies with the world.

"Be what men want you to be, but more importantly, be what women feel comfortable with you being around other men. And finally, do not age. Because to age is a sin. You will be criticised and vilified, and you will definitely not be played on the radio."

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Watch Madonna's speech below: