Lana Del Rey can't seem to escape controversy.

Del Ray is the only female for the "15th Annual Men of the Year Awards Special Issue," and she is the only one who appeared nude. Many critics, such as Jezebel.com, have called British GQ out as being sexist.

But, according to a statement by British GQ, the reason she was chosen as "Woman of the Year" was due to her talent and the buzz that surrounds her.

"Having provoked equal amounts of debate and outrage throughout an incredible year, she fufills one of the key requirements for any good pop star: she gets talked about. Following the all-conquering "Video Games" and her number one debut album Born To Die, Del Rey signed to NEXT models, wrote the best song on Cheryl Cole's last album, teamed up with ASAP Rocky and has acted as a muse and model to Mulberry, Jaguar and H&M. Truly 2013 is hers for the taking."

It seems like Del Rey has always done what's she's wanted and has always led a dramatic life.

Born Lizzie Grant, Del Rey was raised in Lake Placid, N.Y., according to the Huffington Post.

At 18 years old, the self-proclaimed "gangsta Nancy Sinatra" moved to New York City to pursue her dream of being a singer, performing at open mike nights and moving into a trailer park in New Jersey, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Del Rey spoke of her crazy teenage years admitting, she was a heavy drinker by the age of 14.

"I was a big drinker at the time. I would drink every day," she told British GQ, according to Glamour magazine. "I would drink alone. I thought the whole concept was so f**king cool. A great deal of what I wrote on 'Born To Die' is about these wilderness years. My parents were worried, I was worried. I knew it was a problem when I liked it more than I liked doing anything else. I was like, 'I'm f--ked. I am totally f--ked'."

Her parents hoped sending her to boarding school would sober her up.

"At first it's fine and you think you have a dark side," she said. "It's exciting - and then you realise the dark side wins every time if you decide to indulge in it," she added. "It's also a completely different way of living when you know that. [You're] a different species of person. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me."

Last week, Del Rey accepted the award for "Woman of the Year" in London and spoke about the provocative photo shoot, which includes a topless photo of the "Born To Die" singer with GQ creative director Paul Solomons grabbing her breast.

"We had a beautiful shoot in Monaco and I had a really interesting interview -- for a change -- and I was reminded of why I love to sing and why I wanted to become a writer," she said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"Also, Paul, the creative director, was very hands on with the shoot," she said, adding, "In fact, if you see inside the magazine -- in the middle of the spread -- you'll see a hand hoisting up one of my boobs," she added. "That's Paul's hand. Couldn't have done it without him."

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Lana Del Rey