Pop powerhouse Madonna turns 50 today and quite frankly the world's perception of 50 will never be the same again.

And about time too if you don't mind me saying. This isn't just a birthday, it's a landmark for popular culture, which is why the press is making such a huge thing about it.

Madonna is singularly identified the world over as a woman with talent, youth, beauty and cutting edge style. She stands as a paragon of good health and clean living and for her to reach such a milestone in her life in such a glorious timeless way is well worth celebrating.

Fifty never looked so good and for that alone we should salute her. Madonna is still YOUNG. She has turned 50 into the new 25. She has been a megastar for as long as we can remember, and her achievements feel particularly meaningful in this day and age when it looks doubtful if the current crop of music stars will make it to 40 alive, let alone 50 and thriving. Take a hint Amy Winehouse.

What I love about Madge is that right from the beginning she set trends and became the mistress of reinvention. She has never been afraid to experiment which has given her longer lasting powers.

And she has got a talent for controversy which is part of the reason we remain so intrigued by her. She loves to shock, yet she has always been in control of her own sexuality and done her own thing. That is how she has managed to stay on top, which is rare in an industry known for its exploitation of unthreatening girliness and sickly sweet sexiness to shift records.

She has become a role model for women of my age because she portrays the image of a strong, sexualised female who is not afraid to display the traditionally male virtues of aggressive ambition. Of course when you are superwoman you are bound to have problems in your private life. Especially with men. Her husband Guy and her brother, Christopher, spring to mind.

But we stay loyal to her because deep down we respect her. We don't have to like all she had done. Or even the way she looks. Her trademark gaunt and pale look at the moment, for instance, is not a good one as far as I am concerned. She works out too much and is too thin. It doesn't photograph well (let this be a lesson to all those middle-aged women who constantly complain about carrying a bit too much fat) but you know what, I still put her up there on a pedestal and she is definitely one of my all-time favourite women.

Is she still relevant? The answer is yes.

Men make the mistake of underestimating her. Women don't. We know she will be getting what she wants for some years to come and we'll be there cheering her. Happy birthday Madge and welcome to the club.