Little Monsters go Gaga for star

Her latest album Artpop may have failed to set the charts alight but Lady Gaga's "Little Monsters" turned out in force to welcome the eccentric pop star back to Australia yesterday.

Gaga flew into Perth from South Korea and went straight to Crown Metropol Perth for a photo opportunity with fans and media.

Sporting a new nose piercing and clad in a dominatrix-style outfit complete with black lipstick and outrageous thigh-high boots, Gaga paused to greet and take selfies with fans.

Olivia Guelfi, of Dianella, said she had a "meltdown" when Gaga approached her and her three friends, one of whom will get the pop star's signature tattooed on their arm.

"We were all sweating and went really red," the 17-year-old said.

Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, will perform her ArtRave: The Artpop Ball at Perth Arena on Wednesday.

It is the 28-year-old's fourth time in Perth and first since she performed two shows as part of the Born This Way Ball tour at the now-defunct Burswood Dome in 2012.