Madonna has revealed that school-time bullying made her determined to succeed in life.

The pop diva attributed her extraordinary success to the years she suffered at the hands of school bullies.

The 49-year old superstar has confessed that she was considered a "weirdo" in the years of her high school in the 1970s, but rather than becoming a doormat she used the bullying as a springboard to success.

"I wasn't a hippie or a stoner, so I ended up being the weirdo," Contactmusic quoted her, as telling Vanity Fair magazine.

"I was interested in classical ballet and music, so the kids were quite mean if you were different. I was one of those people that people were mean to.

"When that happened, instead of being a doormat, I decided to emphasise my differences. I didn't shave my legs.

"I had hair growing under my arms. I refused to wear makeup, or fit the ideal of what a conventionally pretty girl would look like. So, of course, I was tortured even more," she added.