We've experienced about a year of Taylor Swift's #squadgoals on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Tumblr, and I am absolutely over it.
Don't get me wrong, I am charmed by the fact that all of these women have come together as the face of peaceful female alliances, but I'm officially bored scrolling through various social media posts and tabloid headlines highlighting a group of genetically gifted, financially stable women who spend their days voguing and claiming the hashtag "#squadgoals" as their own. To put it simply: Their friend group is unattainable, and they have no problem reminding us of it.
While I love to hate her, I actually really like Taylor Swift and her music. She is the (former country) pop star to beat, rising to ultimate stardom in less than a decade. From the looks of her Tumblr page— which is used as a way to reach out and connect to fans—I am sold on her angelic persona. In the past few years, we've watched Taylor Swift develop into a graceful, well-spoken and poised woman who has changed her previous fate as a naive teenage girl writing stupid country love songs. Her career has longevity, infamously excelled by her songs about breakups, heartbreaks and the "guys suck" mantra. If you're a teenage girl going through heartbreak, give Swift a listen; she's got quite a lot to say.
Now at the peak of her career, Taylor Swift has surrounded herself with some of Hollywood's most beloved actresses, models and fellow artists. It's hard to hate Swift when she's got someone like Ed Sheeran or Kendrick Lamar by her side. Us mere mortals have watched each of the friendships blossom through various Instagram posts and tweets, confirming what we might have feared most: Taylor Swift's friends make her more likable. Seriously.
The squad's most notable female members include (but are not limited to) Karlie Klass, Cara Delevingne, Gigi Hadid, Ellie Goulding, Zendaya, Lena Dunham, Selena Gomez, Jamie King, Lily Aldridge, Hailee Steinfeld, Lorde, Mariska Hargitay and Ellen Pompeo. They are, by far, the most featured on Swift's Instagram and Twitter, and many of them make an appearance in Swift's noteworthy "Bad Blood" music video. "Bad Blood," which is rumored to be about Swift's ex-best friend and fellow pop star Katy Perry, is somewhat ironic. The video claims to be a celebration of unifying various women into one powerful friend group, and yet the song itself screams revenge. Nevertheless, Taylor Swift has got a lot of cards in her hand— actually, she's got the whole deck — and we need to pay attention.
There is nothing wrong with a proud group of gals showcasing their friendship through social media while dominating red carpets left and right. Taylor Swift has flaunted and toted around her most beloved buddies to various shows on the 1989 World Tour, treated them to a patriotic July Fourth weekend in Rhode Island and propelled their careers to new heights through social media. Her 44.6 million followers on Instagram and 62.9 million Twitter followers make up a staggering total of fans and curious admirers who wait eagerly to see what the "squad" does next.
It's hard not to get jealous. These women are setting a high standard for "friendship," particularly female friendship. It's also hard not to wonder whether or not the Taylor Swift squad is simply a passing façade used to refine Swift's image as well as the images of those around her. These women do not set the standard for relationships, so while they can be a squad, they are in no way "goals." It is impossible to replicate Taylor Swift's crew, and that can create a feeling of inadequacy or not feeling good enough.
It's doubtful that I'll unfollow Swift-y or any of her famous besties as a result of my frustrations. So, my final message to you -- and myself -- would be this: You don't have to settle in a relationship, but you also don't have to set goals for it, either. Just be yourself and friends will come along the way. Pick quality over quantity, but be open to adding to your "squad" when new buddies come along.
