Imagine waking up one morning to find that you have become an international sensation. Suddenly, everything you do is under intense, unwavering scrutiny. If you leave the house looking anything other than flawless, you make it into the “Fashion Don’ts” page of some pop culture magazine. If you’re having a bad day and you chastise your waiter for his slow service, you’re suddenly a spoiled jerk, with out-of-context pictures splashed all over the internet to prove it. Every person regularly in the public eye must deal with this constant judgment. Some are better at handling their fame than others, and Taylor Swift is one of the best.
Most of us can only imagine what it’s like to be a celebrity, to be seen as a role model for people all across the world. No doubt, it’s a hard job, despite its perks. Over the years, we’ve seen some celebrities (read: Lindsay Lohan) go to pieces under the pressure, while others have held up admirably. Many celebrities are dismissed as being bad role models for the poorly thought-out things they’ve done; we have seen this happen with Miley Cyrus’ infamous 2013 VMA performance, and more recently with Ariana Grande and the donut-licking “I hate America” incident. Although these ladies’ antics may not have been in the best taste, it doesn’t seem fair to permanently condemn them for their slip-ups. Like Miley herself once said, “Everybody makes mistakes, everybody has those days.”
Unlike many of her fellow superstars, Taylor Swift has constantly maintained public composure through the years; the only things she has been criticized for are her short-lived relationships, and really, is this behavior unusual for someone her age? No, Ms. Swift has shown herself to be the picture of decorum time and time again. In addition to keeping her head held high despite countless allegations and continuous criticism on everything from her music to her haircut, Swift has shown constant support, respect, and gratitude toward her fans. Just recently, she donated $50,000 to one of her young fans in order to help pay for the girl’s leukemia treatment.
Because so many people look up to them, celebrities have the rare ability to bring awareness to foundations or causes that are important to them. Taylor Swift has done this many times over. Over the course of her career, she has launched a campaign to protect children from online predators, donated to multiple organizations including the Red Cross and the Wounded Warrior Project, and performed at fundraising events for many more. Recently, she wrote a letter (a move that could have cost her dearly given she did it without her label’s support) to Apple Music in response to their plan to withhold pay from artists, writers, and producers during a three-month free trial, saying “it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing,” and promising to keep her latest album from Apple until Apple agreed to pay people for their work. Within a few hours, Apple agreed to change its policy, admitting that the decision was due in part to Swift’s letter.
Taylor Swift is no doubt a talented young woman with a winning personality and a penchant for staying at the forefront of the pop culture scene. Many celebrities have these qualities, though. What sets Taylor apart is her equanimity in the face of scorn, her charitable contributions to many causes, and, most importantly, her willingness to stand up for what she believes in. She, like so many other superstars, holds a position that makes her more than capable of making a difference. The thing is, though, she actually does. If all celebrities took a page from Taylor Swift’s book and used their influence to catalyze change, the world would be a much better place.
