How Taylor Swift Took Over My Dorm and My Curiosity

Image Courtesy:  Pinterest

I have never really had that one celebrity that I was obsessed with. Sure, like any middle school girl watching the Twilight Saga, I may have daydreamed about Robert Pattinson once or twice–because who didn’t do that? But it never went beyond that. No merchandise, no deep dive into his private life, no posters plastered on my bedroom walls. Then came high school, and with it, I faced a new fan base that I couldn't ignore. 

There was a fandom– no, an army of teenagers– that completely dominated: The Swifties. 

I was horrified. Truly. 

At first, I honestly didn’t get it. I started hearing Taylor Swift’s music more and more and found myself asking, "Doesn’t it all sound the same?" What was the appeal? And more importantly, why the f**** were people so obsessed, not just with her music, but with her? Her relationships, her every move—it was like she was more than an artist, she became a lifestyle. 

None of my friends were hardcore Swifites, so I was blissfully untouched by the cult of Taylor Swift. That is until I got to college. 

The summer before my freshman year at Notre Dame, I was introduced to Mary Lutz, my random roommate. During our first Facetime call, I was hoping for one thing: that we would get along. I knew our room was small, and I wanted to have a good connection with her. Within minutes, my soon-to-be roommate hit me with: “I’m a huge Taylor Swift fan. I hope you don’t mind if I hang a poster in our room” 

I froze. Not only was she a Swiftie, but she was about to bring Taylor’s face into my personal living space. But since I didn’t have any posters of my own, I thought “Why not?” 

Image Courtesy: Screenshot from Rayhana’s iPhone (The Taylor Swift Playlist that was made for me)

I even asked an old friend’s sister, a swiftie herself, to make a playlist of Taylor’s songs. I figured if I was going to be waking up to a 2x2 foot poster of Taylor Swift staring at me every morning, I might as well try to understand the hype surrounding her. I thought that listening to her would help me bond with Mary.

Wrong. 

The more I listened, the more confused I became. The songs were catchy– very catchy — but I couldn’t wrap my head around the obsession aspect of it all. Why Taylor Swift? Why did so many people idolize her to this level? 

Image Courtesy: Rayhana’s iPhone

Now, as a sophomore, Mary and I have become good friends, and yes, we’re still living together. But this year, her side of the room is a shrine to Taylor. Posters, albums, and merchandise are everywhere. After spending a year waking up to Taylor’s picture staring at me from across the room, I finally had to ask Mary: Why Taylor? 

Mary, like many Swifties, wasn’t just a casual listener. She was completely invested in the lore behind Taylor. I figured that if anyone could help me understand the Swiftie nation, it would be her. So, we sat down on our futon for a conversation, and it didn’t take long to see why people like Mary are so devoted. 

“Honestly, I love her music and her style” Mary began saying, her face lighting up. “She collaborates with cool people, and her street style is really cool” 

So, it’s more than just her music. It is literally everything about Taylor. She isn’t just a pop star; she’s a cultural icon and her influence runs deeper than I thought initially. 

But what really got me curious was how someone could connect so deeply with an artist that they have never met. Music is personal, sure—but this seemed to be more intimate. When I asked Mary how she connected with Taylor’s music, she explained, “I feel like whenever she drops an album, there are always several songs that relate to what I’m going through at the time. I’ve seen on social media that other people feel the same way.”

It was like Taylor’s music perfectly synced with her experiences. Taylor is also a style inspiration for Mary. “We’re both tall and have the same coloring,” she told me. “So she’s kind of a style inspo for me” 

But what about the deep fascination with Taylor’s personal life? What drives people to follow her relationships, her friendships, and even her political endorsements so closely? Mary had a pretty balanced take on that. “I don’t believe someone’s music automatically makes them a good person,” she said. "But I do think she tries to use her platform well. She donates a lot of money to causes she believes in, and she encourages voting. She knows her audience is young, and she’s trying to engage them.” 

It’s not just about the music- Taylor is seen as someone who’s trying to make a positive impact, which only devotes her fans more to her. 

But as with any fandom, it’s not all ‘starry-eyed’ and ‘rose-colored glasses’ like in I" “One thing I dislike about the Swiftie community,” Mary said, “is how nit-picky we can be. People get really critical about her personal choices, like when she didn’t endorse Kamala Harris even though she had previously endorsed Biden and Harris.”

It struck me how much pressure Taylor must feel from her fans. She’s not just an artist anymore—she’s a symbol, and people hold her to incredibly high standards. “It’s easy to forget she’s just a person,” Mary added. “She sees all this criticism, and it’s got to be tough.”

Despite these frustrations, Mary sees herself as a Swiftie for life. “I’m so excited for the day when Taylor is 70 and she drops an album for her grandkids.”

So, while I still don’t fully understand the extent of Taylor Swift’s grip on the world, I’m starting to get it. For people like Mary, it’s not just about liking a few songs—it’s about feeling connected, being part of a community, and finding inspiration in someone who uses their platform to do good.

Will I ever be a Swiftie? Who knows. But after hearing Mary’s story, I can at least say this: I get the appeal.

Strike Out, 

Rayhana Bouhara 

University of Notre Dame