TRENDING

We don't know about you, but we go back to December all the time for *the* best holiday ever...Taylor Swift's birthday, obvi.

Leave it to our girl Taylor to absolutely enchant us each and every year (srsly, how does she do it?). As the first woman to hit 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify, she's been breaking glass ceilings left and right from the start of her career. Long story short, she is The Man. 

So, in honor of Taylor's birthday on the 13th, let's celebrate 13 of her (many, many) "The Man" career moments that inspire us, forever and always. 

1. Her first Album of the Year for Fearless

Once upon a time, Taylor became the youngest artist (she was only 20 years old!) to win Album of the Year at the Grammys in 2010. That same night, "White Horse" won Best Country Song and Best Female Vocal Performance...it really *was* the best day. Tbh, can we all agree that she's been an untouchable superstar since day one?

2. Embracing the pop scene

Sooo, they said Taylor's music was changing too much to stay in the country sweetheart scene. But she totally embraced (and slayed) her iconic transition to pop with the release of 1989 in 2014. Make way for the new romantics of this new age, because Taylor is not afraid to let herself evolve in front of the whole world. She really said: You get to define who you are. 

3. There will be no explanation, there will just be reputation

@taylorswift

We were definitely not ready for it when Taylor broke out with the reputation album. By emerging as a new version of herself, she regained control of her story from those who bashed her (srsly, look what you made her do). Call it what you want, but that was a cultural reset. 

4. Time Magazine Silence Breaker

In 2017, Time Magazine honored hundreds of individuals who "broke silence" in the #MeToo movement, which spread awareness about sexual harassment and the abuse of women. When Taylor sued a former radio host for groping her during a meet-and-greet, she won a single dollar (an ultimate power move!), representing what many women and girls have experienced.

5. Using her platform to encourage voting

Taylor spoke up about her own values and beliefs for the very first time during the 2018 Tennessee midterm elections. Her influence encouraged many fans to exercise their right to vote and be more civically engaged (tbh, whatever Taylor says)! So it goes...this pivotal moment led Taylor further into advocacy—especially in her Lover era.  

6. Billboard's first-ever Woman of the Decade

We don't know about you, but just reading this title gives us the absolute chills (we kinda need to calm down). With Taylor's dominance in 2010s music, it's no surprise that she was the first-ever recipient of this award in 2019. Ofc, we can't forget her *incredibly* empowering speech—who's cutting the onions?!

7. Miss Americana documentary

Taylor's Netflix documentary gave the world a glimpse into her happy, free, and confused reality. As we all watched from our own screens, the bejeweled icon shared a transparent journey of self-reflection and maturing. Shedding light on topics like hate, activism and body image was a turning point in her career.

8. First woman to win Album of the Year three times

@enews

Are we even surprised? Even when our girl experiments with new music like folklore, she's still making waves in the industry...nothing new here. She now has had six Album of the Year nominations (Midnights being the latest addition!) and three wins. The folklore album put her just below Frank Sinatra, who holds the record for four wins!

9. Taylor's Version

Reclaiming her music was just about the boldest move, like, ever. By re-recording her first six albums which were owned by her former label, she regained control of her masters (aka, she actually owns them now)! When she released Fearless (Taylor's Version) in 2021, it was arguably *the* most proud moment for us Swifties. 

10. BRIT Awards 2021 Global Icon

Taylor loves a good London boy, and the Brits love her back. She became the first woman and the youngest person and the first non-English person to win this award for her impact on music worldwide. Apparently, breaking one historic record just wasn't enough. 

11. Receiving her honorary doctorate from NYU 

@billboard

Welcome to New York, where Taylor received her honorary fine arts doctorate! Dressed in a dark purple(?) haze, she also gave the NYU commencement speech for the class of '22—because when is she ever not feeling 22? She imparted some advice about navigating the post-grad life as well as some good news: you're on your own now!

12. World touring a career's worth of discography 

Tbh, the Eras Tour altered our brain chemistry. Touring 17 years worth of music is absolutely unheard of, and yet Taylor did it in a matter of three and a half mindblowing hours. And with the Eras Tour concert film breaking the box office, Taylor has already lifted the economy tremendously over the past year...insane, we know. 

13. Time Person of the Year

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by TIME (@time)

After the year we've just had, who else would be named Person of the Year? Taylor's impact has been felt throughout the entire world with her record-breaking tour and new music releases—we say that's our baby and we're really proud! Also, would we be the foolish one to say she is sooo hinting her reputation era in this photo shoot? 

Did we miss any of your favorite Taylor moments? Share them with us on Instagram @girlslifemag!

Can't get enough of Taylor content? Check out these posts:
🪩 Every era performed at The Eras Tour, ranked
🪩 How Taylor Swift's re-recordings inspire us to reinvent our own lives
🪩 Taylor Swift lyrics that make 10/10 yearbook quotes

Top and slider image: @swifttitude

by Anne Chen | 12/13/2023