With the release of Miss Americana, I have never loved Taylor Swift more than I do in this instance. She has always been someone I have admired, I have followed her throughout her career, and to see such vulnerability from her was inspiring.
We know celebrities live vastly different lives than us, but we never quite fully understand the toll it takes on them. I cannot tell you how many times I had to pause Netflix just to sit there and collect my thoughts. It was like I felt the heartbreak she was experiencing.
She is a role model to so many young girls and women and to watch her recreate the narrative of the music industry has been something I am honored to witness. To watch the creative process for one of the most successful and influential artists of our generation was awe inspiring. But now, knowing how much pain she was in while writing these hit songs makes me see them in such a different light.
I think we often forget that these celebrities are real human beings too, to hear her discuss the fear she felt whenever she went on stage that there could be people there that want to tear her down, that take triumph in her downfall was horrific. Yet people wonder why some celebrities turn to vices to help distract themselves, no one should have to learn how to cope with those fears, because they shouldn’t exist.
Watching someone I have admired for half my life talk about how she needed validation from the claps and cheers, that she thought it was normal to feel like she was going to pass out after a show, that she needed to be the “good girl” to be liked was so relatable. Many young girls constantly strive for validation, suffer eating disorders and make sure to stay quiet for fear of retribution. She showed us, although these are things no one should have to expereince or feel, that she is just like us.
Andera Swift deserves recognition as well, she created this fearless (no pun intended) human and shaped her into the person she is today, that has become the most successful person in our generation. Seeing her throughout this documentary and the relationship she and Taylor share got me choked up, it reminded me of the relationship with my mom. And this just further shows how she is just like me, she is just like every other twenty/thrity something girl out there.
Thank you, Taylor Swift, for rising from the ashes and perservering each day to give your fans and the world your music and your thoughts. I hope the release of this documentary proves to the haters– proves to yourself– that you are good enough, you are loved, you deserve to be here.