celeb news TB: Taylor Does Not Feel Cool, Edgy, or Sexy

April 4

well first of all this is 10 years old... so there's that

but also her not being cool, edgy or sexy and instead being awkward and quirky or whatever /is/ a fundamental part of her brand.

Cool, edgy, sexy girls are aspirational. Every girl wants to feel that way. Taylor offers a fantasy where you are none of these (implicitly vapid) things but you still COULD BE* if you wanted to because you're a conventionally attractive popstar. Plus, despite being uncool, straight as a ruler and unsexy you have zero issues finding famous men to date. On top of that you write and perform your own music so you are respected.

This fantasy (the one that Taylor is selling) is way more accessible to the average girl than those of the sex kitten pop stars because it doesn't present as much of a challenge to their self image. If you're feeling like you're dua lipa or olivia rodrigo or tate mcrae and then you catch yourself in the mirror you get a hard reality check. But not so much w Taylor. Billie had (and still sort of has) a similar appeal although on the other end of the spectrum.

*Unfortunately taytay is an exception to this case as demonstrated by the entire Reputation era and whatever burlesque thing she is doing on this neverending tour of hers

/essay