Taylor Swift, "she's the free girls' therapist" (II)

"I learn English"

Men Ratiee, 23, a communications student in Bangkok, first heard about Taylor Swift on TV news in 2014, when her concert in Thailand was canceled following a coup.

Men Ratiee from Thailand, fan of Taylor Swift, during a photo shoot in Singapore, March 7, 2024 / © AFP

His favorite song is "Shake It Off" (2014), because it makes him feel better.

“She is a source of inspiration. I learn English thanks to her songs. I sing them,” he explains. “She inspires me because she is a good person. Her life is so incredible.”

“She’s not afraid of anything”

Mona He got her first smartphone at the age of 15 and the first song she downloaded was "You Belong With Me" (2008).

Mona He, from China, fan of Taylor Swift, during a photo shoot in Singapore, March 7, 2024 / © AFP

Now aged 24, she confides that attending the singer's concert has been her dream for nine years.

“I admire her because she is not afraid of anything,” confides the young woman who runs a company in China. “Even though she has enemies, she never, ever gives up.”

"Be yourself !"

What Renzo Gonzales, 26, likes is Swift's message that people should be themselves.

Renzo Gonzales, from the Philippines, fan of Taylor Swift, during a photo shoot in Singapore, March 7, 2024 / © AFP

“It doesn’t matter if you face a lot of uncertainty, you just have to be who you are and be happy,” says Renzo Gonzales, originally from the Philippines and working on an oil tanker.

Taylor Swift became her role model because "you don't have to be like what everyone tells you to be, you can be yourself."

His favorite song: “Daylight” (2019) because it taught him that “love can be a rainbow”.

Taylor Swift, "she's the free girls' therapist" (I)

Nearly 300,000 fans flocked to Singapore to attend the six sold-out concerts given by American singer Taylor Swift until Saturday in the city-state, the only ones in Southeast Asia.

On the eve of the final concert, AFP gave the floor to six “Swifties”. These die-hard fans of the pop star explain what the icon - whose words could count in November's presidential election - means to them.

"Therapist"

Searle Lira, 33, became a fan of Taylor Swift in high school with the song "Teardrops on My Guitar" (2006).

Searle Lina, from the Philippines, fan of American singer Taylor Swift, during a photo shoot in Singapore, March 7, 2024 / © AFP

It helped her overcome her own heartbreak.

“I have the impression that she’s the girls’ free therapist,” notes this independent journalist from the Philippines.

“For every thing girls go through, you can find a Taylor Swift song to relate to.”

“Love me as you should”

Lauren Fang, 23, first listened to Taylor Swift while she was in the hospital for treatment for lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease.

Lauren Fang from Taiwan, Taylor Swift fan, during a photo shoot in Singapore, March 7, 2024 / © AFP

A human resources specialist in Taiwan, she was 18 at the time and says her idol's songs helped her recover.

His favorite song? “Back to December” (2010), which evokes the regrets of having left someone.

She transformed the words to relate them to herself: “If I can live again, I swear that I will love myself as I should”.

“The song taught me that if I can rebuild my life, I will live my own life correctly,” she adds.

“Humble and kind”

Sarah Lui, 21, discovered Taylor Swift in elementary school and has never stopped listening to her since then.

Sarah Lui from Hong Kong, Taylor Swift fan, during a photo shoot in Singapore, March 7, 2024 / © AFP

“I will always be a Swiftie even if I become a lawyer,” maintains the young woman, who is completing a cycle in criminology in Hong Kong and is going to study law.

What she admires most about the singer is her “kindness”.

"She's been so good to her team, to her fans and to everyone. She's humble and kind, that's how everyone should be," she explains.

"She's a superstar, but she's never been arrogant because of her fame. She uses her fame for good."

(to be continued)