When you think of Taylor Swift you might think of country music, red lipstick, cats, or even celebrity relationships. But do you think of veganism? With her five foot ten slender frame it’s fair to say that Taylor Swift has an enviable figure. So has she joined the rising number of stars that follow plant-based diets?
Taylor Swift is not vegan, nor is she vegetarian. She enjoys a healthy diet that includes meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. Despite this, Taylor is somewhat of an animal rights activist. As well as cancelling gigs due to animal cruelty concerns, she has shown commitment to environmentally responsible, vegan fashion.
In this article, we’ll look at the food that helps Taylor to maintain her superstar figure, her recent collaboration with vegan designer Stella McCartney, and why she cancelled a gig at a racecourse.
The Popstar Diet
Speaking to WebMD in 2010 about her diet, Taylor said:
“During the week I try to eat healthily, so that means salads, yoghurt, and sandwiches. […] On the weekends I allow myself to eat what I know from common sense is bad for me.”
Taylor Swift
But what exactly does this entail?
Taylor often talks about her love of chicken. In her infamous ’73 questions’ interview with Vogue back in 2016, Taylor was asked about her favourite food to which she replied: “if calories didn’t count, chicken tenders”.
In line with this, writing for Glamour magazine Swift claimed that her friend Ed Sheeran got her addicted to Nando’s whilst travelling the UK with her Red tour. “We are deprived of mango chicken wraps and grilled corn in America!”, she declares.
Beyond this, Taylor’s appreciation of non-vegan comfort food continues at breakfast time. During a conversation with Bon Appétit magazine in 2012, Taylor stated that she always has eggs in her fridge. “I love making buckwheat crepes with ham, Parmesan cheese, and a fried egg on top. It’s my go-to breakfast”, she says.
So it’s clear that the singer-songwriter is not vegan, and she’s probably not a huge fan of meat-free Mondays either!
Vegan Fashion
When it comes to her diet Taylor Swift may not be the ‘wokest’, but that’s not the full story.
Back in August 2019, Taylor teamed up with British fashion designer and friend Stella McCartney to launch a vegan fashion collection. The line, which is made up of t-shirts, hoodies, jackets and tote bags, was aimed at promoting Taylor’s 2019 album, Lover.
McCartney is a long standing advocate of sustainability, and argues that fashion can be luxurious without using real fur or leather.
Whilst Taylor has remained quiet about the vegan elements of the collection, this is not the first time she’s championed vegan fashion. At the 2019 BAFTA Awards, Swift wore a blue dress, again designed by Stella McCartney.
Do these acts demonstrate Taylor’s support for the vegan ethos? Or are they merely a bit of fun between two friends?
Cancelled Gigs
One look at her Instagram will tell you that Taylor Swift loves animals, particularly her cats.
But this love was put in the firing line in November last year when Taylor was scheduled to perform at Australia’s Melbourne Cup horse racing event.
Prior to the cancellation various animal rights groups pressured Taylor to say ‘#NupToTheCup’ and argued that by continuing to perform she was putting money before compassion.
However, in the cancellation statement from Taylor’s promoter, claims of animal cruelty were not acknowledged. Instead, the statement reads “changes to her Asian promo schedule have made it logistically impossible for her to be here.”
Can we assume Taylor’s silence is agreement?
Final Thoughts
All-in-all it’s clear that Taylor Swift is not vegan, nor is she outspoken about her views on it.
But this lack of proactivity leads to the question: is Taylor genuinely concerned with animal rights and sustainability, or is she cashing in on the vegan trend?
Is it time for Taylor Swift to put her money where her mouth is?