Look-Alike of Taylor Swift Earns PHP20K Per Hour in Gigs
KELLEY THRASHER – A 40-year-old nanny from Shawnee, Kansas, is earning PHP20K per hour as a Taylor Swift look-alike.
Kelley first experienced being mistaken for Swift at 26 during Taylor’s 2012 Speak Now tour. She was swarmed by fans at the entrance of the venue, which she found scary. Inside, security staff, thinking she was Swift, escorted her and her companions to their seats on a golf cart. Over the years, despite not seeing the resemblance initially and not being a hardcore Swift fan, Kelley gradually recognized their similarity as they both aged.
Encouraged by friends and a chance meeting with Bruno Mars, who also mistook her for Swift and advised her to “monopolize” the resemblance, Kelley decided to capitalize on her likeness at events. Her first gig left attendees amazed, and her schedule is now fully booked until September 2024. Kelley earns more from these gigs in two hours than she did in a week as a teacher. This opportunity has provided her with more flexible hours than her previous teaching job.
Despite the financial benefits, Kelley feels some reluctance and guilt about her side job, particularly because she feels she might be deceiving people, especially children. However, she was reassured by a party organizer who said that children don’t mind the difference and are just excited to see someone resembling their idol.
Kelley manages her gigs with the help of an agency and enhances her resemblance to Swift by purchasing similar outfits from online stores. While she enjoys these events, she also faces harsh comments from netizens, particularly on TikTok, who often compare her unfavorably to Swift. Kelley responds to critiques about her age and appearance by clarifying the minor age difference and adopting Swift’s mantra to “shake it off.” Despite the mixed reactions, Kelley hopes her story is viewed positively.
