Every year since 1927, Time Magazine has chosen a person whom they consider to have influenced the world events for that respective year, for better or worse.
Over the past century, many of Time's persons of the year have included presidents, politicians, business tycoons, moguls, figureheads, and other people who have achieved incredible feats worthy of global acclaim.
This year would mark the first year someone will be recognized for their success in the arts. And that someone is Taylor Swift. With her Eras Tour still ongoing as she will be visiting more countries in 2024, Swift has managed to do something that 2023 seems to have been bereft of. She brought a lot of people together and stood as a shining light in a world currently mired in darkness.
Perhaps, one of the biggest reasons why Time chose Swift to be their Person of the Year for 2023 is the way in which her story has unfolded, how she embarked on a kind of hero's journey in which her fans and the world around her have steadily watched her grow and walked alongside her as she continues to be a trailblazer.
This year seems to be Swift at her finest, with three no. 1 albums, becoming a billionaire, and receiving keys to the cities. And why not? Her Eras Tour is bringing in streams of revenue for all the cities she has performed in.
More than that, because of her honesty and candid persona, many people can relate with her and trust her. That's how she was able to encourage thousands of people to vote or become new fans of the NFL. In a world that has suffered successive blows over the past few years, Taylor Swift has helped us rediscover the sense of community that we seemingly have lost.
(Image credit: Time Magazine)