It's a really great time to be Taylor Swift right now, you guys. Although, when isn't a great time to be her, if we're being honest? But the past 12 months have been a particular banner year for Swift, which we know because she said as much in her interview with Maxim after they put Swift at the top of their Hot 100 List for 2015. (See above re: things going really effing well for her right now.)
It's really nice and such an incredible compliment. This year has been my favorite year of my life so far. I got to make an album exactly the way I wanted to make it. I got to put it out exactly the way that I dreamed of putting it out. Every one of these kinds of whims and ideas came to fruition. The videos—I'm proud of those, I'm proud of the tour, I'm proud of the way this has all happened. In the midst of all that, this is really nice. It really feels like a wonderful celebration of my favorite year.
Oh, and just to put the cherry on the top of this glorious sundae, Maxim announced that, starting this year, their Hot List no longer has to do with physical beauty — although Swift clearly isn't lacking in that department — but with the honoree's relevance and power and how excited the world is about him or her. And, in Swift's case, the world is very excited lately... a feeling that just happens to be mutual.
Let's take a look at all the exciting things that have happened to Swift in the last half of 2014 and the first half of 2015.
She Got A New Cat
There was a new addition to the Swift family this year. An adorable little kitten named Olivia Benson, after Mariska Hargitay's character on Law and Order: SVU, joined Meredith Grey in Swift's heart-slash-Instagram posts.
She Dropped An Album That Was True To Herself
Swift's album 1989 went in a new direction, veering away from her country roots to fully embrace pop, a move that could have backfired. But instead, it went platinum in the first week of its release, and was the first album in 2014 to do so, even though it came out in late October. (It was almost the only album to achieve that status, but Sam Smith snuck in there right under the wire in December.)
She Settled Into Her New York City Apartment
... and was promptly named NYC Tourism Ambassador. Whatever that means. But the main thing is, she's found a city that she loves, and is establishing a routine here, which is hugely important for a healthy mindset.
She Raked In The Awards
Swift won everything from Billboard Music Awards, to multiple People's Choice Awards, to a Brit Award, to the Woman of the Year Award from Elle, to the Dick Clark Award for Excellence at the American Music Awards, and was nominated for dozens more. Aka just a regular year for our gal.
She Honed Her Fashion Voice
She undeniably killed it in the fashion game, although she sadly lost her bellybutton in the process.
She Was In A Movie
The Giver may not have been the hit everyone was expecting, but, hey, girl, I see you branching out!
She Started Dating Again
After all that hullaballoo about her last series of boyfriends forced Swift out of the dating world for a while, it's really great to see her back out there with Calvin Harris, as evidenced by that smooch at the BBMAs last night.
She Reconciled With Selena
I think Swift was as exhausted by the rest of us with the on-again-off-again thing between Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber, so it's a relief to see Swift and Gomez being buds again, with Bieber out of the picture.
She Solidified Her Friend Group
More than probably any other artist out there, Taylor Swift cultivates a supportive and varied group of humans (mostly women, but shout out to her friendship with Ed Sheeran) with whom to surround herself. It's a great way to keep herself grounded and happy in the midst of her incredible fame.
She Wrapped Up Her Red Tour
Which grossed over $150 million, in case anyone was keeping track.
She Started Her 1989 Tour
She Connected With Her Fans Like Whoa
At the end of the day, Swift knows that it's all about her fans, and she's found countless ways to connect with them in the past year — from taking over her Tumblr, commenting on fans' Instagram posts, sending them care packages, and just having an amazing sense of humor about herself in general. That "no its becky" shirt, anyone?
Images: Taylor Swift/Instagram; People Magazine
