If one were given the task of trying to choose a face to represent the entertainment industry for the last fifteen years, Taylor Alison Swift would absolutely be named as a contender. Swift's career began as a fairytale reminiscent of those she sings about in early songs, beginning her career by singing to modest crowds and shopping her early singles to radio stations herself, to being known as one of the most popular and powerful entertainers in the world.

Her image slowly began appearing on the front pages of magazines, her relatable lyrics often detailing the beauty of and desire for a first and eternal love, and the wonderlust of growing up and living life under an everchanging color wheel. Taylor Swift paints a picture detailing universal thoughts and feelings, never without a sense of unwavering optimism. There is no doubt her widespread appeal has made her a household name, with a key ingredient almost always at play: Her dedicated 'Swiftie' fanbase.

'Speak Now' Or Never Be A Swiftie

Taylor Swift's fanbase isn't like any other artists' fanbase and those who swear by living life as a Swiftie will be the first to make the incredibly important distinction! Some may view Swifties as being reminiscent of the Beatle-maniacs of yesteryear, but the rapt dedication of Swift's fanbase has an advantage over your grandmother's devotion to those men with the moptops; rapid connection brought on by the world wide web and the glossy technologically savvy advent of interchangeable photo filters, plenty of them used and approved by Swift herself, are just a few ways in which Taylor's 'Swifties' have become one of the most-discussed fanbases in history.

Related: Taylor Swift's 10 Boldest Instagram Posts

The 'Delicate' Dedication Of Being A Swiftie

Simply supporting Taylor Swift is not enough; the days of a collective fanbase and experience are gone. 'Swifties' know they have an important mission to carry out; they are all about making sure their queen knows she is loved, and they will stop at nothing to make their love known and make sure their love language is nothing short of unique.

The 'Swiftie' fandom exists within several corners on the internet spanning across multiple social networks. Across the fandom's dedicated network of social media accounts, Swift's fans showcase devotion to their fearless leader much like a cramped and decorated school locker, in anticipation of their individuality acting as a digital footprint, with the ultimate goal of being noticed by Swift, herself.

Despite the strong desire to create a sense of individuality within the fandom, 'Swifties' make a point to let newcomers know they are welcome, but to also remain keenly aware they are entering a sacred space. There are rules, and it is imperative they are followed, and there is always a lingering reminder of how special they are.

The eternal sense of importance in the fandom is validated; Swift interacts with her fanbase through her social media accounts, her Tumblr account being a frequent direct source of news and surprises sent from the Swiftie's godmother, herself! Swift's presence is always gleefully noted. Urban Dictionary defines the act of 'Taylurking' as "When Taylor Swift stalks her fans on social media."

Related: 10 Things Taylor Swift's Employees Have Said About Working With Her

The Tale Of Taylor's Tumblr

Taylor Swift's Tumblr activity could be the modern-day equivalent of tracking down a superstar's fan club mailing address in the back of a magazine; the elation felt after receiving an autograph now coming in the form of a heart 'like, a notification received by a 'Swiftie' letting them know their idol has 'noticed' them.

Anyone remotely familiar with Swift's fandom and career is aware of her extensive experience with navigating through stressful chapters of her life marked by scandal. One of the most recent instances where Swifties were on guard to protect their idol originated from a post on Swift's Tumblr account. In the Summer of 2019, she wrote an open letter to fans informing them of the extensive history of her relationship with Scooter Braun and her label Big Machine Records.

'Swifties' rallied around their favorite singer hours after the news broke. Swift's letter detailed her frustration over Braun's surprise purchase of her masters "As it was announced to the world," and further revealed the extremely negative extent of their relationship, detailing "Incessant, manipulative bullying" by Braun.

Naturally, a sliver of Swift's fandom sprang into action, sending negatively fueled to Braun and members of his family, and a few of his famous clients. Braun publicly sent a message to Swift detailing what had happened and claimed she had been "Silent" amid prior action being taken.

Braun wasn't the only target involved in the incident. Swift's fanbase went after Justin Beiber after he had posted a photo alongside Braun on social media with the caption "Taylor Swift, What Up?" What would be up for Beiber would be having to face the wrath of angry Taylor Swift fans. This instance wouldn't be the first time 'Swifties' would defend their girl against Beiber. He previously poked fun of a candid video featuring Swift recovering from surgery; his wife, Hailey Baldwin-Beiber, got involved as well.

Related: Taylor Swift Uses Her Billboard Woman Of The Decade Platform To Bash Scooter Braun

Ballad Of A Fanbase

'Stan culture' has long been noted for the negative elements of having a devoted fanbase, a frequent criticism of Swift and her 'Swifties.' Recently, after Swift surprisingly dropped her eighth album folklore to the elation of her fans and met with excitement on Twitter, the record was reviewed by the legendary Pitchfork. The reviewer gave it an 8.0 on the website's famous scale much to the chagrin of some vocal 'Swifties.' The backlash made way for a bigger conversation to happen; How much is 'too much' when it comes to passionate fandoms?

Regardless, the 'Swiftie' fandom has stuck by their fave through thick and thin and do not seem to be stopping any time soon. The love from Taylor Swift's supporters may be burning red, or tinged with a 'golden' hue; It wouldn't be too surprising if 'Swifties' eventually came to an official conclusion!

Next: Selena Gomez Expresses Love for BFF Taylor Swift's New Album