What does it feel like to hug Taylor Swift? According to Giselle Heng, an 11-year-old Singaporean girl, it tastes a bit salty.
Giselle Heng not only got to hug and high-five Taylor Swift, but was also given a fedora by the American superstar while performing song 22.
This happened on the night of March 2 – the first night of Taylor Swift’s six shows at Singapore National Stadium, part of the Eras Tour.
“I gave Taylor Swift a friendship bracelet with the number 22 written on it and said ‘I love you’ to her. She also said ‘I love you’ back to me. I hugged her, some hair stuck to my mouth, it was a bit salty because of Swift’s sweat but I didn’t mind at all,” the Yishun Primary School female student told The Straits Times over the phone.
Giselle wore the fedora she received from Taylor Swift on the evening of March 2. Photo: Vicky Chang.
Giselle wore the fedora she received from Taylor Swift on the evening of March 2. Photo: Vicky Chang.
Since the Eras Tour started in Glendale (USA) in 2023, Swift has had a habit of giving away a fedora – called a “22 hat” – to a lucky fan on stage.
Giselle’s mother, Vicky Chang (39 years old, executive assistant at a law firm), did not buy tickets to see the Eras Tour. However, her friend, who is also the mother of Giselle’s classmate, bought three 2nd class tickets, worth 328 USD each. The friend’s husband decided not to go and left a ticket for Giselle.
The 2nd class ticket was then changed to 1st class, allowing three people to get down right behind VIP row 1. Ms. Chang sat outside the stadium with her young daughter Elyssa (8 years old) during the 3 and a half hours that Swift performed. .
Memorable moment
Giselle was dancing to Swift’s song Look What You Made Me Do when a man dressed in black, who looked like a bodyguard, approached her and asked her chaperone for permission to take her on stage.
Giselle remembers shouting “Yes” repeatedly and added: “At first I was so confused, I thought they were just bringing me closer to the stage. However, after that they took me through to VIP. I knelt in front of the stage and saw the entire performance of 22 right in front of me.”
The Yishun Elementary 5th grade student decided to keep Taylor Swift’s signed fedora and the shirt she wore to the concert – a Junior Jewels t-shirt that replicated Swift’s outfit in MV You Belong With Me (2008).
“I will never wash it and never wear it again. This is the shirt I was wearing when Taylor Swift hugged me,” Giselle said.
There are other younger fans hoping to get a “22 hat” and a personal moment with Swift during her next five nights of performances.
Keira Chia, 9, has terminal brain cancer and hopes to receive pop star Taylor Swift’s “22 hat”. Photo: Adelyn Tan.
Keira Chia, 9, has terminal brain cancer and hopes to receive pop star Taylor Swift’s “22 hat”. Photo: Adelyn Tan.
Among them is Keira Chia, a 9-year-old girl at Nanyang Primary School, who was diagnosed with glioma, a late-stage cancerous tumor that begins in the brain, more than a year ago. She loves singing and dancing, but is currently in a wheelchair and cannot move her legs.
Singapore-based children’s cancer charity Viva Foundation partnered with bag brand Aupen to sponsor Keira with a private room worth more than $30,000 to attend the July 7 concert. 3 with mother.
“We want to help Keira see her idol perform live. Hopefully, with everyone’s support, Taylor Swift will give Keira the ’22 hat,'” Aupen’s spokesperson told Straits Times.
