in Lyon, portrait of a “swiftie”, an early fan of Taylor Swift

After months of waiting, nearly 120,000 fans attended the American super star’s two concerts in Lyon on June 2 and 3. In this excited atmosphere, meeting a Swiftie, a fan of the artist since she was eight years old.

She presents herself on social networks as an actress, writer and screenwriter. But this morning, Margo Della-Guardia, 20, is first and foremost a swiftie. That’s what Taylor Swift fans are called. She is preparing to see her idol in concert for the sixth time. In the girly bedroom of her home in Lyon, she prepares her outfit. Short blue pleated skirt, white and yellow crop top and white sneakers, the young woman’s clothes were not chosen at random: “This is the outfit Taylor Swift wears in the music video Shake it off,” she explains.

Since she was eight years old, this Lyonnaise has been a fan of the American artist. “She sets the pace for my life, she’s like a big sister”she confides while putting a final touch on her glittery makeup. “I can not wait.” As always, she immortalizes her day on social networks. Tik Tok or Instagram stories with some hits from the American pop icon in the background. Obviously.

"It’s going to be a long, long day," she says with a smile on her face before heading to the Groupama Stadium in Décines-Charpieu near Lyon. Like her, thousands of fans came very early. Two thousand of them even slept there to be sure of being in the front row.

In the queue, we sing, we perfect sparkly outfits and makeup and we exchange friendship bracelets. These accessories, far from being anecdotal, are a sign of recognition, a way of creating a very strong community around the artist’s universe. “This is the concert of our lives, no concert will be able to surpass this one”testify two other swifties.

As Margo advances and crosses the security gates, the fever rises little by little. “My emotions, they’re all mixed. Stress, because I want to be in front and excitement because I’m going to see Taylor!” A sign of his exaltation, his voice rises in high notes.

After more than ten hours of waiting surrounded by her friends, mission accomplished. It is from the front row that she will observe the three hours of show.