Music celebrities, fans and politics

Swiftie activism in Argentina’s 2023 presidential elections

Abstract

In this article, the political engagement of Taylor Swift’s fandom — the “Swifties” — is analyzed in the context of the 2023 Argentine presidential elections, with a focus on the digital campaign “Swiftie no vota Milei” (“Swiftie doesn’t vote for Milei”). Through a case study, the author investigates how cultural manifestations related to musical performance and the celebrity can spill over into the realm of political action, especially in contexts marked by the rise of the far-right and the weakening of traditional feminist movements. The analysis suggests that Swifties’ actions demonstrate new forms of political participation, mediated by pop culture and symbolic consumption, challenging dominant narratives about youth depoliticization. The article contributes to the fields of fandom studies, celebrity culture, and political participation by highlighting the capacity of fan collectives to operate as active political subjects in electoral disputes and contemporary public debate.