Fact Check

Are These Real Pics of Taylor Swift from 2009 NY Times Mag Photoshoot?

Old photographs of the singer dressed in doll-like outfits went viral in 2023.

Published Dec. 12, 2023

 (@u/k4fkaesqu3/Reddit)
Image courtesy of @u/k4fkaesqu3/Reddit
Claim:
Authentic photographs show Taylor Swift dressed in doll-like outfits for a photoshoot in The New York Times magazine in 2009.

On Dec. 10, 2023, a number of photographs purportedly showing singer Taylor Swift dressed in a number of doll-like outfits for a 2009 New York Times Magazine photoshoot went viral.

A Reddit post shared the images with many commenters comparing it to photographs of dolls and shoots from an old competition show America's Next Top Model (ANTM), which often featured models in unusual outfits. One comment read: "Sending me to 2005, ANTM style."

The above photographs indeed featured a younger Swift when she posed for a 2009 photoshoot for The New York Times Magazine, in an article titled "Little Miss Sunshine."

The original photographs are still accessible on the New York Times website. At the time, Swift was described as a "country music darlin'." She can be seen with her blond hair up in two ponytails, wearing a range of skirts and bright dresses. She said LeAnn Rimes' songs first made her fall in love with country music.

Sources

"Little Miss Sunshine." The New York Times, Nov. 23, 2009. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/t-magazine/womens-fashion/06well-swift.html. Accessed 12 Dec. 2023.

The 27 Weirdest "America's Next Top Model" Photoshoots. 11 Aug. 2013, https://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/80454844.html. Accessed 12 Dec. 2023.

Nur Nasreen Ibrahim is a reporter with experience working in television, international news coverage, fact checking, and creative writing.