Four British superfans of Taylor Swift have been hired by the Victoria and Albert Museum as historians to help advise on Swiftie fandom and the Eras Tour in the UK.

The museum previously said it is looking for insights into the culture and craftsmanship behind handmade signs, friendship bracelets and memorabilia associated with the 14-time Grammy award-winning artist.

It is customary for Swift’s fans to swap friendship bracelets with each other at the shows.

More than 1,000 people applied for the role after it was advertised earlier this year.

Copy link to paste in your message

It’s me, hi: India Meade (front left), Molly Gilroy (back left), Kelsey Barnes (back right) and Dr Iona Murphy (front right) who have been unveiled as the four British ‘Swifties’ to become the first Taylor Swift superfan advisers to the Victoria and Albert Museum

The four chosen candidates are Kelsey Barnes, 31, a journalist and unofficial ‘Taylor Swift historian’, Dr Iona Murphy, 27, a literature professor with an ‘encyclopaedic’ knowledge of the singer, India Meade, 28, who has been a fan since she was 14, and Molly Gilroy, 27, a conservation charity worker who has been blogging about Swift since 2013.

The four were selected after a lengthy interview process by Kate Bailey, senior curator of theatre and performance at the museum.

Ms Bailey said: ‘Being inundated with over a thousand applications from Swifties around the UK was incredibly humbling and a testament to Taylor Swift’s impact on popular culture.

‘The depth of knowledge and passion for her work displayed by the applicants was truly astounding and as a result, narrowing it down to just four candidates was an arduous process, with each applicant bringing unique perspectives and expertise.

‘We were thrilled to find individuals who could provide so much enthusiasm and their own insights into Swift’s artistry.’

Dr Murphy added: ‘Being selected for the superfan position is something beyond my wildest dreams.

‘I still wake up in the morning full of excitement knowing that I get to talk about Taylor Swift to people who genuinely care.

‘Working at the V&A has given me a real sense of connection to art, culture, and the community. It truly is a magical project to be a part of.’

Ms Meade, who was reportedly offered around £2,300 (3,000 US dollars) by Swift during a private exchange on Twitter at the start of the pandemic when her new job was cancelled, added: ‘I’m so pleased to have been selected for the position of Taylor Swift Superfan at the V&A.

‘Having been a Swiftie since I was 13, I grew up blogging and making graphics about pop culture and Taylor’s music. It’s been a great privilege to work together with the other superfans and share our collective knowledge with the amazing team here.

‘As someone who wrote their undergraduate dissertation on fandom years ago, I’m excited to see the topic taken seriously and examined in a space as prestigious as the V&A.’

Swift, 34, has already performed a string of shows in the UK as part of her record-breaking Eras tour and will return to London again next month for more shows at Wembley Stadium.

The temporary exhibition will offer visitors a chance to see costumes and archival material up close, with many items on display for the first time.

The museum has already filled superfan roles for exhibitions on Toby jugs, Pokemon cards, Gorpcore clothing and Lego.

The latest exhibition cements American superstar Swift’s presence on UK popular culture.

But she has also been cited for having an economic impact too.

Inflation held steady at 2% in June – as experts warned a boom in restaurants and hotels amid the pop star’s tour could stop the Bank of England from reducing inflation next month.