It comes as no surprise that iconic pop star Taylor Swift has an impressive list of achievements. From being Forbes’ highest-paid woman in music in 2016 to boasting a net worth of $740 million, her songs consistently dominate charts. From the millions of albums streamed and sold to her concerts around the world shaping up to be the highest grossing tour of all time, the “Love Story” singer-songwriter’s success is truly remarkable.

Swift is undoubtedly at the pinnacle of her career, and her fans are living for the hope of it all.

Local

However, amid these astounding statistics, there’s an intriguing story emerging in the Philippines. A local Taylor Swift impersonator is making waves with some remarkable numbers of her own. What’s truly astonishing is that this impersonator has the ability to draw crowds of up to 10,000 people during an event.

Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour,” her sixth global tour, had left many Filipino fans disappointed as the Philippines didn’t make it on the tour schedule. Allegedly, the exclusion was primarily due to the country’s limited concert infrastructure and some financial constraints, as explained by Peter Delantar, president of Insignia Presents, a prominent concert promoter and events company.

Nonetheless, for Filipino Swifties, no one’s raining on their parade as they welcome Mac Coronel, better known as Taylor Sheesh, in Taylor Swift’s absence.

Performer

While Taylor Swift is out of sight, Taylor Sheesh has been donning the persona of the pop sensation herself. Successfully, with her showmanship and hard work, she channels exactly the subtle nuances that the songstress does up on stage.

The 28-year-old from Manila has reportedly been attending Taylor Swift drag events where she performs her rendition of a Taylor Swift medley of the 2019 American Music Awards.

Since Day 1, Taylor Sheesh has been enjoying what she does best. Since then, she has been getting invites to perform even in Cebu. Her remarkable talent hasn’t gone unnoticed, as she has received numerous invitations to perform around the country. Swiftly rising to become a viral sensation and the premier Taylor Swift impersonator in the country, Taylor Sheesh has taken the internet by storm, thanks to her sensational performances at various mall shows spanning the nation.

Mission

The Filipino drag queen sees her journey as more than just an impersonation; it’s a heartfelt mission to perhaps one day catch the attention of the singer. Notably, it can be recalled that Quezon City has stood out as one of the top five cities with a significant number of dedicated Taylor Swift listeners, as per Spotify data.

Taylor Sheesh’s popularity knows no bounds, as she graced Taylor Swift’s listening parties in Cebu not once, but multiple times, on June 27, Aug. 20, Aug. 24 and Aug. 31, 2023. This is evidence that Cebuanos deeply admire the dazzling impersonator and what she represents.

Just recently, Taylor Sheesh had the chance to perform for social media star Bretman Rock during his visit to the Philippines. As she strutted into the room with a lip-sync performance of “Cruel Summer,” Bretman Rock couldn’t help but burst with joy. He gleefully shared a snippet of her performance, and it’s now racking up an impressive 2.5 million views on social media, and counting.

As long as Taylor Swift doesn’t make a direct move for the Philippines, a performance by Taylor Sheesh serves as more than just a substitute; it becomes a cherished and meaningful way to fill a missing part for Filipino Swifties.