From Taylor Swift to Julia Roberts, countless female celebrities endorsed Kamala Harris for president. As Swift’s fan base continues to spread, so has her impact on politics. She stated on an Instagram post to her 283 million followers that she would vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz in the election. “I’m voting for @kamalaharris because she fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them,” wrote Swift. “I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos.”
Swift encouraged young voters to start spreading their voices, emphasizing that the choice is theirs to make. Her growing fanbase has amassed thousands of dollars and organized social media campaigns to improve Harris’ chances. The “Swifties 4 Harris” campaign has spread beyond America, connecting with other voters and gathering support from international audiences.
Other celebrities, including Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Jennifer Anniston, have expressed their agreement online as well. Actress Sarah Jessica Parker stated she voted Harris for “women, my children, affordable healthcare, equality, my mother and senior citizens” among many others. With the ongoing debate about abortion laws and women’s rights, these female celebrities have felt moved to weigh in on such matters.
Influencers like this can, and often do, sway voters. Citizens all see political and social issues differently, but media is generally shared amongst the population. Due to social media algorithms, information is conveyed engagingly, more so than other sources. Therefore, people are more easily swayed by a relatable song or social media post than by a political advertisement that appeals to much more relevant ideologies.
Singer Charli XCX released her new album “brat” in June 2024. She used this music to express her individuality and rejection of mainstream expectations. She encourages people to embrace their uniqueness and characteristics. According to Charli XCX, brat means that “you’re just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says dumb things sometimes.” She transformed the word into a term of empowerment, to unapologetically be yourself. This album connected deeply with the Gen Z audience, and it became a trend defined by lime green, as that was the album color, cool girl style and party animal antics. The high-energy album focused on themes of confidence, independence and womanhood. It has inspired TikTok dances, marketing campaigns and fashion trends, leading to the term “brat summer,” or a messy, carefree summer.
Soon after the album was released, Harris and her presidential campaign adopted the ‘brat’ trend inspired by Charli XCX’s album. Online, the campaign renamed its profile to “Kamala HQ” and embraced the bright lime green color from the album cover. In addition, they started reposting memes and incorporating swear words, relating back to nonconformity and a rebellious nature. This relationship between the campaign and the album has allowed Harris to connect with the younger audience in a way that previous democratic candidates couldn’t. As a female candidate of color, it portrayed Harris as an unexpected leader, particularly appealing to those from disempowered groups as well.
The campaign’s pop culture strategy appeared to significantly impact youth engagement, presenting Harris as a contemporary candidate for Gen Z voters. 48 hours after Biden endorsed Harris, almost 40,000 people registered to vote, 83% of them aged 18-34.
Pop culture continues to be a driving factor in shaping the political narrative, sharing perspectives, affecting voter turnout, and strengthening the connection between the candidates and audience. The blending of entertainment, social media, activism, influence and politics deepened the tension and intensity of the 2024 election.
