She Crafted 1,000 ‘Taylor Swift’ and ‘Kamala’ Bracelets for DNC Delegates

Kelly Jacobs, a delegate from Mississippi, has crafted 1,000 vibrant beaded friendship bracelets that read “Swifty Voter” and “Kamala,” all intended for distribution at the Democratic National Convention.

She began creating these unique pieces earlier this year, inspired by pop sensation Taylor Swift, to motivate young white women to participate in the upcoming elections.

Jacobs described her approach: “I paid for them, I made them, and then we are able to walk up to a young white woman and say, ‘Are you a Taylor Swift fan?’” After the amicable introduction, she invites them to accept a “Swifty Voter” bracelet and gently encourages them to cast their votes on Tuesday, November 5, for any candidate they prefer. “It’s a campaign strategy that’s really gone over well; people want the friendship bracelets,” she added.

She specifically targeted young white women because, in her state, this demographic tends to lean Republican.

Spending approximately $3,000 on materials, Jacobs had already handed out around 100 bracelets before the convention officially kicked off on Monday.

These bracelets resonate well with Taylor Swift’s fanbase, as they are traded at her concerts. Democrats are particularly hopeful that Swift, who has a vast following, might publicly endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, reminiscent of her four-year-old support when she shared a picture featuring cookies designed to look like the candidates’ campaign logo.

Jacobs, describing herself as a community activist, had a playful warning from her husband not to get arrested at the convention. She donned a homemade dress adorned with large images of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, complemented by a black fascinator hat featuring Harris’s name intricately woven into it.

At 65, Jacobs expressed her enthusiasm for political fashion, noting, “I’m a white girl, and nobody believes I’m a Democrat in Mississippi.” Her outfit reflected her creative spirit, as she planned to wear another dress featuring Harris depicted as Lady Justice, with Lady Liberty in the background on the front and an image of Swift on the back.

“The convention is important because a lot of people will be looking for someone who looks like them,” Jacobs continued. “That’s why it’s successful; we don’t all look the same. We’re not just white-haired men and women, and so people can see themselves in the delegates on the floor.”

Jacobs aims to attract younger voters who are Swift fans by showcasing her diverse collection of “Swifty” hats and Kamala-themed clothing, hoping to inspire them to register and take action in the political arena.

Source: Los Angeles Times