Since Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, last week, showgirls have been the moment. But what is a showgirl? As Taylor points out behind the scenes of “The Fate of Ophelia” music video, a showgirl can wear many costumes, from model to Las Vegas cabaret girl. No matter her setting or circumstance, a showgirl is a performer. They exude glamour and represent artistry, strength, elegance, and confidence.
Showgirls are multi-talented, showstoppers. They are often dancer or entertainers performing in a spectacle that combines dance, theater, music, special effects, and visual marvel. Christy Lyn’s show, Tournament of Kings at the Excalibur Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, features fireworks, horses, and spinning turrets on castle walls! Yasss! From the moment Taylor pulled back the curtain on her life off stage, we knew we had to dive into all of the showgirl details that performers outside the world of pop experience every day. Follow along as we (Managing Editor Veronica Good and Fashion Writer Christy Lyn) combine Swiftian analysis with showgirl experience to unpack the album.
“Oftentimes, it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me” — “Elizabeth Taylor”
Veronica: Taylor delivers this sinister line on the album’s second track, “Elizabeth Taylor.” With a reputation Era sound, channelling one of Hollywood’s great icons, allows Taylor to highlight life beyond the bright lights where hard work and scrutiny push showgirls to their limits—”be my NY when Hollywood hates me.” We see these showgirls at their best, on screen and on stage, with perfect looks and expensive clothes, but we rarely see the preparation it takes to deliver the perfect line every time and be the star fans expect.
Christy: Picture this: The show, the stage, the lights. The glam, the audience cheers, the dancing. The dream. These moments
all seem so glamorous, and believe me, they are, but there’s a whole lot that goes on behind that red curtain before it opens to reveal the stage on the Las Vegas Strip every night. To be a showgirl is a grand culmination of hard work and years of training, mixed with endurance, strength, courage, and lots of determination!
To arrive at that special moment onstage, showgirls train for years to build professional technique. They never stop learning, and when they reach showgirl status, days are full of rehearsals and fittings. Every night, the wardrobe, sound, musicians, stagehands, cast, and crew work together to put on an extravagant show for an adoring audience.
“What could you possibly get for the girl who has everything and nothing all at once?” — “Elizabeth Taylor”
Veronica: It’s impossible to deny that Taylor Swift is successful. The Life of a Showgirl broke Spotify’s 2025 most-streamed album in a single day record in less than 11 hours. Before its release, The Life of a Showgirl also became the most pre-saved album in Spotify history, with more than 6 million pre-saves. Taylor held the previous record The Tortured Poets Department. She broke another TTPD record by breaking the first-week sales record for vinyl with 1.2 million vinyl copies sold on the first day. Now, Taylor holds a new record for the largest sales week for an album, previously held by Adele’s 25, after selling 3.5 million units.
This line from “Elizabeth Taylor” is about more than album sales, though. While Taylor is definitely acknowledging her success and massive fan base, she’s also referencing her idol again. Elizabeth Taylor starred as Jean Latimer in the 1953 film The Girl Who Had Everything. Since Taylor is singing about balancing love and massive success, some Swiftie sleuths think she might also be referencing the *NYSYNC “For the Girl Who Has Everything,” a song about having everything money can buy but no one to share it with. Both references point to a truth Taylor has written about again and again: all the money and the world can’t buy real love, and that’s what our showgirl values most.
Christy: This “Elizabeth Taylor” lyric plays with the idea that maybe showgirls have achieved their professional dreams, but they could also
have many grounded, personal goals, too. I have always believed that wherever you are, the dreaming never stops! There are several dreams to have, and they can’t be contained to one stage. Like most of us, showgirls have multiple goals. Taylor sings about this again and again. Many of her songs have imagery of dreams, and she tends to frame dreams as the shimmering sparks flying for building personal goals, pursuing art, and working toward positive change.
“You remind me of a younger me. I saw potential.” — “Father Figure”
Veronica: On tracks like “The Lucky One,” “Nothing New (feat. Phoebe Bridgers), and “Clara Bow,” Taylor Swift explores a vicious cycle of popularity and female idols are adored only to “age out” of their fame and are replaced by younger stars. Usually, these songs are from the perspective of the young star or Taylor herself as a more experienced performer, but “Father Figure” puts the speaker in this song in a more sinister light. The “father figure” in Taylor’s George Michael interpolation finds a showgirl before she hits it big, promising her fame and success in exchange for loyalty.
Role model and mentor relationships in show business are common, and Taylor knows that there is a fine line between bringing someone up and taking advantage of them. “All I ask for is your loyalty” sounds like a small price to pay, but that kind of control is limiting. George Michael understood this battle, fighting unsuccessfully for control over his work. Luckily, for many showgirls, their everyday interactions with more experienced performers are a masterclass in poise and success, each ensemble functioning as one glamorous team—we see this between Taylor and her dancers.
Christy: Finding Inspiration, being inspired, and giving inspiration is a major part of the showgirl life. I like the idea that we are all growing on our own beautiful paths, all while getting to honor the ladies who have paved their own way to the stage before us! I’ve been blessed to grow up learning from my grandmother, who was a professional dancer in Europe, and my mother, who was a professional company ballerina in the Joffrey Ballet. With their stage experience as showgirls in this hard career, they have taught me the ins and outs of the industry, what I know about dance, performing, and life!
From absorbing their incredible wisdom as my mentors to now being a professional dancer myself, I am grateful for this cycle of passing down knowledge. It feels incredible to pass down knowledge I’ve learned to newer performers. The guide to being a showgirl is not something you can just read in a book. It’s special. It’s priceless. It’s shimmering.
“She’s dancing in her garters and fishnets” — “The Life of a Showgirl (Feat. Sabrina Carpenter)”
Veronica: In the beginning of the album’s final track, “The Life of a Showgirl (Feat. Sabrina Carpenter),” Taylor introduces us to a new showgirl—no, we don’t mean Sabrina. Kitty Finlay is part of a 50-showgirl cast, and while Taylor is quick to point out her success, she’s as dazzled by beauty and costumes as we are. In fact, the last costume Taylor wore for the Midnights portion of The Eras Tour each night featured fishnet jazz tights with a sparkling navy garter.
“The Life of a Showgirl” closes the album out by balancing the glitz and glam with hard work. The showgirls “[pay] their dues with every bruise, [they] knew what to expect.” We see the fabulous show, “zero missteps,” and the gorgeous costumes. It’s all in the details.
Christy: Costumes are one of my absolute favorite parts of being a showgirl. All the different costumes I’ve gotten to wear in my professional dancer era make me smile to think about. Classical European platter tutus in tulle, beaded dresses, intricately patterned rhinestoned bodices with feathers, leotards I’ve designed with Royal Couture, pink pant suits, and even fabulous competition costumes I’ve graced the Showstopper stage in are all in my mental costume closet! It’s lovely to have these memories. And now look ahead to what I do now, as a hired professional dancer getting to do what I love!
The life of a showgirl is fast-paced! For my role in Tournament of Kings, I have five costume changes! There’s no room for error or relaxation. Showgirls have to be quick and on top of it with costumes, shoes, and wig changes, to make it back on stage in time. There are amazing wardrobe professionals who help us dancers backstage with costumes. In one part of the show, I go from a two-piece French-designed ombré skirt with leather top detailing and dangling gold coins to a knightly black cloak. Later, I’m in a fully embellished, castle-era princess gown, ready to glide across the stage, dancing effortlessly for the big coronation. From change to change, we stay glam, dancing to the music, in time, on rhythm, and full of energy, with pointed toes and extended split leaps—Oh, and don’t forget to smile! Wink.
“But you don’t know the life of a showgirl, babe, and you’re never gonna” — “The Life of a Showgirl (Feat. Sabrina Carpenter)”
Veronica: Kitty graciously accepts a bouquet from her adoring fans, but isn’t too kind to remind them that she works hard. Our showgirl is misunderstood by fans who are “sweeter than a peach” and “softer than a kitten.” While many dream of fame and fortune, Kitty knows that having your name in lights is not for the faint of heart. “Sequins are forever,” but only because the dazzling showgirls make every complicated move look effortless.
Christy: Taylor’s title track featuring Sabrina Carpenter gives us some insight into the depth of the Life of a Showgirl and how much work, detail, and strength go into this profession. It can be hard to understand the full complexity of what it takes to be a showgirl. For me, it’s a dream come true, but it’s not always dreamy. It’s real. It’s raw. It’s ups and downs. To be able to smile through the injuries, pain, heartbreak, and emotions that come with life. But to experience the pure joy, passion, and share the love for this art form with audiences is unbeatable. When it comes to the stage, I know one thing… IT IS TIME TO PERFORM.
