Malala Yousafzai at Taylor Swift’s London Show

Malala’s First Taylor Swift Concert

A person’s first concert can be a really special moment.

When it’s at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, it’s even more emotional. Usually, young fans with their parents are the ones attending. However, at London’s Wembley Stadium last Saturday, Malala Yousafzai was in the crowd. She had always loved Taylor’s music, and seeing her perform live meant a lot to Malala.

Malala, born in Pakistan in 1997, faced tough times when the Taliban took over her hometown. They banned girls from school and stopped music. Despite being young, she spoke up against them through her blog, gaining worldwide attention. In 2012, she was shot by a Taliban gunman but survived and continued her fight for girls’ education. On August 17, she shared on Instagram how music influenced her during those difficult days.

“One of my favorite memories from Swat Valley is a field trip I took in middle school with my best friend, Moniba (second photo, on the left). Giggling, we went to a waterfall hidden away in a lush green mountain. We were so excited because we were finally allowed to go to school again and could be outdoors with our friends, laughing and singing together,” Malala wrote about her time under the Taliban rule. They had banned music and TV and stopped girls from going to school.

Her post went on, “Having lived through a time where music and art were banned, music felt like a gift,” she continued. “Moniba and I found the highest rock we could, climbed on top of it and announced to all of our classmates and teachers we were going to perform our new favourite song called ‘LOVE STORY.’ We sang with all of our heart, taking in the joy we felt every second. That’s where my Swiftie journey began. It feels magical that my first-ever proper concert would be to see @TaylorSwift, singing along to every song surrounded by friends.”

Fans can really relate to such powerful stories.

Malala won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, being the youngest ever at just 17. Her post from the concert included photos of her friend Moniba and moments from the show. She concluded with, “One day I hope we will live in a world where every girl will be able to enjoy music and live out her wildest dreams.”

Recently, Swift had to cancel three shows in Vienna due to a terrorist plot. Austrian officials found dangerous materials at a suspect’s home. Taylor hasn’t commented on this incident yet. She will finish this part of her tour with two more shows in London.