Taylor How country star Swift became a feminist icon to fans from eight to 80

To her devoted Swifties, she has always been an icon, a woman who has overcome trauma, stood up for herself and taken on a world determined to dismiss her as a young girl simply there to be told to stand up and sing on cue.

- EMILY SMITH

But Taylor Swift's appeal has gone global and Britain has well and truly woken up and embraced the glitterball.

No longer a country singer you may have heard of, the 33-year-old has converted generations of fans with her pop anthems and soul-baring ballads.

The British leg of her Eras world tour does not start until next June, yet thousands have bombarded websites to nab presale tickets, crashing one within minutes. Many were left disappointed, even as 14 more dates were added. Touts are already asking for £3,000 a seat.

Despite her lavish lifestyle, her songs about her break-ups and bouncing back from heartbreak appeal to those who feel just a little on the outside.

And her success is not just down to her music. Taylor has inspired many people by standing up to bullies and speaking out about injustice.

"I've loved my fans from the very first day," she said. "I never go a day without thinking about our memories together.

Clearly they feel the same.

"Taylor's sense of melody appeals to everyone," says Dave Fawbert, founder of Swiftogeddon, a touring Taylor Swift club night. "You could be five years old and not understand any of the words but still love her songs."

The 41-year-old "massive Swiftie" runs events in which he plays Taylor tunes for as long as seven hours.

Age is no barrier, he says: "There's a brilliant pair of two older ladies, halfway back singing along to every song."

Taylor has even treated her oldest Swiftie, 96-year-old Cyrus Porter, to a personal concert when she visited his Missouri home in 2016. Cyrus said: "She puts on a show no one else puts on."

Many mums have seen the effect Taylor's music has had on their daughters and been swept up themselves, taking in her message of female empowerment.

Fan sites and Facebook, groups are full of praise, including "such a great role model" and "so mesmerising and positive".