Who is Taylor Swift’s lesser-known best friend, Ashley Avignone? The stylist joined the ‘Anti-Hero’ singer, Blake Lively and Lana Del Rey at the Super Bowl – and first met the pop star via Emma Stone
You’d think being part of Taylor Swift’s “squad” of A-list pals is something you’d want to shout about, but the singer’s long-term bestie Ash Avignone has tended to keep their friendship low key and out of the spotlight over the years.
That’s why fans were curious when they saw Avignone at this year’s Super Bowl in February. There, she joined the “Anti-Hero” songstress and her loyal band of mates as they cheered on the Kansas City Chiefs and Swift’s beau Travis Kelce from their VIP suite.
The group also included Swift’s other bestie, Blake Lively, as well as Ice Spice, Miles Teller and his wife Keleigh Teller, members of the Kelce family, Lana Del Rey and Beatles legend Paul McCartney, who popped by to say hello to the gang during the event, according to News Australia.
Clearly, Avignone was in good company – but she’s no stranger to celebrity hangs, having been photographed with several of the world’s most famous at events over the years.
Here’s what we know about her.
Ashley Avignone studied fashion in Los Angeles
Ashley already had a knack for fashion from a young age. The LA-born, Arizona-raised fashionista told the blog Neely and Chloe that she started designing clothes when she was just four years old. Later, she studied at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles and graduated in 2006, per Elle Australia.
“I went to school for fashion design when celebrity styling was first getting a name,” she noted in a 2016 interview with School of Doodle. “I started seeing that and thought I could do that, I can pick outfits out for people, I’ve been doing it for my friends for years.”
She’s a stylist and designer
Avignone is clearly a talented stylist. Per Elle, after she scored a role in season three of The Rachel Zoe Project in 2012, she quickly got representation with the talent agency The Wall Group. “I was extremely lucky in finding representation right away. You have to believe in yourself, but it also helps when others believe in you too,” she told Simply in 2013.
“Two weeks after graduation, I started assisting one of the top celebrity stylists in LA and it just stuck with me,” she said in her interview with Neely and Chloe. “After years of assisting various stylists, I ventured out on my own. As I mentioned I don’t do so much red carpet work, I now focus more on the brand side.”
She has plenty of A-list pals
Avignone has many recognisable pals. Besides Swift, she’s also been spotted hanging out with Gigi Hadid, Martha Hunt, Karlie Kloss, Selena Gomez, Helena Christensen, Michelle Pfeiffer, and many others.
She’s been friends with Taylor Swift for over 15 years
In December 2019, Avignone took to Instagram to post a sweet tribute to her friend on her birthday. “30 years of life for you, 11 years of friendship for us,” she wrote, tagging Swift. “Thanks for being the bestest friend, listener, dance party-starter, story teller, haircut enthusiast, with the biggest, warmest, and most generous heart.”
“Love you to pieces,” she added. Four years on, and their friendship is clearly still going strong.
How did Taylor Swift and Ashley Avignone meet?
According to People, Swift and Avignone met through their mutual friend, the Academy Award-winning actress Emma Stone. The magazine states that the two were just teenagers when they first crossed paths and have stayed close ever since.
In fact that very same dynamic trio – Swift, Stone and Avignone – attended the premiere of Easy A together in 2010, and they were spotted together again in 2011 supporting Stone at the 2011 Vanity Fair Oscars party, per People.
