Taylor Swift Is ‘No Longer Willing to Hold Back’ or Hide as Travis Kelce Romance Progresses

After six years of dating Joe Alwyn and keeping a very low profile, Taylor Swift has taken on a new mentality as she pursues her more public romance with Travis Kelce, sources told Us Weekly. She isn’t afraid to be seen with the people she cares about, be it Kelce or her friends, including Sophie Turner.

Following her March breakup from Alwyn, “Taylor has decided she’s not going to hide anymore,” a source told Us. “She’s going to be her authentic self and enjoy life.”

Kelce and Swift “talk every day,” the source continued. “Taylor’s really enjoying getting to know Travis. They’re taking it day by day, but she has high hopes. She likes that he’s a normal, nice guy. He’s down-to-earth and isn’t affected by fame. She also thinks he’s hot.”

Kelce feels similarly about Swift, a second source said: “Travis is completely smitten.”

A third source said Swift has decided to live her life far more openly in general.

“Taylor is at a point in her life where she’s no longer willing to hold back,” that source said. “If something feels right—like it does with Travis—she’s jumping in with both feet. She’s very happy and loving life right now.”

A fourth source added, “Following her heart comes naturally to Taylor, and she doesn’t think about the consequences or the optics of [cheering him on]. She’s doing what she wants to do, and it’s a breath of fresh air all around.”

Alwyn, by contrast, was not a fan of the spotlight. A source told People in April, “Joe has struggled with Taylor’s level of fame and the attention from the public. The differences in their personalities have also become harder to ignore after years together. They’ve grown apart. Taylor didn’t see them working out in the long run.”

Senior News and Strategy Editor

Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.