Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzi has praised Taylor Swift for giving her a “magical” experience at her “first concert.”
Malala, 27, attended the Shake It Off singer’s fifth concert at Wembley Stadium last night and revealed she spent the time “singing every song surrounded by friends”.
The lively atmosphere at the concert was a far cry from that in 2012, when Malala, aged 15, was shot in the left eye by the Taliban while riding a school bus.
After surviving the horrific assassination attempt, Malala settled in the UK and became an educational activist, winning the Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17, the youngest person to receive it to date.
Oxford-educated Malala took to Instagram to share how Taylor’s three-and-a-half-hour concert brought back memories of her homeland, the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan.
Malala posted a photo of herself and her husband Asser Malik at the concert in Wembley yesterday.
Taylor Swift, 34, will play two more nights of her Eras Tour at the National Stadium on August 19 and 20.
Malala spoke of how she and her high school friend, Moniba, had visited a “waterfall hidden in a lush green mountain.”
She said: ‘Moniba and I found the tallest rock we could, climbed on top of it and announced to all our classmates and teachers that we were going to perform our new favourite song called Love Story.’
‘We sang with all our hearts enjoying the joy we felt every second.’
Swift released the song Love Story in 2008 as the lead single from her second studio album Fearless.
Its lyrics reference Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but Swift puts a spin on the classic story as her troubled lovers end up happily engaged.
The song has already been played over 800 million times on Spotify, and it seems Malala is a fan.
“That’s where my Swiftie story began,” the Pakistani education activist said. “It’s magical that my first proper concert is seeing Taylor Swift singing every song surrounded by friends.”
Malala posted a photo of herself and her husband Asser Malik at the concert in Wembley yesterday.
The 27-year-old sported a pair of baby pink heart-shaped sunglasses.
Malala added: “Three years ago, the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan. Once again, music no longer plays in the streets and girls and women are banned from going to school, working and participating in public life.
‘In Swat, music made my friends and I feel safe and free.
“And one day I hope we live in a world where every girl can enjoy music and live her wildest dreams.”
Swift performs a selection of songs from throughout her career during the three-and-a-half-hour concert.
The American singer is accompanied by a team of 15 dancers.
Swift (left) surprised fans last night with an appearance by her longtime friend Ed Sheeran (right). Malala was in the audience at the time
After the failed assassination attempt, Malala (right) became an educational activist and has since worked with people like Emma Watson.
Their own love story: Malala (left) with her husband Asser Malik (right). The couple married in 2021
Reacting to Malala’s heartfelt call-out, a fellow Swiftie wrote on X: ‘I’m touched by the fact that Taylor’s music has comforted and brought joy to so many people in different circumstances.
‘Malala highlighted the power of music in a beautiful way in her post, where she also noted that The Eras Tour was her first concert.’
Swift, 34, will play two more nights of her Eras Tour at the National Stadium on August 19 and 20.
He has already performed in London this week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, having previously performed three concerts in June.