Meet Taylor's original BFF: High school pal inspired Swift's songs, appeared in her videos and was even her date to the Grammys... but did she make the 'squad'?

  • Abigail Anderson, 25, lives in Nashville and works with a veteran charity
  • She and Taylor, also 25, met at high school when they were 15
  • Abigail inspired Taylor's song Fifteen and appeared in the music video
  • The pair often party and holiday together, and have remained close 

Before Karlie Kloss, Selena Gomez and Lorde - the list goes on - there was Abigail Anderson, Taylor Swift's original BFF.

The 25-year-old Nashville, Tennessee native, who met Taylor at high school, was such a big feature in her life that she had a whole song - Fifteen - written about her, starred in the singer's early music videos and was even her date at this year's Grammys.

Things might have been exceptionally busy for Taylor this year, what with her world tour, her new boyfriend and her vast gaggle of Bad Blood 'squad' members to attend to, but clearly she's not the sort to leave her oldest friend behind.

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Taylor Swift (left) met Abigail Anderson (right) - pictured at this year's New Year's Eve celebration - at school in Tennessee when they were 15, and have remained best friends since

Taylor Swift (left) met Abigail Anderson (right) - pictured at this year's New Year's Eve celebration - at school in Tennessee when they were 15, and have remained best friends since

Taylor's latest grand gesture for Abigail - and she's known for her talents in this area - was in April, when she threw her a huge surprise party for her 25th birthday. 

To Abigail's even greater surprise, she organised a surprise performance by singer Chris Carrabba, the lead singer of Abigail's all-time favourite band since high school, Dashboard Confessional. 

The Shake It Off hitmaker documented the evening on Instagram in three separate videos, and Abigail responded by sharing: 'Thank you @taylorswift & all of my incredible friends & family for making my 25th birthday the most magically memorable night I've ever had. #SeeYouGuysAtFifty'.

Abigail may have been absent from Taylor's recent star-studded 'squad' at last week's VMAs, but perhaps that's because she has her own commitments.

The pair, now both 25, pictured larking around while they were at Hendersonville High School in Tennesee

The pair, now both 25, pictured larking around while they were at Hendersonville High School in Tennesee

Abigail may have been absent from Taylor's recent star-studded 'squad' at last week's VMAs (pictured), but the pretty redhead was busy back in Nashville buying her first home

Abigail may have been absent from Taylor's recent star-studded 'squad' at last week's VMAs (pictured), but the pretty redhead was busy back in Nashville buying her first home

Taylor's latest grand gesture for Abigail was in April, when she threw a huge surprise party for her 25th birthday, pictured in a snap Abigail captioned, 'Hands down this is the best day I can ever remember'

Taylor's latest grand gesture for Abigail was in April, when she threw a huge surprise party for her 25th birthday, pictured in a snap Abigail captioned, 'Hands down this is the best day I can ever remember'

Work some white by For Love and Lemons this season

Who wouldn't want to be in Taylor Swift's squad?

With friends like Gigi Hadid, Cara Delevingne, Lily Aldridge and Selena Gomez, Taylor's is the coolest girl gang ever. But here she is hanging out with her oldest school friend and looking gorgeous while she does it.

Taylor is wearing one of our favourite stateside labels, For Love and Lemons and the brand's scalloped lace is a look we've seen on everyone from Kendall Jenner to Audrina Patridge and Rosie Fortescue to Lauren Pope.

So why not take one step closer to being in Taylor's clique? Click (right) to buy the crop top from Shopbop and then pre-order the skirt from Revolve. They're in the sale so you'll be getting a celebrity endorsed bargain too!

If you miss out then never fear. We've found some very similar matching sets that will do the trick and they won't break the bank.

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To Abigail's (pictured left) even greater surprise, Taylor (right) organised a surprise performance by singer Chris Carrabba, the lead singer of Abigail's all-time favourite band since high school, Dashboard Confessional

To Abigail's (pictured left) even greater surprise, Taylor (right) organised a surprise performance by singer Chris Carrabba, the lead singer of Abigail's all-time favourite band since high school, Dashboard Confessional

The pretty redhead, who works with veteran support groups, has just purchased her first home in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Indeed, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight last October, Taylor revealed that Abigail's independence is part of the reason why the two remain so close - despite their very different lives.

'A good girlfriend for me is someone who is an individual and has something that they are deeply passionate about. Abigail works with making sure that veterans from World War II get their compensation,' she said.

'The fact that she is so passionate about what she does allows her to be able to relate to me on that level, that I'm so dedicated to what I do.' 

Abigail (left) was Taylor's date at this year's Grammy awards, proving their friendship remains strong

Abigail (left) was Taylor's date at this year's Grammy awards, proving their friendship remains strong

When Taylor's latest Album, 1989, was released, she posted this photo of herself with friends Lily Aldridge (left) and Abigail (right), who purchased handfuls of the CDs from Target

When Taylor's latest Album, 1989, was released, she posted this photo of herself with friends Lily Aldridge (left) and Abigail (right), who purchased handfuls of the CDs from Target

Last year, Abigail dropped in for a visit and cuddled up with Taylor and her beloved cat for this photograph

Last year, Abigail dropped in for a visit and cuddled up with Taylor and her beloved cat for this photograph

The long-time pals met at Hendersonville High School in Tennesee in an English class when they were just 15.

Speaking about their first bonding experience to biographer Liv Spencer, Abigail recalled: 'We were the ones in the back of the class saying negative things about Romeo and Juliet because we were so bitter toward that emotion at the time.

'We just really connected… and ever since then we have been inseparable.' 

Taylor has credited Abigail as the inspiration for the song Fifteen, which was about their experiences of falling in love and having their hearts broken during their first year in high school. 

One lyrics reads: 'And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy / Who changed his mind / We both cried.'

Abigail, pictured with Taylor from their school days, said of their first meeting in English class, 'We just really connected… and ever since then we have been inseparable'

Abigail, pictured with Taylor from their school days, said of their first meeting in English class, 'We just really connected… and ever since then we have been inseparable'

Last year, Taylor shared this Instagram snap with her followers, captioned, 'Happy New Year from two high school BFFs. A look at 2008 vs 2014'

Last year, Taylor shared this Instagram snap with her followers, captioned, 'Happy New Year from two high school BFFs. A look at 2008 vs 2014'

The best buds pose with a sizable tree as they enjoy a quiet hike in the countryside together

The best buds pose with a sizable tree as they enjoy a quiet hike in the countryside together

Abigail - who by now has nearly 300,000 Instagram followers - also appeared in some of Taylor's earlier music videos.

When Taylor took on the world of music, Abigail went to the University of Kansas on a swimming scholarship.

During her first week, she took Taylor - who had just wrapped up a tour in Missouri - along to her 400-student class in Journalism, which predictably created a frenzy throughout campus.

After college, Abigail returned to Nashville where she now resides.

While the two may struggle to spent time together these days, they reliably appear on one another's Instagram feeds when it comes to birthdays, beach holidays and every New Year's celebration thus far.

Abigail captioned this image, 'Who's excited for @thegrammys tonight? These two right here'

Abigail captioned this image, 'Who's excited for @thegrammys tonight? These two right here'

Taylor, pictured with Abigail at another awards ceremony, has said that one of the reasons she and Abigail have remained so close is the fact they are both passionate about their vocations

Taylor, pictured with Abigail at another awards ceremony, has said that one of the reasons she and Abigail have remained so close is the fact they are both passionate about their vocations

The pair appear to have spent almost every New Year's Eve celebration together since they have been friends

The pair appear to have spent almost every New Year's Eve celebration together since they have been friends

On Taylor's 23rd birthday, Abigail shared this photo montage and wrote, 'Here's to 23 years of beauty and excellence. I love you!'

On Taylor's 23rd birthday, Abigail shared this photo montage and wrote, 'Here's to 23 years of beauty and excellence. I love you!'

Abigail is currently dating a Los Angeles photographer called Mattiaus, while Taylor has been with British DJ Calvin Harris, 31, since earlier this year.

But as Taylor will tell you herself, the only true 'concrete' in her life is her friendships - old and new.

Speaking to Esquire last year, shortly after moving to New York, where she quickly amassed an army of high-ranking female friends, she said: 'What does seem possible and easy and comfortable is having this entire league of incredible girlfriends that I have.

'And I can trust them, and the reason I know I can trust them is because nothing true about me is being written in the press right now.'

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