Taylor Swift Lookalike Creates Chaos at Kansas City MLS Game

On a lively Saturday night at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, soccer fans were thrown into a whirlwind of excitement and confusion when they thought they had spotted global superstar Taylor Swift in the stands. The Sporting Kansas City match against St. Louis was already buzzing with energy, but the appearance of a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to the pop icon took the event to another level. Social media erupted with photos and videos of the supposed sighting, with fans convinced that Swift, known for her high-profile relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, had made an unexpected appearance at the MLS game. However, as the dust settled, it became clear that this was not the “Anti-Hero” singer but rather a clever impersonator who had everyone fooled.

The woman at the center of the frenzy was Kelley Thrasher, a local Kansas City resident who has dubbed herself “Kansas City’s official Taylor Swift Doppelganger.” Thrasher, who runs an entertainment service called “Kelley’s Version”—a playful nod to Swift’s re-recorded “Taylor’s Version” albums—has made a name for herself by impersonating the 14-time Grammy winner at various events around the city. On this particular evening, she was seated in a luxurious suite with friends, watching Sporting Kansas City secure a 2-0 victory. Dressed in a tan trench coat, her long, dark blonde hair styled with a heavy fringe, and sporting Swift’s signature red lipstick, Thrasher looked so much like the pop star that fans in the stands couldn’t help but believe it was her.

The chaos began almost immediately. Spectators waved enthusiastically from their seats, snapping photos and videos of Thrasher, convinced they were capturing a rare candid moment with Taylor Swift. One young fan even approached her for a picture, adding fuel to the growing excitement. The impersonator’s presence sparked such a commotion that security personnel were eventually called in to escort her and her group through the stadium, ensuring their safety amid the mounting fervor. A friend of Thrasher’s later took to Instagram to recount the wild experience, writing, “Still laughing at the chaos last night brought. We were just there to celebrate our girl @amberleigh.masters’ birthday… but bring Taylor Swift’s lookalike to an SKC game and suddenly you need security escorts and end up in the stadium’s secret speakeasy with the players after the game.”

The post went on to clarify that while Sporting Kansas City emerged victorious, it was Thrasher who unwittingly became the night’s MVP. “@sportingkc won—so she’s clearly the good luck charm. And no, it wasn’t actually Taylor (but the crowd & my DMs definitely thought so),” the friend added with a crying-laughing emoji. The incident highlighted just how deeply Swift’s presence looms over Kansas City, a city she has become closely associated with since she began dating Travis Kelce in the summer of 2023. Swift’s frequent appearances at Chiefs games, including her attendance at the Super Bowl in February 2025, have made her a familiar figure in the local sports scene, so it’s no surprise that fans jumped to conclusions when they saw Thrasher.

For Kelley Thrasher, being mistaken for Taylor Swift is nothing new. She has spent the past decade embracing her resemblance to the singer, turning it into a thriving side gig. Previously a preschool teacher and nanny, Thrasher now performs at children’s birthday parties and private events, delighting fans with her spot-on impersonation. “I never thought it could be a full-time job, but I’m finding out it kind of can,” she told KSHB 41, a Kansas City news outlet, in a past interview. “I still like to nanny, I still want to do that. I love both. I love kids, so it almost doesn’t feel like work ever.” Her weekend, however, proved to be anything but ordinary. Just 24 hours before the soccer game, Thrasher had been in Bloomington, Illinois, attending a Bloomington Bison hockey game—also in a suite—where she continued her Swift-inspired antics.

Recapping her whirlwind weekend on Instagram, Thrasher wrote, “2 suites in 24 hours. VIP Love Story—but make it sports. Hockey? Soccer? It’s me, hi, I’m the fan, it’s me,” cleverly paraphrasing lyrics from Swift’s hit song “Anti-Hero.” Her posts showcased her knack for blending humor and fandom, further endearing her to followers who appreciate her dedication to the role. Thrasher’s impersonation skills extend beyond soccer and hockey; she has previously attended Kansas City Chiefs games in character, even posing with a faux Andy Reid—an impersonator of the Chiefs’ head coach—during a January game at Arrowhead Stadium. Her ability to embody Swift’s persona, complete with the singer’s iconic fashion choices, has solidified her status as a local celebrity in her own right.

The confusion at the MLS game underscores Taylor Swift’s outsized influence in Kansas City, where her relationship with Kelce has bridged the worlds of pop culture and sports. Since going public with their romance, Swift has been a regular at Chiefs games, often seen cheering from a private suite alongside Kelce’s family and friends. Her presence has drawn both adoration and scrutiny, with some fans booing her during the Super Bowl broadcast—a reaction she has taken in stride. In a 2023 interview with Good Morning America, Kelce addressed their high-profile relationship with characteristic charm, saying, “When you have good family and friends around you, it makes that aspect of life that much easier. I’ve always been a very grounded guy… I just want to be a genuine person.”

While Swift herself was not at the Sporting Kansas City game, the incident with Thrasher highlights how her celebrity permeates every corner of the city. For Thrasher, the night was a testament to her skill as an impersonator—and perhaps a bit of a wake-up call about the power of her likeness. “My kids think I’m the coolest mom ever because I’m ‘friends with Taylor Swift’—and honestly, I’m not correcting them,” her friend joked in the Instagram post, capturing the lighthearted spirit of the evening. As the viral moment spread across social media, fans both at the game and online marveled at the mix-up, with some admitting they, too, had been momentarily deceived.

In the end, Kelley Thrasher’s appearance at the MLS game was a win for Sporting Kansas City, a thrill for fans, and a reminder of Taylor Swift’s inescapable cultural footprint. Whether she’s dropping a puck at a hockey game or waving from a soccer suite, Thrasher has mastered the art of channeling Swift’s star power—proving that sometimes, a lookalike can steal the spotlight just as effectively as the real thing. As Kansas City continues to embrace its connection to Swift through her relationship with Kelce, Thrasher’s antics ensure that the singer’s presence is felt, even when she’s nowhere near the stadium.