Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – In an exciting event for fans, Taylor Swift’s famous ‘Junior Jewels’ t-shirt from her iconic ‘You Belong With Me’ music video was projected onto the world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This comes just one day before Swift’s highly anticipated three-night concert stint at the city’s Estádio Nilton Santos stadium as part of her record-breaking Eras Tour.
The projection of the t-shirt onto the 130-foot tall statue, which overlooks the city from atop Corcovado mountain, was organized after a request from Rio de Janeiro mayor Eduardo Paes. The iconic white t-shirt with ‘Junior Jewels’ emblazoned across the front in glittery letters became a fan-favorite following its appearance in Swift’s award-winning 2009 music video for her hit single ‘You Belong With Me’.
While the original t-shirt in the video reads ‘Junior Jewels’, the version projected onto Christ the Redeemer was customized with ‘Welcome to Brasil’ in honor of Swift’s tour stop in the country. Mayor Paes tweeted “Swifties cariocas…are you ready for it?” to confirm the event for local fans.
However, the projection required one final condition from Father Omar, the rector of the Christ the Redeemer Sanctuary who oversees all images and events at the statue. He agreed to project Swift’s t-shirt under the condition that her Brazilian fans donate 20,000 units of panettone and bottled water to the Sanctuary’s charity initiatives. Swift’s dedicated fanbase quickly met the goal, allowing the iconic projection to take place.
The display capped off weeks of Swift-themed celebrations across Rio de Janeiro leading up to her concert trilogy in the city. Rio marks the Grammy-winner’s second stop on the South American leg of the Eras Tour following a three-night stint in Buenos Aires, Argentina earlier this month.
While in Argentina, Swift was notably joined by her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, who was brought on stage for a special lyric change and post-show kiss. The couple, who confirmed their relationship last month, are said to be growing increasingly serious, with plans to spend more time together during Swift’s two-month break from touring in December and January.
According to a source close to the couple, “Taylor and Travis are on the same page and have a lot in common. Both are extremely close to their families and share morals and views on a lot of things.” In fact, the lovebirds are reportedly planning to introduce their parents to each other during an upcoming high-profile football game.
Following her shows in Rio de Janeiro, Swift will play three nights in São Paulo, Brazil next week before taking her first extended break from touring in over six months. The global superstar will pick up the Eras Tour again in February with shows spanning Asia and Australia. She previously completed a string of US stadium dates over the summer along with a short run in Europe this fall.
With elaborate sets, surprise guest appearances, deep-cut rarities and a career-spanning setlist of hits, the Eras Tour has earned rave reviews from critics and fans alike. It is projected to become the highest-grossing tour of Swift’s career, potentially setting an all-time record for a US stadium tour.
The singer-songwriter has notably used the tour’s immense platform to address wider social issues, amplify rising artists, and connect with fans at an intimate level. Whether projecting videos highlighting violence against women outside of her US shows or bringing activists on stage, Swift continues using her voice for change.
Meanwhile, the Eras Tour’s international leg has allowed Swift to build even deeper connections with fans across the globe. For instance, her Christ the Redeemer t-shirt projection brought her iconic ‘You Belong With Me’ era visually to life for Brazilian ‘Swifties.’ Fans flooded social media with photos and reactions to the larger-than-life display honoring one of Swift’s most beloved songs and music videos.
The stadium show itself is sure to be a highlight for fans in Rio and São Paulo who have waited years to see Swift’s spectacular live show. After initially rising to fame in country music as a teenager in 2006, the 33-year-old has grown into one of the most influential and best-selling artists in the world.
She has notably reinvented her sound and style with each of her last four albums – Lover, Folklore, Evermore, and Midnights – showcasing her artistic evolution. As the Eras Tour lives up to its name, Swift has found creative ways to weave her entire musical journey into captivating performances night after night.
So while her projection onto Christ the Redeemer harkened back to an earlier ‘era’ with ‘You Belong With Me,’ her concerts in Brazil will feature the full scope of her genre-spanning discography. Fans can expect to hear long-awaited live takes on newer songs as well as renewed arrangements of classics like ‘Love Story,’ ‘I Knew You Were Trouble,’ and ‘Blank Space,’ among many others.
In true Taylor Swift fashion, her shows are sure to be filled with easter eggs, surprise guests, poignant messages, and musical moments fans will treasure forever. The energy and excitement in Rio de Janeiro is already palpable leading up to the opening night on Friday. Swift is poised once again to deliver the kind of only-at-a-Taylor-Swift-show magic that turns fans into ‘Swifties’ for life.
