Taylor Swift is ringing in Ashley Avignone’s new era.
In a sweet snap shared via Avignone’s Instagram on Sunday, December 29, the pals embraced while sitting side by side. Swift, 35, closed her eyes as she wrapped her arms around Avignone, who looked directly at the camera with a soft smile.
“Happy birthday to me, emphasis on the *happy* 😆,” Avignone captioned the post.
Avignone appeared to make a wish in front of her sprinkle-covered birthday cake in another snap, while a third showed off the dessert’s festive message, which read “Ash Is 25 (again).” Avignone reposted the close up of her cake via her Instagram Story and quipped, “Who’s counting?”
Swift and her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, were spotted arriving at dinner in New York City on Saturday, December 28. The couple, who began dating in summer 2023, held hands as they walked together for their second night in a row in the Big Apple.
Swift and Avignone’s friendship dates back several years. While celebrating Swift’s birthday in 2019, Avignone revealed that the pair had been friends for over a decade.
“30 years of life for you, 11 years of friendship for us,” Avignone wrote via Instagram at the time, alongside a series of snaps of the twosome through the years. “Thanks for being the bestest friend, listener, dance party-starter, story teller, haircut enthusiast, with the biggest, warmest, and most generous heart. Happy Birthday Tay!! Love you to pieces ❤️.”
For Swift’s birthday this year, Avignone shared several behind-the-scenes photos from the milestone — which came days after wrapping the Eras Tour.
“When she thought she was going to a small, quiet dinner but it was actually a giant surprise party with her friends and family, props included 🥳,” Avignone wrote via Instagram earlier this month.
In one snap, Kelce, 35, appeared to recreate Swift’s Red set from her record-breaking tour by giving her a fedora-style hat like “22.” Avignone reposted the moment to her Instagram Story, writing, “And the last 22 hat goes to…”
Avignone has also been by the pop star’s side at several of Kelce’s NFL games. While watching the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl LVIII in February, Avignone cheered from Swift’s star-studded suite.
Avignone took to Instagram after the game to share a carousel of snaps and videos, including a clip of her and Swift chugging their drinks when the jumbotron panned to the twosome. Avignone captioned the post, “Viva Las Vegas.”
