A routine NFL preseason game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears created an online frenzy. Fans watching from home spotted a person in the stands who looked identical to global music icon Taylor Swift.
Upon a closer look, viewers and commentators discovered it was not Swift. The person in question was Ashley Leechin, a popular TikTok influencer and former nurse famous for her uncanny resemblance to the singer.
Ashley Leechin has built a substantial social media following by replicating Taylor Swift’s iconic style. Her signature ponytail, makeup, and fashion choices often make her a dead ringer for the pop star.
Bears preseason telecast fascinated by Taylor Swift doppelganger https://t.co/rgvvgGjqdd
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 23, 2025Her appearance at Arrowhead Stadium briefly convinced fans that Taylor Swift was there to support her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Leechin has stated that her similarity is natural.
“I’ve never had plastic surgery to look like Taylor,” Leechin said. “It’s just natural features, and people enjoy the resemblance.”
A doppelgänger is a person who looks very similar to another person. According to the Oxford Dictionary, it is like a living double of someone else. This phenomenon is common with celebrities. While most doppelgänger cases are harmless, some people have used the likeness for illegal purposes, such as impersonation.
Ashley Leechin is considered a true doppelgänger. She naturally resembles Taylor Swift so much that people often mistake her for the singer in photos and videos. She openly acknowledges the resemblance and has built a brand around it.
This is not the first time Leechin’s appearance has caused confusion. In 2023, she went viral for pranks at a Los Angeles shopping centre and Downtown Disney. She dressed in Swift’s signature style while surrounded by people impersonating bodyguards.
These stunts gained massive attention online. However, some Taylor Swift fans criticised them as misleading and potentially unsafe. The moment at the Chiefs game highlights the unique intersection of sports, pop culture, and internet fame. A simple case of mistaken identity in a stadium suite became one of the game’s most talked-about events.
