Taylor Swift is ringing in Ashley Avignone’s new era.
A photo was posted on Avignone’s Instagram on Sunday, December 29, showing Taylor Swift and her friend hugging while seated beside each other. In the picture, Swift had her eyes closed while embracing Avignone, who was smiling softly at the camera.
“Happy birthday to me, emphasis on the *happy* 
,” Avignone captioned the post.
In another image, Avignone appeared to be making a wish in front of her birthday cake covered in sprinkles. A different snap showcased the cake’s message, humorously stating, “Ash Is 25 (again).” Avignone shared a close-up of the cake on her Instagram Story, jokingly asking, “Who’s counting?”
Swift and her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, were seen heading to dinner in New York City on Saturday, December 28. The couple, who started their relationship in the summer of 2023, were photographed holding hands as they enjoyed their second consecutive night out in the city.
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.”
