Ashley Avignone is one of Taylor Swift‘s dearest friends. The two stars are so close that Ashley, 39, joined Taylor, 34, at several Kansas City Chiefs games during the 2023-2024 NFL season to support the pop star’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce. Ashley was among Taylor’s squad that went to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on February 11. The duo, as well as Ice Spice and Blake Lively, cheered in a suite as the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers in overtime.
So, who is Ashley Avignone? She’s certainly lesser-known than some of Taylor’s other BFFs like Selena Gomez and Gigi Hadid. But Ashley is still extremely successful in her own right!
Ashley Avignone & Taylor Swift met through Emma Stone.
Ashley and Taylor have Emma Stone to thank for their friendship. Ashley was childhood besties with the Oscar winner, and they became even closer as Ashley worked with Emma to style her for red carpet events. Taylor and Emma became friends in 2008, and Taylor ended up meeting Ashley and getting close with her.
Back in 2019, Ashley shared a heartfelt Instagram post dedicated to Taylor on the singer’s 30th birthday. “30 years of life for you, 11 years of friendship for us. 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 ❤️,” Ashley wrote.
Ashley is from Arizona.
Ashley grew up in Arizona, which is how she met Emma. She moved to Los Angeles to go to college at Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM). After graduating, she relocated to New York City to pursue her fashion career.
Ashley works in fashion.
Ashley began her career as an assistant celebrity stylist. She appeared on season 3 of The Rachel Zoe Project in 2010. Two years later, she started her own agency, The Wall Group.
“When I decided to break out on my own I was nervous,” Ashley said about the big career move in an October 2013 interview with Simply. “I was extremely lucky in finding representation right away. You have to believe in yourself, but it also helps when others believe in you too,” she added.
Ashley also works in designing.
Nowadays, Ashley mostly works on styling for fashion brand campaigns, as well as interior design. She has her own company, Avignone Studio, that she launched in 2006, according to her LinkedIn.
Ashley is friends with other celebrities.
Taylor and Emma aren’t Ashley’s only famous friends! Ashley is pals with Gigi Hadid, Antoni Porowski, Michelle Pfeiffer, the Haim sisters, and more stars. She was at Gigi’s birthday party in April 2022 and shared photos with a number of famous models at the event. Ashley also hung out with a group of Taylor’s celebrity friends at her Fourth of July party in the summer of 2023.