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"There's always something exciting about walking into a new year,\" says Taylor Swift about heading back to class. Now worlds away from her own high school halls, the 23-year-old is in the midst of an international tour following the release of her multiplatinum album Red. She's written smash hits and she rocks red carpets (in her signature crimson lipstick, of course), but even Taylor admits her teen years weren't easy. \"I'll never forget the utter chaos inside my brain as I was leaving the lunch line, trying to figure out where to sit in the cafeteria,\" she recalls. \"High school is built to teach you difficult lessons, and not only the ones in textbooks.\"\n\nThe songstress, who famously uses her frustrations and heartbreaks as material for her music, credits having a strong support system, like BFF Selena Gomez, for getting through tough times. \"Selena and I have never felt competitive with each other because we've been through so much together,\" Taylor explains. \"It's an us-against-the-world mentality\u2014jealousy isn't part of the deal.\"\n\nAs the superstar continues to evolve, so does her taste in fragrance. Her new eponymous scent, Taylor by Taylor Swift, is a more mature follow-up to her first two perfumes. \"It's sophisticated but still carefree and playful,\" she explains. Inspired by a blend of her favorite flowers\u2014hydrangea, vanilla orchid, and peony (\"I like to keep bouquets of them around my house,\" she says)\u2014it's the perfect pick for kicking off the school year on a high note.\n\nWhat was your biggest insecurity in High School?\n\n I hated having wavy hair! But now I'm glad I do because I can style it curly or straight.\n\nYoure constantly performing in front of huge crowds. Do you still feel preshow jitters?\n\n Lots of things still make me nervous: TV performances, heights, cynics...I think fear can be a healthy motivator if you don't let it get out of control.\n\nWhat makes you you?\n\n I get very excited about simple things, and people who are too cool for that usually think I'm weird!\n\nWhat advice would you give your teen self?\n\n You have to learn to love yourself. Or else how can you expect anyone else to?\n\nClick through to see Taylor's beauty essentials!"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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