Fandom as a Muse: An Interview with Bebe Ashley
August 18, 2023
"For poet and PhD candidate Bebe Ashley, fandom is fundamental. What began as a late-night Youtube binge during a bout of fresher’s flu became a fascination with Harry Styles that would transform her life. “I had just moved to Belfast to start my Master’s, and I ended up going down a wormhole of X Factor auditions. I started watching videos of One Direction and became immediately interested in Harry. His vocabulary was so distinctive, and he spoke in this slow drawl that I found intriguing. I entered at a weird point because One Direction wasn’t together, but Harry hadn’t released his solo music yet.” But her discovery of Styles seemed serendipitous. His debut album would be released later that year, and this would serve as a catalyst for career opportunities that Bebe could have never foreseen."
It was a pleasure to interview poet Bebe Ashley about her stunning collection 'Gold Light Shining'. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of One Direction, we discussed the transformative potential of fandom, fangirls in literature and the pain and euphoria of adolescence. Thanks to Issy at That Fangirl Life for the commission! Read the full interview here.
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