Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg’s Panoptikum museum – but do you think it looks like her?

Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?

As a person of color who has spent a significant part of my life navigating through a world that often fails to recognize and respect the diversity of its inhabitants, I find the recurring issue of racial insensitivity in the portrayal of public figures by institutions like the Grévin Museum deeply disheartening.


On Wednesday, a fresh figurine modeled after Taylor Swift was revealed at the Panoptikum museum located in Hamburg, Germany.

The life size figurine has been in the works for seven months, carefully crafted by Berlin artist Lisa Büscher. 

Clad in a sparkling, single-piece swimsuit of blue sequins, reminiscent of what the pop star, aged 34, donned at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards, she accessorizes her look with knee-high boots.

Taylor is spotted with her hands forming a heart, a familiar gesture that her followers recognize.

Artist Lisa noted in a statement that capturing an exact resemblance can be especially difficult when aiming for a smooth, blemish-free depiction of beauty.

Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?

Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?
Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?

She mentioned: ‘A unique hurdle was crafting her hands into the familiar heart shape. Achieving a seamless union of the hands at the front proved to be no simple task.’

‘The same goes for the painting of the head. After all, a wax figure shouldn’t look ‘waxy.”

Dr. Susanne Faerber, CEO of Panoptikum, unveiled the newest exhibit and took pictures with the artist.

Taylor Swift’s wax figure will be added among others in the museum, such as likenesses of Ed Sheeran, Angelina Jolie, Queen Elizabeth II, Karl Lagerfeld, and Henry VIII.

Last summer, it became clear that Ed closely resembles the singer, even carrying a guitar slung across his back.

Last month, a Dublin museum promised to ‘do better’ and vowed to create a more accurate waxwork of Sinéad O’Connor – after their sculpture, which was unveiled to commemorate the one year anniversary of her death – was slammed by fans. 

A representative from the National Wax Museum in Dublin stated, “We heard the public’s feedback about our wax figure of Sinead, and we understand that it didn’t live up to our own high standards or match what her dedicated followers anticipated.”

‘After carefully considering the feedback, we acknowledge that the depiction doesn’t completely convey Sinead’s distinctive aura and character as we originally aimed for.’

Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?
Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I can attest that her influence on Ireland’s music scene and beyond is indescribably profound. It has been our unwavering aim to pay tribute to her in a way that encapsulates both her greatness and the reverence she deserves.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but be ecstatic about our upcoming project! We’re passionately dedicated to crafting a fresh wax figure that truly encapsulates the essence and legendary image of Sinéad O’Connor – a tribute worthy of her incredible spirit!

Right away, our talented artisans will kick off the project, taking great care to carefully design each element with the aim of honorably upholding her lasting impact.

‘We extend our gratitude to everyone who provided their feedback and assure you that your voices are heard. We look forward to unveiling a new figure that truly honours Sinéad O’Connor and her extraordinary impact.

As a lifestyle expert, I must share my dismay over the recent unveiling of a wax figure resembling the late, iconic musician who tragically passed away on July 26, 2023, at the age of 56. Upon visiting the exhibit today, I was left feeling underwhelmed and disappointed by the striking resemblance to an old mannequin that seemed to have been carelessly discarded in a dumpster. Disgruntled visitors, like myself, have taken their grievances to social media, expressing frustration with the sculpture’s likeness, claiming it appears as if they simply grabbed any old mannequin and declared it an accurate representation of our beloved artist. This unfortunate portrayal does not do justice to the legacy and impact this musician had on music and popular culture.

In an even stranger turn of events, the artwork found itself situated alongside Liam Neeson, portraying Qui-Gon Jinn, and Darth Vader, both donned in their Star Wars attire.

Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?
Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?
Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?
Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?
Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?

In another location, a wax figure depicting Beyoncé, recently displayed at the Grevin Museum in Paris two weeks prior, has caused upset among her fans, who argue that the figure appears to have undergone a process of lightening (or ‘whitewashing’) and does not resemble the singer in any way.

As a long-time admirer of the artistry and historical significance of The Musée Grévin, I find myself deeply troubled by the recent controversy surrounding one of their wax figurines. Having spent numerous hours in museums around the world, I have come to appreciate the skill and dedication that goes into creating these lifelike replicas. In light of the heavy criticism from fans, I feel compelled to reach out to The Musée Grévin in Paris to express my concern and offer suggestions for improvement. It is essential that we maintain a high standard for cultural representation and artistic integrity, especially when it comes to such iconic figures as the one under scrutiny.

This entity is now part of an esteemed group that includes Ryan Gosling, Angelina Jolie, and Cristiano Ronaldo, as they all have been added to the renowned French museum that houses over 500 well-known figures.

The silicon replica of the singer from Texas Hold ‘Em is adorned in a shimmering silver sequin gown, featuring a long train and matching high-heeled shoes, along with a dramatic cape.

Despite sharing several striking resemblances with the celebrity, some controversial comments have surfaced on social media regarding specific aspects, particularly the character’s skin tone.

Angry users of X (formerly Twitter) wrote: “Apparently, the Grévin Museum in Paris has Beyoncé on display; however, it’s not her; it seems to be Jade from Little Mix; Beyoncé at the Grévin Museum, but she appears to be white.”

Nine months ago, I, as a lifestyle expert, echoed the sentiments of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson when he called for significant adjustments following the unveiling of his likeness. In October 2023, his figure was prominently displayed, and it sparked a conversation about the importance of representation and inclusivity in public spaces.

Dwayne Johnson and his supporters have noticed that the wax figure appears to have a paler complexion than the real person. The celebrity himself has mentioned that he plans on requesting an adjustment to make the skin tone more accurate.

Shortly after the controversy surrounding his image emerged last year, The Rock playfully addressed the matter via an Instagram post.

In a more thoughtful tone, he mentioned his intention to contact the museum to enhance their artwork, specifically by including crucial details and advancements.

Dwayne Johnson, known for his role in Jumanji, posted: ‘I was aware that James Jefferson J had been planning to roast the Rock wax figure. I genuinely laughed from my stomach at this.’

As a committed devotee, I’ll personally ensure that my team gets in touch with the esteemed colleagues at the Grevin Museum, based in the heart of Paris, France. Our objective is to collaborate on an exciting project: enhancing and refining my wax figure representation. To begin with, we aim to address a crucial aspect – the accurate depiction of skin color.

Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?
Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?
Taylor Swift waxwork unveiled at Hamburg's Panoptikum museum - but do you think it looks like her?

He ended up saying, ‘Next time I visit Paris, I’ll drop by for a drink with me,’ followed by a wink symbol.

The post, which received over 150,000 likes, saw fans express both their disappointment and confusion at the waxwork.

As a devoted admirer, I’m thrilled to share that the refreshed figure at the Grevin Museum has been revealed, now accessible for all to see. However, as of yet, there’s been no word from The Rock regarding these modifications.

A representative from The Grévin Museum explained to TopMob that the criticism was caused by a flash photograph taken by an agency, which gave the impression that the museum character’s skin tone was not its true color. In reality, this character is not white at all.

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2024-08-13 18:05

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