Taylor Swift's Rage Face, Explained

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

Photo: The Hollywood Reporter

Smiley, friend-collecting Taylor Swift rarely loses her cool—except when she's destroying a car with a golf club or stabbing a cake. Or when she's appearing on The Hollywood Reporter's Rule Breakers cover, where she works a hybrid frustration-rage face. A few theories for what inspired the look:

1. The media.

As my 25th birthday present from the media, I'd like for you to stop accusing all my friends of dating me. #thirsty

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) December 8, 2014

2. The media, especially SNL, who compared loving Taylor's music to having vertigo.

"Oof. Taylor Swift. She's always wearing, like, a 1950's bathing suit." http://t.co/I1gOpeoGuD

— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) November 3, 2014

3. The media, and that time when they recorded and made fun of her surprised-losing face.
4. Boys? Just boys.

Racked Video: '90s Dark Lipstick is Back