A 19-year-old Taylor Swift superfan was letting nothing get in the way of her pilgrimage to Wembley Stadium to see her idol tonight – not even her exam results.
Martyna Smoniewska bought VIP entry tickets more than a year ago for the 34-year-old megastar’s first night at the London venue – which just happens to also be exam results day in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
She arrived outside the stadium at 7am this morning after travelling from Nottingham last night with her £277 ticket to hand – and then got an email telling her she had passed her BTecs with distinction.
Her glowing results will allow her to go to Nottingham Trent University to study broadcast journalism.
She is among hundreds of so-called ‘Tay-gaters’ to have gathered at Wembley hours before the concert – which is the first of a five-night run at the arena as part of the European leg of Swift’s Eras Tour.
Martyna Smoniewska, 19, today found out she passed her BTecs with distinction – while standing in line at Wembley
Megastar Taylor Swift, pictured at the London arena in June, is returning tonight
And it comes just days after the singer’s Vienna shows were cancelled in the wake of a rumbled terror plot by alleged Islamic State fanatics.
Ms Smoniewska said: ‘Me and my best friend both woke up at 5am this morning. We came all the way from Nottingham yesterday.
‘It took us about two hours to get ready so we were here for 7am. We are excited and also really, really nervous.’
There had been fears of the London shows being cancelled after three teenage suspects were arrested by Austrian authorities over an alleged plot to attack Swifties with knives, machetes, vehicles and explosives.
Asked about security measures following the cancellation of Swift’s Vienna concerts, Ms Smoniewska added: ‘I am not feeling nervous at all really.
‘There are a lot of police about and everyone that we’ve spoken to has been really funny and tried to make us feel safe. There are no worries for me just yet.’
Asked about the songs she was looking forward to, Ms Smoniewska said: ‘I am a big Reputation girl so I am so excited to hear the Reputation set. I know every song off by heart.
‘There have been rumours about Ed Sheeran coming out to perform with her. That would be such a big deal for me, because I plan to get Everything Has Changed tattooed on my arm.’
Sheeran, a frequent collaborator of Swift’s, is rumoured to be making an appearance tonight.
Swift is also thought to be preparing to pay tribute to the victims of the Southport stabbings, who were attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance class when they were killed.
The singer posted a tribute to Bebe King, six, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, saying she was at ‘a complete loss’ over the horror attack, which is not being treated as terrorism.
The alleged Austria plotters were reportedly radicalized by the Afghanistan-based ISIS-K. Police say the main suspect, a 19-year-old man, allegedly put together explosives as well in order to ‘kill as many people as possible’.
Swift has not issued a statement in the wake of the attacks or following the shows’ cancellations – but her team negotiated with Disney+ to arrange for her three-hour long concert film to be screened on Austrian TV channel ORF.
Disney also provided a seven-day free trial to Swifties so they could watch the film online after missing out on the chance to see the Shake It Off singer in person.
The goodwill gesture came after it emerged Swarovski was gifting Vienna fans a free crystal necklace keepsake if they showed their ticket at a Vienna store.
Fans are also being refunded in fool by promoter Barracuda Music, which said it had ‘no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety’.
The Metropolitan Police says it is ‘well-prepared’ to keep the tens of thousands of Swifties descending on Wembley tonight and for the other four shows happening tomorrow, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.
Police are expected to be much firmer with fans who do not have tickets, and will ‘move on’ anyone who tries to gather outside the stadium to listen.
It comes as it was today revealed the number of students who received top-grade A-level results has risen despite a return to pre-pandemic marking, according to official figures.
Youngsters have been breathing sighs of relief this morning after making the mid-holiday trek into school to open the brown envelopes dictating the next steps in their learning.
Twins Nicola (bottom and left) and Victoria (top and right) Tsang have gotten identical A Level results two years after pulling off the same feat with their GCSEs
Carys Bonell and Ava Doherty were among the students celebrating their results today, at Harris Westminster Sixth Form in central London
Hana Sarwar was another pupil delighted to receive A-level results today – seen here celebrating two A* grades and an A at King Edward VII High School for Girls in Birmingham
Two students congratulate each other on their grades at King Edward VII High School for Girls in Birmingham, as it was revealed more pupils than last year have secured university places
Student Kitty told BBC Breakfast: ‘It was like a weight lifted because I’ve been waiting all summer to find out how I did and it’s been a long time coming.’
Asked if she got any sleep, she said: ‘No, not really, I was up like every half hour.’
Twin sisters Nicola and Victoria Tsang, both 17, achieved identical A-level results two years after pulling off the same feat with their GCSEs.
The pair, from Hong Kong, have lived and studied together at Benenden School in Kent since they were 11 and their career paths are also heading in the same direction – they both plan to pursue law degrees, but at different universities.
Victoria is off to Cambridge while Nicola is starting at London School of Economics.
Also among those passing their exams today is a schoolboy believed to be the youngest person ever to pass A level maths with a Grade A* – at the age of 10.
Kautilya Katariya achieved the top grade in the subject – eight years earlier than most students sit their exams.
The boy genius already holds the record for being the youngest qualified computer programmer in the world, which he achieved at just six-years-old.
And then two years later he achieved the highest possible marks in GCSE maths aged eight after teaching himself the subject online during Covid lockdowns.
He said previously: ‘I’m feeling good about my achievements and I’m quite proud.’