KIWI STAR JOSETTE 'HOW I TURNED INTO TAYLOR SWIFT!'

Once too scared to sing, this Christchurch musician has become a global icon

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Growing up in Christchurch, Josette Klausen wanted to be singer/actress Hilary Duff.

She learnt the guitar and would watch the music video for the popstar's hit Teardrops On My Guitar on repeat.

"We only had enough internet to load the first 30 seconds, so I'd just replay that!" she recalls, smiling.

Never could Josette have imagined she'd one day be an international sensation touring the world as a Taylor Swift tribute act!

"I also used to listen to her Red album lots as a kid, before getting into different genres," she says. "Even if you're not an avid listener, everyone knows Taylor's songs, so when this opportunity came up, it was the easiest thing to fall back in love with her catalogue."

Josette's career as an impersonator first began when she was asked to perform backing vocals for an Abba tribute show run by Showtime Australia, which also tours with Michael Jackson and Prince imitators.

She was later told she had "Taylor Swift vibes", which led to her first-ever gig as the Midnight Rain singer.

Josette remembers, "I got to frolic around pretending to be a mega popstar. All I needed to do to get out of my head was look at the kids singing along and having so much fun."

To transform herself into "athlete" Taylor, Josette's first step was building her fitness.