News in: How Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce inspired a $2.3 million surge for sea otter conservation….see more

Taylor’s influence has once again shown its power, this time helping the Monterey Bay Aquarium raise over $2.3 million in just a few days to support its Sea Otter Program.

The aquarium told Mail Online exclusively that donations surged after Swift was seen wearing a vintage Monterey Bay Aquarium T-shirt in her latest short film, The Official Release Party of a Showgirl.

“We honestly didn’t know what to expect,” a spokesperson said. “It quickly became clear this wasn’t just a pop-culture moment – it was an opportunity to elevate our Sea Otter Program to a global audience.”

The campaign featured a re-release of a classic 1993 design, showing two otters floating in kelp. These sustainably produced shirts were offered to donors contributing $65.13 or more, a nod to Swift’s favorite number.

Within just seven hours of its launch on October 16, the campaign reached its initial goal of $1.3 million. By the next day, contributions had nearly doubled to $2.3 million, with all shirts selling out rapidly.

Early donations of $13-referencing Swift’s lucky number-poured in even before the fundraiser officially began. After the shirt went viral, social media users flooded the aquarium with tags and shared nostalgic stories of visiting in their youth.