Taylor Swift had an extremely public encounter with Kanye West during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. While it didn't look great at the time, it has turned into a blessing in disguise for Swift.
During an interview with GQ, Swift opened up about her relationship with West and how it has changed since the VMAs.
"That was the most happenstance thing to ever happen in my career and to now be in a place where Kanye and I respect each other—that's one of my favorite things that has happened in my career," Swift told the magazine.
As previously reported, Swift presented West with the MTV VMA Video Vanguard Award at this year's ceremony. It was clear that the two had no more bad blood between them. West even sent Swift a large bouquet of flowers after the show.
The "Wildest Dream" singer also opened up about the course of her career and how she has become one of the most famous and highest earning musicians in the world. She said all of the decisions she makes have been carefully thought through.
"You can be accidentally successful for three or four years. Accidents happen, but careers take hard work," Swift said. It is that self-awareness that has allowed the young star to build on her early success.
"It's less about reputation management and strategy and vanity than it is about trying desperately to preserve self-awareness, since that seems to be the first thing to go out the door when people find success," she noted.