A Las Vegas showgirl is suing Taylor Swift over the singer’s use of “The Life of a Showgirl.”
Maren Flagg, a performer who goes by the stage name Maren Wade, filed a federal lawsuit March 30 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, accusing Swift and her affiliated companies of trademark infringement tied to the title of Swift’s latest era.
The complaint names Swift, TAS Rights Management, UMG Recordings and Bravado International Group Merchandising Services as defendants, alleging they infringed on Wade’s long-running brand, “Confessions of a Showgirl.”
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Taylor Swift fans line up at stores for release of ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
Taylor Swift is back with her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” and so are the Swifties. Kate Lucas, 14, McKeel Lucas, 9, HR Lucas, 11, and Margot Jennings, 8, yell with excitement as employees announce they will begin the launch of Swift’s 12th studio album at Target in Nashville Oct. 3, 2025.
The album sheds more light on Swift’s relationship with fiancé Travis Kelce and her hopes for their future. She draws inspiration from icons Elizabeth Taylor and George Michael. And she wraps up the record with a duet featuring fellow showgirl Sabrina Carpenter. Scroll through to see the fan excitement around the album.
According to the lawsuit, Wade has spent more than a decade building that brand through live performances, writing and digital media, tracing its origins back to a Las Vegas Weekly column in 2014 that evolved into a touring stage production. The mark was federally registered in 2015 and has since achieved incontestable status, a legal designation that strengthens ownership rights.
“The similarity between ‘Confessions of a Showgirl’ and ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ is immediate,” the complaint states, pointing to the shared “of a showgirl” structure and arguing the marks create a similar commercial impression.
The dispute centers on Swift’s use of “The Life of a Showgirl,” which the complaint says was adopted in 2025 and quickly deployed across a wide commercial rollout, including merchandise and retail partnerships. Wade alleges the phrase is being used not just as a creative title, but as a source-identifying trademark on goods such as candles, drinkware and apparel.
Swift’s team did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
At the heart of the case is a claim of trademark infringement under the Lanham Act, along with allegations of false designation of origin and unfair competition under both federal and California law. Wade is seeking a permanent injunction blocking Swift and her team from using the phrase, as well as damages, profits and attorneys’ fees.
“We have great respect for Swift’s talent and success, but trademark law exists to ensure that creators at all levels can protect what they’ve built,” said Jaymie Parkkinen, a representative for Wade. “That’s what this case is about.”
Trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who was among the first to write about the lawsuit in a March 30 blog post, said the case presents a legitimate challenge.
“While [Wade] has a legitimate baseline claim, I believe her chances of winning the case at trial are around 50% (at best),” he wrote.
Gerben said Wade’s strongest argument is likely reverse confusion, a legal theory that comes into play when a powerhouse brand’s use of a similar name risks eclipsing a smaller, earlier one.
“Reverse confusion cases are notoriously difficult (and expensive),” he added. “In practice, cases like this are often resolved before trial.”
He also pointed to potential weaknesses in Wade’s case, including differences in how the two phrases may be interpreted by consumers.
“‘Confessions of a Showgirl’ and ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ share a structure, but they convey different meanings and impressions,” Gerben stated.
More: Taylor Swift’s ‘Showgirl’ trademark delayed over conflicts
If the lawsuit proceeds, the next steps could include early motions from Swift’s legal team, potential settlement discussions or a drawn-out discovery process as both sides gather evidence on consumer confusion and market impact.
Meanwhile, Swift’s trademark application for “The Life of a Showgirl” is currently suspended at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, meaning it’s on hold.
The USPTO paused review because of earlier filings, including Wade’s registered mark as well as a separate pending “Showgirl” application tied to fragrances.
The office has already raised a likelihood-of-confusion refusal, signaling concern the names are too similar. Until those earlier filings are resolved — and any legal arguments are addressed — Swift’s application cannot advance toward registration, leaving its status uncertain.
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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Las Vegas showgirl sues Taylor Swift over ‘Life of a Showgirl’ album