Taylor Swift‘s heartshaped hands cover the December issue of CosmoGirl where she’s honored as “The Phenomenon” in the mag’s 2008 Born to Lead Awards.

The 18-year-old songbird posed on Central Park’s benches and told the mag about why she writes songs about her previous relationships and what it really means to be a role model for young girls everywhere. Here’s what Taylor had to say:

On the Country Music Capital: “I looked up Nashville and learned it was this amazing city where country music lived. I was like, ‘That’s the promised land of country music. That’s where I need to go!’”

On being a role model: “When a mom says to me, ‘You’re an incredible role model for my daughter,’ that’s the best compliment you could give me because it’s about my character, which to me is the biggest honor.”

On the best advice she’s ever gotten: “Faith Hill told me at the Country Music Awards and I was in these awesome high-heeled shoes but they really hurt. I was going up to present an award, and I whispered to Faith, ‘My feet hurt so bad!’ She goes, ‘Take ’em off!’ I was like, well, Faith Hill told me to, so I took off my shoes and carried them in my hand. She taught me that I don’t have to take everything so seriously.”

Check out her full interview in the December issue of CosmoGirl, out on newsstands now!