Selena Gomez has spoken out about the detrimental impact of widely-published paparazzi photos taken during her trip to Sydney, Australia in 2018. The photos, which captured her wearing a bikini while on a yacht, became the subject of negаtive comments regarding the scars from her kidney transplant surgery in 2017 and the natural changes in her body as she entered her mid-20s. Adding to the difficulty, Gomez had recently ended her on-and-off relationship with Justin Bieber, who went on to propose to his now-wife, Hailey Bieber.
Gomez revealed in an interview with Fast Company that the criticism she received over the photos prompted her to break her social media hiatus. She took to Instagram to address society’s unrealistic beauty standards and the damaging effects of the “beauty myth.” Prior to the Sydney photos, Gomez had already been struggling with body image issues after an uncomfortable magazine photo shoot fitting, where she realized her body was no longer that of a teenager. She questioned the expectation for a woman’s body not to change and expressed embarrassment when the sample sizes didn’t fit her.
The negаtive impact of social media also played a role in Gomez’s decision to step away from Instagram, especially during a time when she was heartbroken and vulnerable. She admitted feeling insecure about her appearance due to the images she saw on the platform. Gomez has been open about her mentаl health struggles and revealed in 2020 that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disоrder. Learning about her diagnosis brought some relief and understanding, and she sought professional help to cope with her highs and lows.
Despite the challenges she has faced, Gomez is in a better place now. She is working on her first album in three years and focusing on her successful cosmetics company, Rare Beauty. Through her experiences, she has learned the importance of taking pride in her choices, embracing personal growth, and not living with regrets. She hopes to inspire others by sharing her journey and connecting with people who have faced similar tough moments.