Selena Gomez serves as such a powerful role model for fans of all ages, largely because of her honesty about her own mental health.
The 25-year-old took a career break in 2016 after experiencing depression and anxiety as side effects of her recent lupus diagnosis, showing the importance of being attentive to our mental wellbeing.
The singer's struggle with her mental health won't have some picture-perfect movie moment when it all dissipates, Selena said in a recent interview with Harper's Bazaar.
"I’ve had a lot of issues with depression and anxiety, and I’ve been very vocal about it, but it’s not something I feel I’ll ever overcome," the Wizards of Waverly Place actress told Harper's Bazaar.
"There won’t be a day when I’m like, 'Here I am in a pretty dress—I won!' I think it’s a battle I’m gonna have to face for the rest of my life, and I’m okay with that because I know that I’m choosing myself over anything else."
The pop star is making her personal well-being her central focus in 2018, saying, "I’m starting my year off with that thought. I want to make sure I’m healthy. If that’s good, everything else will fall into place."
We are so happy to see Selena being so candid about her mental health issues. Considering how young much of her fan base is, she is setting an excellent example for kids everywhere.
Her strength as a role model also comes from the fact that, because her father is of Mexican descent, the chart-topping artist represents a demographic not often seen in pop culture.
She recounted to Harper's Bazaar how a single mum, who was Latin, and her four kids came up to her after a taping of Wizards of Waverly Place. The mum was crying.
"Her kids were so excited, but I noticed the mom, so I gave her a hug and asked, 'Hey, are you okay?'" the actress recalled, "And she was like, 'It’s really incredible for my daughters to see that a Latina woman can be in this position and achieve her dreams, someone who isn’t the typical, you know, blonde with blue eyes.'"
"And I kne w what she meant. When I was younger my idol was Hilary Duff! I remember wanting blue eyes too. So I think I recognised then that it meant something to people. That it matters."
We are happy to have women like Selena giving voices to those who are underrepresented.
As far as returning to her music goes, the Hotel Transylvania actress says that she knows she's taking a long time, but she's okay with that.
"My next album has been forever in the making. When people ask me why, I’m honest about it: It’s because I haven’t been ready," she said.
"I mean, point-blank, I don’t feel confident enough in where my music is yet. If that takes 10 years, then it takes 10 years. I don’t care. Right now I just want to be super intentional with all of the things I’m doing."
Take your time, Selena! We will be so ready for her music whenever it comes out.
